A promising young footballer who dreamed of playing for his parents’ country of origin was stabbed to death at his front door in London.
Victim Matthew Kitandwe, 18, who had represented Uganda at youth level, was ambushed as he put his key in the lock on returning home from college yesterday.
A neighbour who saw the aftermath of the 4.15pm attack in Battersea said: “The poor kid’s dad was crying with his face to the sky, holding his dying child. It was awful.”
The former Wimbledon College pupil is the third teenager to be killed in London this year.
Paramedics fought to save his life for almost an hour before he was pronounced dead at the scene, a mix of flats and million-pound family homes just north of Clapham Junction station.
Councillor Marie Hanson, who visited the bereaved family today, said: “Matthew’s mother just keeps repeating, ‘This is so unfair’.”
A neighbour told the Standard she saw three young men jump out of a car and act as if they were hunting for someone shortly before the stabbing.
Matthew played as a right back for Colliers Wood United and had just been promoted to the first team.
He played for Uganda at the 2015 Africa Youth Qualifiers and his ambition had been to represent the country at the top international level.
The teenager told a Ugandan sports website in an interview last year: “I have a dream and that is representing my country.”
Colliers Wood first team manager Tony Hurrell said: “He was a smashing lad, always on time and a pleasure to be around.
“I am just so shocked. He was a lovely boy and a good player at this level. His attitude was exemplary and we will all really miss him.”
Scotland Yard said an 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody at a south London police station.
Source: Standard.co.uk