A number of African sports stars passed away in 2014, casting another dark cloud on the continental sporting scene. Here is a short list of some of the stars who sadly passed on during the year.
Mbulaeni Mulaudzi
Country: South Africa
Sports: Athletics
Age of Death: 34
Brief Bio: Mulaudzi was a former 800m Athens 2004 Olympics silver medallist and a Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medallist. He was the flag bearer for South Africa at the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Athens and he became South Africa’s first black athlete to be ranked number one in the world.
His accolades also include titles at the World Championships, World Indoor Championships and the African Championships.
Emily Ruto
Country: Kenya
Sports: Cricket
Age of Death: 25
Brief Bio: She was the former captain of the Kenyan women’s cricket team and succumbed to Leukaemia at the young age of 25 at a time when he career had just blossomed.
Tolomeo Mwansa
Country: Zambia
Sports: Soccer
Age of Death: 73
Brief Bio: The tall figured Mwansa was Zambia’s first goalkeeper after Independence in 1964. Nicknamed “Juva”, he won several trophies in a very successful career with the all conquering Mufulira Wanderers including the 1965 Super Castle Cup.
Lest we forget…
Africa's Sports Heroes who Left us in 2014
By Farai Diza
ASM/ February, 2015 29