[WARNING: Article contains graphic image]
Cape Town - Police are investigating an assault on a Stellenbosch community activist, allegedly at the hands of a PSL soccer player.
Eon Hendrikse, 30, was bashed in the face with a whisky glass on Saturday evening at Centraal, which is located on the ground floor of Eikestad Mall. According to Hendrikse, he approached the 28-year-old Cape Town soccer player in the men’s toilet and spoke about his prospective move to a top Gauteng club.
“I was out with friends at a place called Centraal. I am a regular customer at this place and never had any trouble there before.
“I got him in the toilet and spoke to him and told him in a friendly manner that we would not like it if he had to move because we the people of Stellenbosch love him so much,” Hendrikse said.
He alleged the soccer star, whose identity is known to the Cape Argus, then got aggressive towards him.
Hendrikse, who serves as the CEO and co-founder of Idas Valley Community Trails, said after pleading with him to calm down, he was smacked across the face and his blood splattered all over the floor.
“The next moment, I just felt how I got hit by a glass and a warm feeling went over my face of all the blood,” he said.
Hendrikse was then rushed to hospital, where he required 25 stitches under his eye and along his nose, and another 10 in his head.
Police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie said a case of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm was being investigated.
“It is alleged that the complainant was walking to the toilets when he met the soccer player from a local football club and spoke to him about rumours that he might be joining another club soon. It is further alleged that later when the complainant returned from the toilets, the soccer player hit him in the face with a whisky glass,” Pojie said.
He confirmed Hendrikse received medical treatment and no arrests had yet been made.
The player’s club confirmed that it was made aware of an alleged incident that occurred over the weekend involving two of its players.
The club’s head of media and stakeholder relations said the incident did not occur within the confines of the club’s operations, and an internal investigation was under way.
Responding to the allegations, the player, told Cape Argus yesterday that he was travelling and was not prepared to comment at this time.