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Jayden Adams, midfielder for the South African national team and Mamelodi Sundowns, passed away this Saturday at the age of 25, just days after having participated in the 2026 World Cup, as confirmed by the country's Minister of Sports, Gayton McKenzie.
The body of the player was found on a property in the Schotsche Kloof neighborhood, in the center of Cape Town, reported the South African Police, which has opened an investigation.
The authorities have not revealed the cause of death, and the minister himself urged the media and the public to act with "discretion and compassion" and refrain from speculation.
"With deep dismay and great sorrow, I have received the news of the passing of Jayden Adams, midfielder for Mamelodi Sundowns and the South African national team," McKenzie said in an official statement.
Adams had starred in one of the most historic moments in his country's football just weeks ago: he was a starter in two of the three group stage matches of the 2026 World Cup and came on as a substitute in the 1-0 victory over South Korea that allowed the Bafana Bafana to qualify for the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time in their history.
The tournament also brought him a devastating personal blow: his grandmother, Marianna Adams, 72, passed away on June 17 in a hospital in Stellenbosch, just one day before the match against the Czech Republic.
Despite the pain, the player decided to stay focused with the national team and played as a starter in the match, where South Africa drew 1-1.
Her grandmother was buried on June 27 while Adams remained in the United States with the national team.
McKenzie highlighted this gesture as an exceptional display of character: "The fact that he chose to wear the national team jersey and give his all for his country at that moment demonstrates great maturity and professionalism, far beyond his years, and reflects the human quality of this young man that South Africa has lost."
Born in Cape Town on May 5, 2001, Adams was trained at the Stellenbosch FC academy and was the first player from the club's youth system to sign a professional contract in August 2020.
In January 2025, he made the leap to Mamelodi Sundowns with a three-and-a-half-year contract, where he established himself as a key player in midfield wearing the number 8 jersey and contributed to the team winning the CAF Champions League in the 2025-26 season.
Internationally, he debuted with the senior national team against Mozambique in 2022 and has accumulated 13 matches, with two goals, both in the World Cup qualifiers.
The South African Footballers' Union also expressed its condolences: "South African football has lost a talented player, a proud servant of the sport, and a young life that still had much to offer."
McKenzie concluded his statement with a phrase that encapsulates the sentiment of an entire nation: "Our nation stands in mourning with his family, his teammates, and the millions of fans who watched him grow from a promising youth player to a full international with the South African national team."
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