Gomolemo Mavimbela was killed during a car crash involving footballer Shaune Mogaila.
Image: X
“Sekhukhune United FC you should hang your head in shame!” These are some of the strong sentiments aimed at the Limpopo PSL club after it decided to reinstate footballer Shaune Mogaila to top flight football, despite him facing culpable homicide charges after he was involved in a fatal crash in October last year.
The family of Gomolemo Mavimbela, the nine-year-old girl who was killed in a car crash involving Sekhukhune United star Shaune Mogaila has accused the club of lying after the footballer made the headlines in a man of the match performance at the weekend. It was his first taste of football since that football head-on crash in Thembisa, four months ago.
Mogaila played again on Wednesday night as his team were defeated 4-2 by Mamelodi Sundowns. It was at the weekend where the footballer stood out like a sore thumb, grabbing a man of the match cheque after helping his team beat Chippa United.
The drama escalated after the match when club officials claimed the footballer was back playing football again with the blessing of the Mavimbela family.
In October last year, Mogaila was involved in a fatal head-on car crash that resulted in the death of Gomolemo, which also left her mother, Kea, in a critical condition. The footballer fled the scene on foot after the crash, but later handed himself to the police.
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While combing the scene after the fatal crash police revealed that they had found suspected cocaine, edibles, and pricey Don Julio tequila bottles in Mogaila's car.
The footballer’s man of the match performance this week was his first since the fatal crash.
On social media, fans have had their say as well, saying the club could have played Mogaila without lying about the families stance.
“@SekhukhuneFc you should hang your heads in shame. You could have just played Shaune Mogaila and not re-traumatise the family further by lying about getting their blessings,” said X user Phindi R.
“Was scrolling through the tl and saw that Shaune Mogaila, the footballer who drove under the influence of alcohol and caused an accident that claimed the life of a nine year old was allowed to play for his club over the weekend. This, amidst an ongoing court case. PSL?” Said X user Vusi Gumbi.
“Shaune Mogaila is back with a bang! Please I'm not ready to entertain other staff. Football must be seen as rehabilitation, even though I believe he must still be held accountable for that "Calpable Homicide" case,” said Kagiso Monyadiwa.
The 29-year-old is currently facing charges of culpable homicide, reckless and negligent driving, and fleeing the scene of an accident, but is out on R20,000 bail.
Since the incident, Mogaila had not played for Sekhukhune in the Betway Premiership. However, that changed last week when he participated in his team's 4-2 victory over AmaZulu at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium putting in a man-of-the-match performance.
When asked about Mogaila's return to football, Sekhukhune United stated that they had received permission from the family of the little girl involved in the incident to field the speedy winger.
However, the family has refuted the club's claim that they had their blessing to field the player, accusing the club of 'lying'.
"They are lying. They never spoke to us and never gave them consent about Mogaila playing,” family spokesperson Sifiso Skosana told Radio2000.
“The mother was in hospital for two months. She was only discharged in January. She still cannot walk. She didn’t even get to bury her beloved daughter who was buried while she was still in ICU.”
However, the club finds itself between a rock and a hard place as they are still contractually bound with the footballer and he has yet to be found guilty of any crime, despite the public pressure for him to remain on the sidelines.
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