South Africa Police say they are investigating the demise of World Cup footballer Jayden Adams, Yankee Scores reports.
Adams’ body was found this weekend at a property in the city of Cape Town.
Adams, 25, died two weeks after helping South Africa reach the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time.
No cause of death has been released by authorities.
Cape Town Police Launch Inquest
“Cape Town central police registered an inquest for investigation following the discovery of the body of a 25-year-old male on Saturday,” police said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. “Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation.”
Police said the body was found at a property in the Cape Town neighborhood of Schotsche Kloof at about 11 a.m. on Saturday but gave no more details.
The family was waiting for the results of an autopsy and had yet to make any funeral plans, Adams’ father Juanito Adams told South African TV news station eNCA on Sunday.
“As you all know, it was an untimely death. The family is struggling to process it,” Juanito Adams said. “It won’t be easy to carry on. People say it will become easier, but it won’t. You just learn to live with it.”
Remembering Adams’ Historic World Cup Run
Adams featured in all three of South Africa’s group games as they put in their best World Cup performance. He did not play in the 1-0 defeat to Canada in the round of 32 on June 28.
South Africa Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie acknowledge Adams’ strength in playing in his team’s group game against Czech Republic hours after learning that his grandmother had died. “The public and media should exercise restraint and compassion and not speculate on the cause of death of Mr Adams while authorities are investigating,” McKenzie said.
Tributes to Adams and moments of silence were observed at the World Cup quarter-final games between England and Norway and Argentina and Switzerland on Saturday.
