Shooting of a Premier League and World Cup icon left him within inches of death
Leeds United legend Lucas Radebe once had a miraculous escape after being shot in the back in his native South Africa. Radebe came from a modest family and grew up in the rough area of Soweto, Johannesburg, before captaining his country in two World Cups.
Would be desperate for the 57 year old South Africa To reach the knockout stage of world cup For the first time this summer, they will face hosts Mexico in the tournament opener on June 11. This match is in contrast to the opening match of the prestigious World Cup 2010 in South Africa, where Siphiwe Tshabalala scores in spectacular style Earlier, Mexico tied at 1-1.
Radebe retired in 2005 after an illustrious career, where he is best known for his performances At the heart of the Leeds defence. In over 250 sports. But, before that, the central defender started his career with South African team Kaizer Chiefs.
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His career and life almost ended in 1991 when he was suddenly shot in his car while shopping for his mother in Soweto, initially without him even realizing it. Radebe said four four two: “By 1991, I was in my 20s and had returned to Soweto. My mother Emily ran a spaza shop, earning a living by selling convenience items like food and drinks to the locals in our area.
“That day had started like any other. As usual, I was on my way to buy drinks in bulk, which my mother then resold. I was going about my business not far from my house when I heard a loud bang. It felt as if my back was on fire. I was in the car with my younger brother Lazarus, and suddenly my leg went numb. I realized I had been shot. I saw blood on the seat.
“I thought I would become another victim of gun violence. Many of my childhood friends were dead or sent to prison. When my brother took me to the hospital, I feared I would be paralyzed for life. But, miraculously, when doctors began examining me, they found that the bullet had only penetrated the flesh and had passed through all my vital organs.”
He said: “Many people would not have survived – I was extremely lucky to survive. Having almost lost my life, you would imagine that an investigation would have been launched, but there was no follow-up from the police. They turned a blind eye to violent crime.
“When I was in the hospital recovering from surgery, my first question to the doctors was, 'Will I be able to play football again?' In the township, football has always been an escape from the difficulties of life. It was something we loved.”
The culprit was never found. Radebe later said: “To be honest I don't know what the motive was, there's a history of players being shot when they change clubs, but with me, I was a few blocks away from my house when I heard a gunshot and I realized I'd been shot.”
Despite being shot, he managed to make a quick and full recovery and three years later moved to Elland Road alongside compatriot Phil Masinga. Radebe has since admitted that his decision to leave South Africa in 1994, despite winning the National Soccer League in 1989, 1991 and 1992, was partly motivated by the firing.
But it paid off for Leeds, whose £250,000 signing of the defender remains one of their best-value transfers to date.
At international level, Radebe earned 70 caps, with his greatest achievement being the AFCON victory in 1996. He captained his country at both the World Cup 1998 and World Cup 2002, although Bafana Bafana were eliminated in the knockout stage on both occasions.
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