| Mondli Cele | |
| Fullname: | Mondli Cele |
| Birth Date: | 19 March 1989 |
| Birth Place: | Durban, South Africa |
| Death Place: | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Years1: | 2012–2014 |
| Clubs1: | Gamalakhe United |
| Years2: | 2014–2016 |
| Clubs2: | Maritzburg United |
| Caps2: | 37 |
| Goals2: | 5 |
Mondli Cele (19 March 1989 – 17 January 2016) was a South African association football midfielder. He played his career only in South Africa, and died in a car accident near Pietermaritzburg.
Born in Durban, South Africa, Cele joined Port Shepstone-based second division club Gamalakhe United in 2012.[1]
Cele caught the eye of Maritzburg United coach, Steve Komphela, after impressing in a Nedbank Cup match against Engen Santos.[2] In August 2014, he joined Maritzburg United.[3]
Cele was included in the preliminary South Africa squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, but did not make the final 23.[4] [5] Maritzburg United captain Ashley Hartog said Cele's call-up, along with Kwanda Mngonyama, inspired their teammates.[6]
Cele died on Sunday, 17 January 2016, when a car he was in plunged into the Msunduzi River near Pietermaritzburg.[7] He had scored for Maritzburg United during their match against Orlando Pirates earlier on that day.[8] After his death, tributes to him were paid, including Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula saying it should serve as a reminder to fight road carnage in South Africa,[9] the Premier Soccer League observing a moment of silence at all the Sunday's matches,[10] Ghanaian former international player John Paintsil,[11] and Kurt Lentjies revealing that Maritzburg United had dedicated their 2015–16 Premier Soccer League season to him.[12]