17.01.2016 22:58 h

South African star Cele dies as car plunges into river

South African Premier League footballer Mondli Cele died Sunday after the car he was a passenger in plunged into a river near eastern city Pietermaritzburg.

The tragedy occurred a few hours after the 27-year-old scored for Maritzburg United in a 3-3 Premiership thriller against famed Soweto club Orlando Pirates.

Cele and another passenger died when the driver lost control of the car, a provincial transport department spokesman said. A third passenger survived.

"His character on and off the field was impeccable," said Maritzburg chairman Farook Kadodia, referring to 27-year-old midfielder Cele.

Premier Soccer League spokesman Lux September said: "Mondli scored a beautiful goal and it was to be his last celebration."

Cele was included in the preliminary South Africa squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, but did not make the final 23.