Peter Ndlovu in critical condition

[craig 5,199]

British football clubs have sent their good wishes to Zimbabwean striker Peter Ndlovu, who is in a critical condition in hospital after a car accident which killed his older brother Adam and a female passenger.

 

Ndlovu, 39, who played for a number of teams in England, was taken to hospital in his home city of Bulawayo after the crash near Victoria Falls in the west of the country. He is Zimbabwe's former captain, most capped player and record goalscorer. Adam Ndlovu, 42, was also a former Zimbabwe international.

 

Details of Peter Ndlovu's injuries were not immediately known but he was expected to be flown to the capital Harare later in a helicopter provided by the Zimbabwe Football Association, the Associated Press reported. The female passenger has not been named.

 

Zimbabwe prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai said in a statement he was "deeply saddened at the passing on of a soccer legend, Adam Ndlovu" in what he called "a horror crash". He said: "My prayers are with the Ndlovu family, the football fraternity and the nation at this sad loss."

 

The brothers were travelling to Victoria Falls to take part in a charity match and were in Peter's SUV when it veered off the road around 12 miles from the famous waterfall.

 

A statement from Coventry City, his first English club, where he played from 1991-7, said: "Coventry City Football Club is saddened to hear of a tragic road accident in Zimbabwe that has left former striker Peter Ndlovu in a critical condition and claimed the life of his brother Adam. It has been reported that both were travelling from an away match between Chicken Inn FC and a local side when Ndlovu's car suffered a tyre blow-out which caused the car to veer off the road 20 kilometres outside Victoria Falls.

 

"Ndlovu achieved iconic status during his six years with the Sky Blues where he netted 39 goals in 176 (league) appearances for the club. Coventry City sends its best wishes and condolences to the Ndlovu family who will be in our thoughts."

 

His second club in England were Birmingham, who said: "The thoughts of everyone associated with Birmingham City Football Club are with Peter Ndlovu and his family following news of a serious car crash in Zimbabwe. Peter was a very popular player during his time at St Andrew's and we hope he pulls through this difficult time."

 

Ndlovu joined Huddersfield on loan over the winter of 2000-01, scoring four goals in six games for the Yorkshire club, and left Birmingham on a permanent basis in February 2001 when he joined Sheffield United on a free transfer. He played 154 times for the Bramall Lane club, scoring 29 goals, and left them in July 2004 when he returned to African club football.

 

Sheffield United released a statement on their official Twitter feed which read: "Our thoughts are with former player Peter Ndlovu, who has been critically injured in a car accident in his native Zimbabwe. #sufc."