CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) - The police are currently investigating the death of South African World Cup soccer player Jayden Adams, whose body was found over the weekend in the city of Cape Town. The 25-year-old athlete recently played a pivotal role in helping South Africa advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time, just two weeks before his untimely death.

Authorities have not disclosed the cause of Adams' death. According to a police statement, "Cape Town central police registered an inquest for investigation following the discovery of the body of a 25-year-old male on Saturday." They revealed that the body was discovered at around 11 a.m. in Schotsche Kloof, a neighborhood in Cape Town, but did not provide further information regarding the circumstances of the incident.

In a heartfelt interview with South African television news station eNCA, Juanito Adams, the father of Jayden, expressed the family’s struggle to cope with the loss. "As you all know, it was an untimely death. The family is struggling to process it," he said. The family is currently awaiting the results of an autopsy before making any funeral arrangements. "It won’t be easy to carry on," Juanito Adams added. "People say it will become easier, but it won’t. You just learn to live with it."

Adams had made significant contributions to the South African national team during the World Cup, playing in all three of the team’s group matches and helping secure the nation’s best performance in World Cup history. However, he did not participate in the team’s 1-0 loss to Canada in the round of 32 on June 28.

South Africa’s Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, revealed that Adams had played a group game against the Czech Republic mere hours after learning the news of his grandmother's passing. Calling for restraint and compassion from the public and media, McKenzie urged everyone not to speculate about the cause of Adams' death as the investigation continues.

Following Adams’ tragic death, moments of silence and tributes were observed at the World Cup quarterfinal matches, including England vs. Norway and Argentina vs. Switzerland, where players and fans honored his memory. The international soccer community has expressed grief over the loss of the promising young athlete who made a remarkable impact on the field during his career.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Jayden Adams' death remains ongoing, as police collect evidence and await autopsy results. The sports world, and particularly South African soccer fans, mourn the loss of a talent who demonstrated dedication and skill on the international stage.