By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
An 11-year-old boy from Alexandra has drowned in Palestine while at a soccer tournament with other young players from South Africa.
Kabelo ‘KB’ Masalesa, from the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association, took part in the Palestine Free Soccer Tournament when tragedy struck.
KB, as he is fondly known in football circles in Alex, is one of six youngsters along with their compatriots from Cape Town who are on a football development trip in Palestine to participate in soccer matches with their counterparts from that country.
The Alex youngsters were selected from a Free Palestine Solidarity Football Tournament that was held in Alexandra early this year by the Embassy of the State of Palestine and involved U13 teams from the township.
The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC) says the tournament involves soccer matches between Alexandra Soccer Team and Cape Town Soccer Team against Palestinian football clubs.
A total of 18 young soccer players and 10 support staff left for the overseas trip last week and is set to return on Thursday.
The department’s Zimasa Velaphi says that the department is still gathering details about the tragic incident.
“In so far as ascertaining specific details about what occurred, officials of DSAC and Gauteng Department of Sports Arts, Culture and Recreation, as well as the High Commission of South Africa in both Jordan and Palestine have been on the ground engaging the relevant Palestinian authorities who will facilitate the provision of a report about the incident.
“Furthermore, senior officials from both DSAC and GDSACR have met Kabelo’s family and have initiated interventions intended to ensure that all necessary support is provided. To this extent, through support from the Departments of International Relations and Cooperation and Home Affairs, family members are supported to travel to Palestine and secure the return of Kabelo to South Africa.
His uncle Alfred Mamabolo said, while the family was devastated, they did not blame anyone, as they regarded it as an accident.