International Footballer Dies Aged 31 After Complex Medical Battle

• Gadi Kinda tragically passed away following a 'complex medical battle', as confirmed by his club, Maccabi Haifa
• The Ethiopian-born midfielder earned 10 caps for Israel and Sporting Kansas City, scoring 16 goals in 80 appearances
• Tributes poured in from clubs and fans, with Sporting KC and Maccabi Haifa mourning a talented, humble player

Israeli international and Maccabi Haifa midfielder, Gadi Kinda, has passed away at the age of only 31 after what the club described as a 'complex medical battle'.

His death was confirmed on Tuesday, May 20, just two weeks after the Israeli Premier League side confirmed that he had been hospitalised with health problems.

His last appearance for the club came on March 29 this year.

Kinda also represented Israel at international level, earning 10 caps.

Among his international highlights was a match against Portugal, where he shared the pitch with Cristiano Ronaldo.

In a statement on X, his domestic team wrote a message, translated as follows:

"Maccabi Haifa Football Club mourns the death of the team's player, Gadi Raphael Kinda. The Maccabi Haifa family comforts the Kinda family and prays that they will not know any more sorrow."

Gadi Kinda: A career across continents

Born in Ethiopia and raised in Israel from age three, Kinda began his football journey with FC Ashdod’s youth academy and made his senior debut at 17.

He later played for Beitar Jerusalem before making a move to the United States, where he starred in Major League Soccer (MLS) for Sporting Kansas City. He scored on his MLS home debut in 2020, contributing to a 4–0 victory for Sporting Kansas City over Houston.

Between 2020 and 2023, he played four seasons with Sporting KC, notching 16 goals and 17 assists in 80 appearances.

Kinda missed the 2022 season due to injury but remained a key figure for the club when fit.

Sporting Kansas City paid tribute to their former player in a heartfelt statement:

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of former Sporting Kansas City midfielder Gadi Kinda. Our hearts are with Gadi’s family, his friends, teammates, and all who knew him."

Major League Soccer also released a statement after news of Kinda's tragic death broke online:

"Major League Soccer mourns the passing of former Sporting Kansas City midfielder Gadi Kinda at the age of 31.

"During his four seasons with Kansas City from 2020 - 2023, Gadi was a fan favorite for his outstanding play on the field, his passion for the sport, and his spirit of kindness and his generosity to everyone around him.

"We extend our deepest sympathies to Gadi’s family, friends, fans, and everyone with Sporting Kansas City."

As reported by Mirror Football, Kinda's passing marks a tragic end to a career full of promise and passion, and he is remembered for his talent and the grace and humility he brought to the game.

On the international scene, Kinda earned 10 caps for the Israeli national team, scoring on his debut in a friendly match against Montenegro in 2021.

In the attacking midfield role, per Transfermarkt, he scored two goals in 10 appearances for Israel. Overall, he made 344 appearances at the domestic and international level, with 41 goals and 42 assists.

Patrick Mahomes pays tribute to Kinda

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a part-owner of Sporting KC, expressed his condolences to Kinda's family and friends.

Recall that Sporting had shared support to Kinda on May 10, while he was still hospitalized. The players posed with his jersey prior to their MLS match against the Portland Timbers.

"For Gadi," the club posted on social media. "Please join us in showing support and love for Gadi Kinda during this difficult time."

African footballer dies after collapsing in training

YEN.com.gh previously reported that Sinamandla Zondi passed away on April 22 after collapsing during the warm-up ahead of a second-tier match involving his club, Durban City FC.

The 22-year-old South African defender was preparing for a game against Milford FC at the time. He was rushed to the hospital by ambulance but reportedly passed away while en route.

Nomso Obiajuru was a contributing writer in this article

Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh