Courtesy: Iol News


Indoor soccer star killed in crash

July 15 2013

by Zainul Aberdeen

Durban - A Phoenix soccer player was killed and four people were seriously injured in an accident on Greenbury Drive on Sunday morning.

The five were returning home from a function when their BMW X5 veered off the road and slammed into a tree.

South African futsal (indoor soccer) player Desmond Pillay, 32, who was in the passenger seat, was killed in the crash.

The driver, Clive Augustine, is in a critical condition. Yugendran Yacoob and two unnamed women are in a serious condition.

Netcare 911 spokesman, Chris Botha, said the front passenger and driver were trapped in the car.

Pillay’s wife, Marlene, said she and her 10-year-old daughter, Delia, were devastated. Her husband had been selected to play in the SA Futsal National league in 2010.

Stewart Annamalai, chairman of the Stonebridge Sporting Club, described Pillay as a brilliant indoor soccer player.

He said Pillay had become an icon in soccer circles, earning the nickname “Deso the Indian King”, because of his powerful left-foot shots at goal.

Pillay played in the Premier Soccer League for Manning Rangers, Phoenix City and African Wanderers.

He also played for the Mobitell and Warwickshire indoor soccer clubs.

Sagie Kisten, the SA Football Association’s Phoenix vice-chairman, said Pillay had been playing football from the age of nine. “He coached children at the Northcroft grounds and the Phoenix City over-35 team.”






Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com