Philemon Mulala: Former Zambian soccer star, 60, mauled to death by his own three dogs
LICHTENBERG, SOUTH AFRICA: Philemon Mulala tragically died aged 60 after being horrifically mauled by his three dogs in his own back garden on Saturday, January 7. The former Zambian international soccer star was found dead by his wife in the garden of his home in the South African town of Lichtenburg, according to a statement by the South African Police Service.
After finding the ex-Copper Bullets star with life-threatening injuries, his wife immediately called the emergency services who rushed to the scene. But sadly they couldn’t revive the former Zambian soccer star as he was pronounced dead in his garden shortly after their arrival. As per the police press release, his partner didn't check when she heard the dogs barking from the opposite side of their house as the dogs used to "frequently bark at pedestrians and vehicles passing by".
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Mulala’s partner later went outside and found him brutally bitten by their two Staffordshire bull terrier/pitbull crosses, and another dog which is of an unknown breed, according to Mirror. South African cops have already launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the events. The three dogs have also been removed from the property by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
A police statement, read by spokesperson Sam Tsulanyane, detailed how Mulala's wife discovered his body. "She did not bother to go and check what was wrong [when the dogs were barking] as their house is situated on a busy street and the dogs frequently barked at pedestrians and vehicles passing by," the statement read. "After the electricity was restored [after loadshedding], she went inside looking for her husband, but could not find him. Upon continuing with her search, the woman saw her husband lying motionless outside in the garden. She then went outside, only to find that the husband was bitten by their dogs."
Mulala was a renowned Zambian soccer player, who spent time with Mufulira Wanderers and Cape Town Spurs in his playing days. During his career, he played a number of positions, including left-back and right-wing. He had scored three goals in six appearances for Zambia. Mulala scored twice in the semifinal victory over Kenya at the East and Central African Championship, and was nicknamed Shombo -- translating as Hard Worker; he also enjoyed domestic success with local heavyweights Mufulira Wanderers in the mid-80s, where he was a teammate of Zambian greats Kalusha Bwalya, Efford Chabala, and Ashios Melu.
The Football Association of Zambia's general secretary Adrian Kashala led in paying tributes to the late star. "We remain with wonderful memories that the late Philemon honored us with on the pitch," Kashala said while speaking to Times Live newspaper, according to the Mirror. "There is a lot that today’s players can learn from the deceased’s generation.”