| Intro | South African association football player (1989-2016) |
| Was |
Athlete Football player Association football player |
| From | South Africa |
| Type | Sports |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | 19 March 1989, Durban |
| Death |
16 January 2016 (aged 26 years) |
| Star sign | Pisces |
Mondli Cele (19 March 1989 – 17 January 2016) was a South African footballer who played as a midfielder. He played in his career only in South Africa, and died in a car accident near Pietermaritzburg.
Club career
Gamalakhe United
Cele joined Port Shepstone-based second division club Gamalakhe United in 2012.
Maritzburg United
Cele caught the eye of Maritzburg United coach, Steve Komphela, after impressing in a Nedbank Cup match against Engen Santos. In August 2014, he joined Maritzburg United.
International career
Cele was included in the preliminary South Africa squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, but did not make the final 23. Maritzburg United captain Ashley Hartog said Cele’s call-up, along with Kwanda Mngonyama, inspired their teammates.
Death
Cele died on Sunday, 17 January 2016, when a car he was in plunged into the Msunduzi River near Pietermaritzburg. He had scored for Maritzburg United during their match against Orlando Pirates earlier on that day. After his death, tributes to him were paid, including Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula saying it should serve as a reminder to fight road carnage in South Africa, the Premier Soccer League observing a moment of silence at all the Sunday’s matches, Ghanaian former international player John Paintsil, and Kurt Lentjies revealing that Maritzburg United had dedicated their 2015–16 Premier Soccer League season to him.