Gelandang Timnas Afrika Selatan Jayden Adams Meninggal Dunia

Gelandang tim nasional Afrika Selatan dan Mamelodi Sundowns, Jayden Adams, ditemukan meninggal dunia pada usia 25 tahun di sebuah hotel di kawasan Cape Town. Kabar duka mengenai pemain yang baru saja membela negaranya di ajang Piala Dunia 2026 tersebut dikonfirmasi oleh pihak perwakilan dan wali sang pemain kepada Soccer Laduma, meskipun detail penyebab kematiannya belum dirilis. Asosiasi Pemain Sepak Bola Afrika Selatan memberikan penghormatan terakhir atas kepergian sang gelandang berbakat melalui sebuah rilis resmi.

"An immeasurable loss to his family, teammates, clubs, the football fraternity and the country at large," tulis pernyataan resmi South African Football Players Union.

Pihak serikat pemain menambahkan bahwa sepak bola Afrika Selatan telah kehilangan sosok pemain berbakat yang memiliki kontribusi besar bagi olahraga tersebut. "South African football has lost a gifted player, a proud servant of the game and a young life that still had so much to offer," lanjut pernyataan South African Football Players Union.

Sebelum kabar kematiannya menyebar, Adams dilaporkan sempat membagikan ulang sebuah foto bersama kekasihnya, Aqueelah Adendorf, di media sosial Instagram kurang dari 24 jam sebelumnya. Perwakilan keluarga sekaligus mentor sang pemain, Brendine Johnson, menyatakan bahwa situasi saat ini masih sangat berat bagi pihak keluarga yang ditinggalkan.

"At this moment, things are still raw, you know, things are still raw. The family wouldn't want to be contacted right now, they wouldn't be able to answer anyone. This passing has ripped everybody apart, returning from the World Cup just now, and then got such news, you know.

I had a close conversation with him on Thursday, the guy was really positive on returning back, and being able to return after the World Cup and go, you know, being a CAF champion, knowing what lies ahead, he was prepared. He doesn't waste time away, being at home with his family," kata Brendine Johnson. Johnson juga meminta agar semua pihak menghormati privasi keluarga besar Adams yang sedang berduka atas kepergian mendadak ini.

"So at this moment, I don't even have words to say, but we ask that the family's privacy be respected. Yes, I can tell you that he passed on. Nobody expected this," lanjut Brendine Johnson.

Pihak klub Mamelodi Sundowns yang dihubungi oleh media tidak memberikan konfirmasi ataupun bantahan, melainkan meminta publik untuk menghormati masa-masa sulit yang sedang dihadapi keluarga sang pemain.