Heartfelt Tributes to Former Orlando Pirates Midfielder Killed in Car Crash

The South African football Club, Orlando Pirates has released a heartfelt tribute to one of their former midfielders, Bheka Phakathi.

Phakathi died in a fatal car accident on Sunday Morning.

Kick Off reports that the 43-year-old was on his way to training at ABC Motsepe League club Umvoti; a team he had coached to league honours and a spot in the upcoming National First Division playoffs.

Phakathi played for the Buccaneers from 2002 to 2005. He also played for Golden Arrows and Maritzburg United.

The football club posted a statement on the website, “Orlando Pirates Football Club is saddened to learn of the passing away of former player Bheka Phakathi.

“On behalf of the entire Orlando Pirates family, we would like to convey our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the Phakathi family and supplicate that God provides comfort in this time of pain.”

Former Buccaneer winger Joseph Ngake, also Phakathi’s teammate during early 2000, reminisced about the late Phakathi.

Ngake said, “I remember during our days at Pirates, Bheka was so committed to his craft. He and I were never skillful dribbling players but he was committed.

“He had football brain in that as much as he was a midfielder in the latter stages of his career he played a striker. In midfield, he was very uncompromising. Both on and off the field Bheka was committed to everything he did, he was committed to his team, his friends and family, I miss that about him,” Ngake said.

Ngake said that it is going to take a while for him and those closest to Phakathi to accept that he is no longer with them. He said that Bheka was still active in the game and had so much to teach.

“I just feel for his boys and the team that he was coaching.”