Ex Chelsea player stabbed to death

FORMER Chelsea defender Jeffrey Ntuka has been stabbed to death at a nightclub in South Africa.

The 26-year-old, who joined Stamford Bridge nine years ago but never made a first team appearance, died in the early hours of this morning.

It has been claimed he was involved in a brawl before being attacked with a knife at the venue in Kroonstad.

He spent six months at Chelsea playing for the reserve team in 2003 before being loaned out to Belgian club Westerlo for five years.

He spent two months at Stamford Bridge from December 2008 before returning to South Africa two months later to sign for Kaizer Chiefs, and later Supersport United.

Michael Hughes, his agent at Stella Africa, told a local newspaper: "I just spoke to his wife for a couple minutes and she confirmed that Ntuka has passed away after being stabbed.

"Unfortunately, trouble seemed to follow Jeffrey around. He tried hard to surround himself with the right people and club-mates. But he struggled to really shake the image and stories that dogged his career.

"When his contract expired with [SuperSport] United, he had an unsuccessful trial with a second division Belgian side. We have been motivating him and he has been keeping fit."

The former national Under-23 player — who also had five caps for Bafana Bafana — had an unsuccessful trial with Belgian side Oosterzonen Oosterwijk last year.