Staff Reporter.
File Photo.
Former Kaizer Chiefs star Lucky Maselesele has passed away at the age of 41.
His former Chiefs teammate and close friend Isaac Mabotsa confirmed the shocking news when speaking to Laduma on Friday evening.
“I can confirm the sad news, but at the moment I request that we be given time to come to terms with what has happened,” Mabotsa said.
“I am at his home as I speak, but please understand, I won’t make any further comment on the matter.”
Two suspects have been arrested for the murder of Maselesele, who was allegedly beaten to death after being accused of stealing electrical cables.
On Wednesday evening, just before midnight, police received a complaint of community members assaulting an unknown man.
“When the police approached, the group ran away, and the police managed to apprehend two suspects,” police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo said.
“It is alleged that the deceased was accused by the community of stealing electrical cables in the area. He was certified dead on the scene by the paramedics.”
The deceased had since been identified as Maselesele.
Masondo said both suspects were charged with murder, and one had since appeared in the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court.
Maselesele,came through the Transnet School of Excellence and signed his first professional contract with Kaizer Chiefs in the 1997/8 season, having been part of the South African Under-20 squad that played in the Fifa Under-20 World Cup finals in 1997.
Chiefs signed him after Maselesele had been given a three month trial by Dutch side PSV Eindhoven.
Maselesele didn’t play a lot for Chiefs’ senior team, but is well-remembered for netting the winners against Orlando Pirates in both the 2000 Vodacom Challenge final, and the 2002 Telkom Charity Cup semifinals.
After leaving Chiefs, Maselesele had a journeyman career where he turned out for the likes of Maritzburg United, Thanda Royal Zulu, Black Leopards,FC AK and Civics FC in Namibia.
His time in the KZN capital with Maritzburg saw the player banned for two years after testing positive for cocaine.