Lim teen up for murder of well-known soccer player
Mashudu Marulana had big dreams about becoming a huge soccer star and giving his mother a better life.
LIMPOPO – A 17-year-old suspect from Divhani village appeared in the Dzanani Magistrate’s Court on May 8, following the murder of Mashudu Murulana, a well-known soccer player for Tshiswenda Cliffside FC, at a tavern in Mawoni village on April 29.
Marulana and one of his close friends and neighbours, Moses Phaswana, stopped at a tavern after attending a soccer match earlier. Phaswana is said to have gone home at around 19:00, leaving his friend at the tavern.
A group of people who were in the meantime searching for Phaswana, seemingly went to the same tavern and, since they only found his friend there, settled their score with Marulana instead.
According to the acting police spokesperson in Vhembe, Sgt Vuledzani Dathi, the incident occurred at around 22:00 that evening.
“The victim was stabbed in the chest once, and collapsed. He was certified dead at the scene and a suspect was arrested,” said Dathi.
The case was postponed to May 29.
In an exclusive interview with CV, Phaswana said he met Murulana two or three years ago when he had moved from Vleifontein to Ha-Maphila, and that they had been good friends ever since. “I was sleeping when my mother received a phone call, informing her that my friend had been stabbed to death. I don’t understand why my friend had to die over something he was not even a part of,” said Phaswana.
A cousin of the victim, Mary-Jane Murulana, said the family was in deep mourning, as they had still expected so much from him. “We thought he was going to play for those big teams one day and that we would see him on TV. He had big dreams about becoming a huge soccer star and giving his mother a better life. Our hearts are shattered,” said Murulana.
