“We have lost a fine prospect and a talented young lad,” laments coach Arthur Zwane about the late James McFarlene. “James has left us too soon and it is hard to comprehend what happened. It is going to take long for us to recover from this loss. We are shattered and all our thoughts are with his family. We will sorely miss him.’

Zwane paid tribute to U-19 Development Academy player, James McFarlene who passed away due to a horror car accident on Friday, 6 November.

“James joined us from Black Aces three season ago,” reveals Zwane. “We identified him from the youth national teams and saw him as a great prospect for the future. He played as an attacking midfielder and full of energy so much that you could use him either as a number 8 or 10. We had identified him for promotion to the reserve team in the upcoming season.’

[caption id="attachment_42588" align="alignnone" width="300"] James McFarlane[/caption]

Zwane accompanied by the football manager Bobby Motaung paid a visit to the family immediately after learning of McFarlene’s tragic passing. 

“To see the family in the sorrowful state they are in was hard,” adds Zwane. “We met his grief-stricken mother and the other family to express the sympathies on behalf of the Chiefs family. We wish to express our solidarity in grief with the family.”

The club is focusing on giving the family the support through this difficult time. “The Club is holding hands with the family to give them the necessary support,” says Zwane, “We will also trigger the system of supporting his teammates who are in the state of shock at the moment. It is sad but we trust time will heal. I would like to once more express our deepest heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and friends.”

James will be buried on Saturday, 14 November. The funeral will take place under Covid-19 regulations.