Feziwe Radebe was diagnosed with the disease before the end of Radebe's career at Leeds United but fought against it.

Her death on Saturday morning aged 34 is a devastating blow to the former Bafana Bafana captain. His young son, Lucas junior, is nine and daughter Owami is four.

Radebe was born in South Africa – one of 11 children. Although originally a goalkeeper he signed for the Kaizer Chiefs Football Club where he excelled as a midfielder.

In 1991 he was shot while walking down the street in a bizarre incident where the motive for the shooting never became clear.

The player believed someone had been hired to shoot him in order to prevent him from moving to another club.

Following the incident Lucas moved to Leeds United in 1994 where he became a star player and was appointed captain of the team for the 1998/99 season.

At the end of the 2005 season, Radebe retired from professional football in a star-studded testimonial match attended by more
than 37,000 fans at Elland Road and involving players from all around the world.