Oshwin Andries (24 February 2003 – 4 February 2023) was a South African footballer who played in the South African Premier Division for Stellenbosch.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 24 February 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | South Africa | ||
| Date of death | 4 February 2023 (aged 19) | ||
| Place of death | Paarl, South Africa | ||
| Position(s) | Defender, midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Maties Academy | |||
| Gleneagles | |||
| 2018–2021 | Stellenbosch | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2023 | Stellenbosch | 10 | (1) |
| Total | 10 | (1) | |
| International career | |||
| 2022 | South Africa U20 | 4 | (2) |
| 2022 | South Africa U23 | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editAndries played for local youth sides Maties Academy and Gleneagles, before joining professional team Stellenbosch in 2018.[1] He progressed through the academy, notably winning the South African reserve competition, the DStv Diski Challenge, before going on to win the Premier League Next Gen Cup in England - scoring from the half-way line in a 7–2 win over Leicester City in the final.[2]
Following an injury crisis at Stellenbosch during the 2022–23 season, Andries was drafted into the first team, featuring at centre-back in a 1–1 draw with Orlando Pirates, with his performance being described as "near perfect" by broadcaster SuperSport.[3] He scored his first and only goal for the club three days later, in a 3–1 win over Royal AM; receiving the ball on the edge of his own area, he drove forward before passing to a teammate, receiving it back and scoring.[2][4] In doing so, he became Stellenbosch's youngest ever goal-scorer in the South African top flight.[5]
International career
editAndries represented South Africa at under-20 and under-23 level, captaining the former.[6][7]
Death and subsequent investigation
editOn 29 January 2023, Andries was having drinks at a bar in Klapmuts with four others, including his niece, Nadene Hartman, and his girlfriend, Ruché van Rooyen.[8] According to Van Rooyen, after a man had bumped into her accidentally, Andries had jokingly asked him why he had done so.[8] The man took his joke seriously, and an argument ensued, which led to a fistfight between the man and Andries, according to Hartman.[9]
Van Rooyen stated that the man returned later with a knife, and began stabbing multiple people before stabbing Andries repeatedly, with the footballer receiving wounds to his head and lower back.[8] After his attacker had fled, Andries was taken to a hospital in Stellenbosch, but was discharged just five hours later after his wounds had been bandaged.[8] Over the next few days, he spent his time between his mother and girlfriend's homes, and even attended Stellenbosch training sessions – though he was not involved – before complaining of pain. His mother took him to a private doctor, who cleaned his wounds and gave him stronger painkillers, but after this did not help, his mother decided to take him from his girlfriend's house to a hospital in Paarl.[8] He reportedly stopped breathing on the journey to the hospital, while in his mother's arms, and was confirmed dead on his arrival at the hospital on 4 February 2023.[6][10]
The family of the alleged perpetrator reportedly fled their family home, with the sister of the alleged stating that they "lived in fear because people want to kill [her] brother", after a crowd of people had invaded their home on the night of the incident.[9] She also stated that alcohol had been involved, and that the police had turned them away when her brother went to hand himself in.[9] Andries' mother stated that she had not received an apology or condolences from the family of the alleged.[8]
His funeral was held on 18 February 2023, where hundreds gathered to pay their respects.[1] On what would have been his 20th birthday, his club, Stellenbosch, retired his number 25 jersey in his honour.[11] In February 2024, a year after his death, the inaugural Andries Memorial Festival, an under-11 sports festival, was held.[12]
In June 2024 a man was arrested on charges of attempted murder, as prosecutors decided Andries died as a result of medical complications, not the initial stab wounds.[13] Following the arrest, Andries' mother stated that the accused should "rot in jail."[14]
Career statistics
editClub
edit| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Stellenbosch | 2021–22 | DStv Premiership | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 9 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | ||
References
edit- ^ a b Makora, Misheck (18 February 2023). "Soccer star Oshwin laid to rest". snl24.com. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Steve Barker pays tribute to Oshwin Andries". stellenboschfc.com. 9 February 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Injury crisis throws up new Stellies star". supersport.com. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ Khoza, Neville (16 September 2022). "Andries fired up by first goal, vows more to come". sowetanlive.co.za. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ Msomi, Smiso (5 February 2023). "What happened to murdered Stellenbosch FC player Oshwin Andries?". iol.co.za. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ a b Dove, Ed (4 February 2023). "SA U-20 captain Oshwin Andries died after multiple stab wounds - Police". espn.co.uk. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "SA U23s gear up for Togo qualifier test". safa.net. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Solomons, Lisalee (11 February 2023). "'You take a life, you must get life'- mom of slain Stellenbosch soccer star Oshwin Andries". news24.com. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ a b c Nell, Brandon (7 February 2023). "Soccer star Oshwin Andries' self-confessed stabber fears for his life". iol.co.za. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ Strydom, Marc; Nombembe, Philani (5 February 2023). "Some details emerge about stabbing and death of SA U20 captain Oshwin Andries". timeslive.co.za. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Stellenbosch FC retire no. 25 jersey in honour of Oshwin Andries". stellenboschfc.com. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "SFC supports inaugural Oshwin Andries Memorial Festival". stellenboschfc.com. 24 February 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
- ^ Solomons, Lisalee (21 June 2024). "Man arrested for attempted murder in connection with stabbing of Stellenbosch FC star Oshwin Andries". news24.com. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
- ^ Solomons, Lisalee (22 June 2024). "Slain Stellenbosch soccer star's mom says accused 'must rot in jail'". news24.com. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
Oscar Muller
edit- Oshwin Andries at Soccerway