Sundowns and Bafana star Jayden Adams dies aged 25

South African football has been plunged into mourning following the sudden death of Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana midfielder Jayden Adams at the age of 25. ipl-cricket.in

Sundowns have yet to make a statement and the cause of Adams’ death has not yet been made public.

A World Cup with Bafana

His untimely passing comes just weeks after representing Bafana Bafana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where South Africa reached the Round of 32 before suffering a 1-0 defeat to Canada.

The former Stellenbosch FC midfielder featured in all three of Bafana’s group stage matches at the tournament but was an unused substitute in the knockout clash against Canada.

Adams, along with seven other Sundowns players who represented South Africa at the World Cup, had been granted an additional two weeks’ leave before returning for pre-season. He had been expected to rejoin Miguel Cardoso’s squad next week during their training camp in Austria.

The talented midfielder joined Sundowns in January last year after completing a move from Stellenbosch, where he had established himself as one of the Premier Soccer League’s best midfielders.

A product of the Stellenbosch academy, Adams signed his first professional contract in 2020 before becoming a key figure in the first team.

He made 139 appearances for the Cape Winelands club, the second most in their history, before securing a move to the Brazilians.

A Stellies star

During his time with Stellies, Adams helped the club win the 2023 Carling Knockout. He continued his success at Sundowns, winning the Betway Premiership and CAF Champions League titles in less than two years.

On the international stage, Adams was part of the Bafana squad that claimed a bronze medal at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.

His death has sent shockwaves through South African football, with tributes expected to pour in from across the local and international game.

Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote has picked a formidable side for the team’s Junior World Championship semi-final against England in Tbilisi on Monday evening, with kick-off t 6.30pm.

In all, there are four changes to the side that last ran out in the tournament earlier this week.

There are two changes in the backline and two in the forwards from the side that defeated Wales in their final Pool A encounter.

Foote has also opted for six forwards and two backs on the replacements bench, underlining the physical challenge expected from England.

In the forwards, Kebotile Maake will start at openside flanker, with Luke Cannon named on the blindside and Gert Kemp at No 8. They replace Risima Khosa, who is on the bench, and Vujo Gwiji in the loose forwards.

The backline changes see Markus Muller back at outside centre in place of Samuel Badenhorst, while Luan Giliomee returns to the starting line-up at fullback after successfully completing his head injury assessment protocols. Giliomee takes over from Alzeadon Felix, who provides backline cover from the bench.

Foote said the extra recovery day between the pool phase and semi-finals provided an opportunity to freshen up the squad ahead of a demanding encounter.

“We’ve made some rotational changes to the squad, mindful that we had an extra day for recovery, which came at the right time after three pool matches in a relatively short period,” said Foote.

“We have selected what we believe is an exciting team and a combination best suited to our game model against a very good England side.”

England advanced to the semi-finals after winning all three of their pool matches and arrive unbeaten, just like the Junior Boks.

“England have shown their quality by winning all three of their pool games,” said Foote.

“They have a strong and successful history in this competition and will be highly motivated for this match. We have prepared well, and now it’s about executing our plan.”

Junior Boks:

Luan Giliomee, Cheswill Jooste, Markus Muller, Ethan Adams, Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, Yaqeen Ahmed, Hendré Schoeman, Gert Kemp, Luke Cannon, Kebotile Maake, JD Hattingh, Heinrich Theron, Danie Kruger, Siphosethu Mnebelele (capt), Oliver Reid. Bench: Liam van Wyk, Rambo Kubheka, Luan van der Berg, Jaythen Orange, Thomas Beling, Risima Khosa, Jayden Brits, Alzeadon Felix

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Avant la rencontre de ce samedi entre son pays et l’Angleterre à Miami pour le troisième quart de finale, Erling Haaland, auteur de sept buts, a lancé le match entre lui et le tricolore Kylian Mbappé pour le titre de meilleur buteur. Sur son compte Snapcht, il s’est amusé, ces dernières heures de ce duel à distance avec l’attaquant du Real Madrid.

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The Ladies’ wheelchair doubles campaign of South Africa’s world No 11 Kgothatso Montjane and Great Britain’s world No 14 Lucy Shuker ended in the Wimbledon 2026 semi‑finals – a result overshadowed by the remarkable nature of their partnership and the disabilities they navigate to compete at the highest level.

The duo were the most disabled pairing in this year’s wheelchair ladies draw.

They had hoped to recreate the magic of 2021, when both reached the singles and doubles finals.

After a gritty three‑set quarter-final win over Jiske Griffioen and Ksenia Chasteau on Wednesday, they fell to top seeds Yui Kamiji and Zhenzhen Zhu 6-3, 6-2 on Thursday.

Deeper realities of wheelchair tennis

But it was their post‑match press conferences that revealed the deeper realities of wheelchair tennis.

The South African’s Amisha Savani spoke to the duo after their quarter-final, focusing on disability classifications.

Wimbledon currently has two divisions: the Wheelchair Ladies/Gentlemen’s draw for athletes with permanent leg impairments but full upper‑body function, and the Quad division for players with significant loss of function in at least one upper limb.

Kgothatso Montjane was born with amniotic band syndrome, which compromised limb development.

Her left leg was amputated at age 12, and parts of her fingers are missing. This affects her grip and wheelchair movement, requiring racquet modifications.

Shuker became a T4 paraplegic after a motorbike accident and is paralysed from the chest down, making core‑dependent movements exceptionally challenging.

Contrasting strengths

But their contrasting strengths make the partnership work.

Shuker explained: “Doubles allows me to use my flair, so use the hands. KG’s reach and movement at the back of the court, and hustling, ball striking is incredible at the moment as well so it gives me confidence”.

Kgothatso Montjane and Shuker compete in the Ladies’ division, despite both having disabilities that extend beyond the rest of the draw.

Savani asked whether more categorisation was needed, given the wide range of disabilities within each division.

The two are divided on the topic, but respect each other’s views. Shuker thinks there should be more categorisation, Montjane thinks there shouldn’t.

Shuker: “As one of the most disabled girls in singles, I think it would grow the sport because I think it would give the opportunity for more people with profound disability to come to the sport”.

She added: “I am one of the most disabled, so I’m obviously going to want another Lucy to come through … That also translates into society”.

The British star stressed that clear divisions would enable others in the position to know that they can also do it, and have value.

Dilute the sport

Kgothatso Montjane believes additional categories would dilute the sport and move it away from tennis.

“When it comes to disability sport, it’s one of the adapted sports that’s almost relatable to the actual tennis”.

Referencing the main (able-bodied) draw: “I feel like that’s the direction we should be going in … not to cut down the quads, but the quads are no longer the quadriplegics that we know”.

She even supports reducing the bounce allowance from two to one.

“The sport is evolving; the draws are growing in grand slams, so why not keep it competitive like everybody?”

Looking ahead, the duo face uncertainty.

Shuker admitted this may be her final Wimbledon, citing qualification challenges and rising competition.

“I didn’t qualify directly this year, and you know, singles is incredibly tough. With my disability, my age, the girls are hitting bigger and faster. But I haven’t stopped loving tennis”.

‘Tough call’

Kgothatso Montjane said reuniting for the US Open would be a “tough call”, as Shuker would need to qualify or receive a wildcard. Montjane will gain direct entry, but Shuker likely won’t.

With pairings being confirmed now, Montjane may need to commit soon.

“We’re not sure what can happen, so it’s tough.”

Shuker acknowledged the dilemma.

“The problem with KG is that if she waits, she could end up with a weaker doubles partner, so I would have full respect for KG to partner up with someone else … That’s the heartbreak of wheelchair tennis, that it’s the singles dominated sport and then you get to play doubles”.

She added that separate singles and doubles entries might one day be possible, though logistically difficult.

Paid tribute

Reflecting on her journey, Shuker said: “sometimes success isn’t always about trophies. It’s about showing up every single day and giving it your all and I’ve embraced it” and “I didn’t expect to be a Paralympian, didn’t expect to be competing at Grand Slams, so for me, that’s been the success: embracing the journey, accepting my disability, finding the joy in life, day to day”.

Kgothatso Montjane paid tribute to her partner.

“It’s been incredible … Coming from Africa, Lucy’s one of the players that I’ve gotten close to, she’s introduced me to the tour, made me comfortable around the tour, so she’ll be sorely missed if she stopped, because she’s always made the environment quite easy for me”.

Shuker ended with words that resonated, and left the room with unexpected emotional clarity.

“People can take things for granted very easily. I think there’s a lot of people in the world that can struggle and I think my accident gave me that choice to either accept it and move on, and don’t focus on the ‘if’s.

“Life is for living and life is for embracing challenges, and through challenges we learn and we grow as people. Sometimes you have to look really deep inside yourself to come out the other side”.

Amisha Savani is reporting exclusively for The South African from the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon