Richards Bay FC captain Siphamandla Mtolo has passed on.
45Min Football has learned that Siphamandla Mtolo, the captain of Richards Bay FC, passed away on Tuesday.
THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT ON MTOLO WAS RELEASED BY RICHARDS BAY
“It is with deep sadness to announce that Richards Bay Football Club has suffered the untimely loss of midfielder Siphamandla ‘Spepe’ Mtolo. He collapsed this morning (Tuesday) during training. The club is not in a position to provide further information at this stage and ask that his family’s privacy is respected in this difficult time of bereavement.
“His presence, both on and off the pitch will be sorely missed. Thoughts and prayers of everyone in Richards Bay Football Club are with his family, friends and loved ones.”
The 1-0 victory by Chiefs at King Zwelithini Stadium, where the 29-year-old played the entire match, dropped the KwaZulu-Natal club to sixth place in the DStv Premiership standings.
Mtolo, who led them previous season as they won the Motsepe Foundation Championship to gain promotion to the DStv Premiership’s top division, missed the majority of the season due to a long-term injury.
On December 31, when Bay defeated Swallows 1-0, he returned from the injury to play in the second half. Although his knee was severely braced, he started the following game when Bay hosted Mamelodi Sundowns.
He died after participating in eight league games for Bay this year.
Mtolo appeared in 155 games after moving from Uthongathi, where he spent three seasons, before the start of the 2020–21 season.
To Mtolo’s family, friends, everyone at Richards Bay, and the football community as a whole, please accept our prayers on behalf of 45Min Football.
