The family of Bafana Bafana star Jayden Adams has confirmed that only family members will be allowed to attend the funeral service at the cemetery.
In a statement released ahead of the funeral, the Adams family said that, given the interest in the funeral and the magnitude of the occasion, a meeting was convened with all relevant role players, including police, the venue owner and traffic services.
“In the best interest of all attendees and to ensure that we say goodbye to our beloved Jayden in a dignified manner, a collective decision was taken that:
“a) Only the family will be allowed to view the body before the service;
“b) Only the family will be allowed to attend the service at the cemetery.
“These decisions weren’t taken lightly, as we know you all wanted to share all moments with us, but we are sure you can understand and respect them given the expected number of attendees at the funeral.”
However, the family confirmed that the main service, which starts at 10:30am, can be attended by all, or by those with a specific armband.
Members of the public can watch the livestream of the funeral here.
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“We as the family want to take this opportunity to once again thank you for the amazing support you have shown thus far. To all those attending the funeral tomorrow, we want to thank you in advance for the support.”
Adams’ death sent shockwaves through South African football. While police have opened an inquest into the circumstances surrounding his death, unconfirmed reports suggesting he may have died by suicide prompted renewed calls for greater awareness of the mental health challenges faced by elite athletes and the need for better access to professional support.
The tragedy came just weeks after Adams represented South Africa at the FIFA Club World Cup. It also emerged that he had played for Bafana Bafana in an international friendly against the Czech Republic shortly after the death of his grandmother, a gesture that Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie described as a testament to his dedication and professionalism.
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