Two football players from the second and third divisions of the Kavango East league tragically lost their lives, while seven others were hospitalized after being struck by lightning during a football match in Kamutjonga village, Mukwe constituency on Wednesday.
Kavango East crime investigations coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Bonifatius Kanyetu, confirmed the incident yesterday.
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According to Kanyetu, the incident occurred at the Young Elephant sports field in Kamutjonga village when the players were struck by lightning. The deceased have been identified as Muharukwe Thikuko (19), a goalkeeper for the Young Elephants, and Dennis Muthitu (17), a midfielder for Young Academy.
Thikuko’s sister, Petronela Nduva, stated that it was raining lightly when the lightning struck. The players were not actively playing but were instead cleaning the field in preparation for an upcoming league match.
The other players who were taken to Andara district hospital are Andreas Dinyando (17), Mukoya Patrick Makoya (23), Muhero Gotfried (17), Christoph Muyambo (17), Mayira Reino (17), and Jonas Mbangu (17).
The coach of Young Elephants, Mukuve Thapa, expressed his shock upon hearing the news. He mentioned that the players, traumatized by the incident, would require counseling. Thapa also anticipated resistance from parents in the future regarding their children’s involvement in soccer. He emphasized the loss of promising goalkeeper Muharukwe, which created a void in the team.
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Thapa is now awaiting instructions from the league administrators on the fate of the scheduled games.
Tovey Hoebeb, the head of safety and security at the Namibia Football Association, advised the league administrators to postpone the matches for the weekend in light of the tragic incident. He extended his sympathies to the families of the deceased players and wished a speedy recovery to those hospitalized.
Hoebeb also cautioned the football community to exercise caution during the rainy season. He emphasized the need to take cover and prioritize safety when storms are building up, as no one is immune to lightning strikes.
