Jayden Adams came home from the World Cup and never got the chance to process what he'd just been through. The 25-year-old South Africa midfielder was found dead at a property in the Schotsche Kloof neighbourhood of Cape Town shortly after returning from North America. Cape Town police have opened an investigation. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
The South African Football Players Union confirmed his passing on Saturday. A minute's silence was held before the England vs Norway quarterfinal the same day.
A player who showed up when it was hardest
What makes Adams's story cut deeper is the context around his World Cup. His grandmother, Marianna, died the day before South Africa's 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic. He started that match anyway. He also started the 2-0 defeat to Mexico, came off the bench in the 1-0 win over South Korea, and was an unused substitute when Canada ended South Africa's tournament on June 28.
That's a lot for a 25-year-old to carry on a World Cup stage, in front of the world, with grief sitting in his chest.
South Africa's minister of sports, arts and culture, Gayton McKenzie, addressed it directly: "That he chose to wear the national jersey and give his all for his country in that moment speaks to a depth of character and professionalism well beyond his years."
His father, Juanito Adams, spoke to eNCA on Sunday. "The family is struggling to process it. It won't be easy to carry on," he said. "The whole world is reacting to Jayden's death. We can see the love the world had for his soccer and for Jayden."
Police in Cape Town are now trying to find answers the family doesn't yet have.
