Sinethemba Jantjie

Sinethemba Jantjie

Personal information
Date of birth	(1989-02-15)15 February 1989
Date of death	1 April 2019(2019-04-01) (aged 30)
Place of death	Bethlehem, South Africa
Position(s)	Winger
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2016	Mbombela United	12	(3)
2016–2019	Free State Stars	63	(8)
Total		75	(11)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Sinethemba Jantjie (15 February 1989 – 1 April 2019) was a South African professional footballer who played for Mbombela United and Free State Stars as a winger.

Early and personal life

Jantjie came from Whittlesea.[1]

Career

Jantjie was described as a "late bloomer who rose to prominence in the 2015/16 season with Mbombela United when he helped take the club close to promotion to the Premier League".[1] During that season he scored 3 goals in 12 league games.[2] He then moved to Free State Stars for the 2016–17 season,[1] scoring 8 goals in 63 league games during his 3 seasons with the club.[2] He was due to sign for Bidvest Wits ahead of the 2019–20 season.[1] Following his death, Bidvest Wits declared his contract "null and void".[3]

Death

Jantjie died in a road accident in Bethlehem on 1 April 2019, aged 30.[1] He was buried on 6 April 2019.[3] At his funeral the Free State Stars players said they would dedicate the remaining games to Jantjie's memory.[4][5]

Following his death, Free State Stars' next match was postponed for his funeral,[6] whilst the PSL said their forthcoming fixtures would observe a minute's silence.[7]

References

1. Nick Said and Tiyani Wa Ka Mabasa (1 April 2019). "PSL star Sinethemba Jantjie killed in car accident, Free State Stars confirm". Times Live. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
2. Sinethemba Jantjie at Soccerway. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
3. Khaya Ndubane (12 April 2019). "Wits declare Jantjie's contract 'null and void'". Citizen. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
4. Tiyani Wa Ka Mabasa (11 April 2019). "Free State Stars out to turn tragedy into triumph". Sowetan Live. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
5. Pedro Mapelo (7 April 2019). "Free State Stars captain vows to dedicate all remaining games to Sinethemba Jantjie". IOL. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
6. Mark Gleeson (3 April 2019). "Free State Stars game postponed for Sinethemba Jantjie funeral". Times Live. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
7. "PSL to observe moment of silence for Sinethemba Jantjie". Sports24. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.