- A video of the late Jayden Adams' young son reacting to Mamelodi Sundowns' MTN8 final win moved thousands of South Africans on social media
- Sundowns beat Orlando Pirates 2-0 at Moses Mabhida Stadium on 10 October, with the club dedicating the victory to their late number 8
- Coach Miguel Cardoso copied Adams' signature celebration at the final whistle as a tribute to the Bafana Bafana midfielder who died in July
A clip of the late Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams' son, Jude, has brought South Africans to tears.
Source: Getty Images
Posted on X by @amandam4life just before 1 am on 11 October, the video shows the child celebrating as the scoreboard behind him reads Sundowns 2, Pirates 0 in stoppage time.
Mamelodi Sundowns claimed the MTN8 trophy on Saturday, 10 October, defeating Orlando Pirates 2-0 in front of a packed Moses Mabhida Stadium. Teboho Mokoena opened the scoring early, and Iqraam Rayners converted a late penalty to seal it, ending the club's four-year wait for the title.
Sundowns dedicated the result to Adams, their number 8, and coach Miguel Cardoso paid his own tribute at the final whistle by replicating Adams' signature celebration.
Who was Jayden Adams?
Adams was a Bafana Bafana midfielder who moved to Sundowns from Stellenbosch FC in January 2025. He was 25 years old when he passed away on 11 July, just two weeks after playing a role in South Africa's historic run to the FIFA World Cup knockout stage.
Police opened an inquest following his death, and no official cause has been released. Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie urged the public to refrain from speculation.
The loss left a deep mark on the Sundowns camp. The club postponed its league opener as the players grieved. Defender Fawaaz Basadien spoke publicly before the final, saying the squad were determined to lift the trophy in Adams' honour.
Watch the moving clip below, as posted on X.
How Mzansi reacted
Replies beneath the viral post were tender and heartfelt. One user simply wrote,
"Oh wow…that's sweet man."
Another expressed hope that the boy grows up to have everything his father had wished for him. Others left messages like
"Eish Jayden my boy" alongside heart emojis.
In a touching footnote to the Adams family's connection to the game, Pirates have reportedly signed Adams' younger brother, Ronaldo.
Jayden Adams's girlfriend hints at conflict
Briefly News previously reported that Aqueelah Adendorf posted an emotional tribute to her five-year-old daughter Allaia-Jayda on TikTok, hinting that all was not well
The late Bafana Bafana star's partner liked comments suggesting she had been excluded from family events and denied access to resources
Source: Briefly News
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