Ajax Cape Town head coach, Muhsin Ertugral, will only return to South Africa midway through January as he mourns the death of his foster father.

Adnan Senses, Ertugral’s uncle and guardian, passed away on Christmas Day in Istanbul, Turkey, and will have come as a huge blow to the Turkish coach, who was very close to his uncle.

According to Ajax’s official website, Senses was ‘a famous Turkish film actor, singer and songwriter who appeared on the stages of many major music halls, and starred in a total of 47 Yeşilçam films.’

The Urban Warriors, who return to training on January 3, went on to explain that ‘due to family commitments and traditions, Muhsin will return to Cape Town in mid-January 2014.

Soccer-Laduma wishes to extend their heartfelt condolences to Muhsin and the Ertugral family in what must be a very difficult time for them.