Tshivhilidulu Hungry Lions are mourning the death of their lethal striker, 27-year-old Khuthadzo Tshikumela, popularly known as Butter, who had allegedly committed suicide.
Butter was reported missing on Friday, 28 April. After nearly a week of searching for him, his uncle, Tshikulumela Tshifhiwa, found him in an empty, half-built house in Tshivhilidulu village.
According to acting police spokesperson Sergeant Vuledzani Dathi, the discovery of the body was made on Thursday, 4 May, at around 09:00. "The deceased was hanging by a white rope tied around his neck. He was wearing black trousers, a white T-shirt, and white plastic sleepers. His body was already in a decomposed state. All stakeholders attended the crime scene, and the deceased was conveyed to Tshilidzini Forensic for a post-mortem."
Dathi said the police's investigations were continuing.
The young soccer star's other uncle, Robert Mamphasa, who is also the team manager for Tshivhilidulu Hungry Lions, said Butter's death had come as a terrible shock to them all. "He was the pillar of the team; a player you could rely on in the field. He gave us a winning when he played his last game against Berea FC. We didn't know he was bidding us farewell."
Mamphasa said that he and his late brother, Jomo Mamphasa, had groomed Butter since he was just a young player. "He was such a good player. At one point we sent him to play for Mikhado FC, because Mikhado was playing at a top tier, and he helped them to participate in the play-offs twice. This season we decided to call him back to Hungry Lions, to come and assist our young players."
Mamphasa said he would always remember Butter as someone who loved playing soccer with all his heart. "Last weekend, we played a league game against Phadzima KSP and won 2-1. We dedicated the game to him," he said.