Pensioner dies on soccer field

Malahle Big 15, a local senior soccer team, was among five teams in KZN that were chosen to represent the Zululand District Municipality in the Golden Games, an annual sport event that is organised by the Department of Social Development that was held in the Amajuba District.

These games which promote active ageing and socialisation amongst older persons are held in line with the International Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing which encourages new approaches to ageing policies and programmes in order to promote a healthy society.

Older persons aged from 60 years and above gathered at Newcastle to participate in a number of sporting and cultural activities including football, brisk walking, running, goal shooting, duck walking, rugby ball throwing and many others.

The games ended in tragedy though, when 70 year old Joseph Jabulani Vilakazi died, after collapsing during a soccer match. According to police spokesman Jay Naicker, Joseph passed away on Wednesday last week. The police have opened an inquest docket.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport and Recreation described the incident as a very unfortunate one. A departmental spokesman, Sandile Qwabe said it was a very hot day when the 10-a-side soccer match in which Mr Vilakazi took part, began.

Moments after the match started, Mr Vilakazi is said to have fainted and the referee stopped the game.

“Paramedics were stationed around the games and they rushed to him, and tried in vain to resuscitate him,” said Qwabe.

The soccer match was cancelled.

Qwabe said that all the players who competed in the games were subjected to medical assessments and had to prove that they were medically fit to compete. Qwabe concluded by conveying his condolences to the Vilakazi family.

Phyllis Vilakazi, Mr Vilakazi’s 48 year old daughter, described her father as a healthy and fit man, who had been excited about taking part in the games.

Mr Vilakazi’s funeral was held on Sunday, September 1 at Lakeside Hall.