South African police have opened an inquest into the death of World Cup player Jayden Adams, whose body was discovered at a property in Cape Town over the weekend.
Police said Adams, 25, was found at a property in Schotsche Kloof at around 11 a.m. on Saturday, according to an Associated Press report supplied in the editor file. Authorities have not released a cause of death.
Adams’ death came two weeks after he helped South Africa reach the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time. He played in all three of South Africa’s group matches but did not feature in the team’s 1-0 round-of-32 defeat to Canada on June 28.
His father, Juanito Adams, told South African broadcaster eNCA that the family was awaiting autopsy results and had not yet made funeral arrangements, according to the report. He described the death as untimely and said the family was struggling to process the loss.
South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie urged the public and media to show restraint and avoid speculation while the investigation continues. McKenzie also acknowledged Adams’ strength in playing for South Africa shortly after learning of his grandmother’s death.
Tributes were held for Adams at World Cup quarter-final matches, with moments of silence observed at England vs Norway and Argentina vs Switzerland.
For South African football, Adams’ death lands as both a sporting and national shock. He had been part of a team that delivered the country’s best World Cup performance, helping push Bafana Bafana into new territory before the tournament run ended against Canada.
Police have said the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.
