WINDHOEK – Brave Warriors and South African premiership outfit Free State Stars stalwart defender DaCosta Angula was yesterday still struggling to come to terms with the untimely death of teammate Richard Henyekane, who died in a horrific car accident yesterday morning.
Henyekane was killed in a car crash while on his way from QwaQwa to Bethlehem, where his club is based, just four months after his younger brother Joseph died.
Widely known as ‘Kimberley Express’ by his ardent followers, the Bafana Bafana striker spent 11 years in South Africa’s top tier across four different clubs, making his debut for Hellenic in 2004, before moving to Golden Arrows, Mamelodi Sundowns and finally Free State Stars.
A clearly grief-stricken Angula said the Free State Stars family has suffered a huge blow in the loss of the 31-year-old goal-poacher, as he was one of the experienced players who contributed immensely to their fight against relegation.
“I really can’t believe the news, we were even room-mates when we recently traveled to Durban for our tie against Amazulu. We sat up for the better part of that night sharing jokes and various stories and it’s not just in Durban, we have been roommates on more than five occasions and thus we grew closer as teammates,” said Angula.
“It’s not going to be easy for the team because we know what his presence meant to the team and its quest of surviving the relegation battle come end of this season. But I guess we will have to regroup and fight on for our fans and also for him.”
Henyekane managed nine caps for Bafana Bafana, making his debut in the 3-1 loss to Serbia in 2009 at the age of 26. He also picked up the 2008/09 Absa Premiership Top Goal Scorer award for his 19 league goals to help Golden Arrows equal their highest ever finish since the league was reduced to 16 teams in the 2002/03 season.