It has come to my attention that we have tragically lost one of our number. Michael da Costa, who posted on the site as “Miguel”, tragically lost his life in June this year after being hit by a car in Port Elizabeth.
Michael was a lovely guy and a hugely passionate Sharks supporter. He lived in Welkom and was the chairman of the local Sharks Supporters Club there, going down to Durban to attend games at the Shark Tank as often as he could. He wasn’t a very frequent visitor here at Sharksworld, but contributed a number of articles to our cause over the last few years.
Michael worked in Welkom at a local church and was widely respected within the local community for his Christian outreach programme. He was hit by a car after attending the Portugal v Ivory Coast match in the Football World Cup on 15 June 2010 and passed away a few days later. Michael would have turned 21 years old today.
Our sincerest condolences go out to the da Costa family and to all of Michael’s many friends and loved ones. He will be missed and my sincerest apologies for the lateness of this tribute.
Rest in Peace, Miguel. You’re home now.

I’m sorry that I didn’t take more time to get to know you better, dude. You were wise beyond your years and I so admired your passion, in all that you did, whether supporting the Sharks or doing the work of your Maker.
Rest well.
π₯ π₯ RIP
Another thing that I forgot to mention was the Michael was 1.96m tall. So if you see pics of him with the Sharks, there are few that he didn’t tower over
I was wondering what happened to him – one of the last things I remember he was collecting questions for Mwovo and I remeber that this interview was never posted. You never really think that something so tragic may happen.
He was really really young.
@robdylan (Comment 3) : and I though that swannie was kneeling π
@rekinek (back to rugby) (Comment 5) : he had an impressive collection of pics of himself with Sharks players. I may pinch them all from facebook and post them here. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind
Rest in Peace, Michael. Our interactions were all too brief: to my detriment more than yours.
Its clear that a really fiercely burning light has been extinguished. But only in this world.
Awful news. He was so young. RIP Michael.
So sorry to hear, rest in peace Miguel.
21?Jeez that not right,RIP big guy.I’m gutted.
π
RIP.
What a waste of a young life……maybe there were more important things for him to attend to, than here on Earth.
To his mother, I can only imagine what it must be like to lose a child…my heart is breaking for you.
Shame, remembered him, RIP young man :'(
@Me2 aka Mama Shark (Comment 13) : saddest thing is that his dad passed on just a few months before he did.
π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π π
This is very sad news. RIP Miguel
Sad news. I had simialr news some years back, a bloke I chatted to every day for years (Maori dude) and was going to meet in the flesh later that year suddenly went quiet. Got news later he had died.
The net has turned our universe into a little village and for that alone we are all the richer for having “met” people we may never get to actually meet in real life.
RIP.
Balders, was that a guy on the ole Sharksworld blog? Nick started with a K or something?
Wow this is sad!! π
RIP Michael!!
Really bad news! RIP Miguel, ciao till we meet in Heaven
So sorry to hear. Rest easy mate.
Ey bro. still miss u man. Guys u will never know how much all these messages mean to us and His family. Thanx so so so much for all the support. I wouldnt be a Sharks supporter if it wasnt for Him. Sharks 4 eva guys!!!!!!!!! Thanx once again to all of you
Rest in peace brother π π
Mr Wez, so good to have someone who knew Miguel in ‘real life’ here. Please do stick around and share some of your memories of him
π π π π π π π
Will do man. Thanx ey. U will never know how much he loved writing articles for Sharksworld, he told me evey week wat he wanted to write and I 1st had to listen to his articles haha
hey oaks, thank you very much for this effort you went through for miguel. . . Black and White, nothing else matters
@Baldrick (Comment 18) : Yea…the internet, blogging, FB….long list…if not abused, have lead to some amazing friendships that mey never have happened. Also some wonderful reunios with old friends…..that’s what saddens me when I read of all the stupidity and abuse of previlage causing the closure of blogs and sites………….
@robdylan (Comment 15) : Maybe they are an unbeatable team,needed in a higher league?
@Me2 aka Mama Shark (Comment 29) : Sorry about my spelling…just a little emotional π
Very sad news. My condolences. Rest in Peace.
Very sad news. RIP.
RIP sir…my your legend live on in your friends and family and the work in Welkom continue…
Loss of life always sad…
It is so sad when a young person leaves us….farewell Miguel π
Thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Rest in peace.
RIP Miguel… π
Such sad news – puts the petty interprovincial squabbles into perspective β My heartfelt sympathy goes out to your family and friends, Miguel, but “this (pain, too, will pass” – Hamba Kahle young one.
@diablo (Comment 38) : that it does, that it does
Sjoe! This feels like losing a family member. Such tragic news..Sharks 4eva, Miguel!
so funny.nothing was ever spoken on tv or radio about the accident or his sad passing away. β β
Keep the flag flying boet, where ever u may be.
Vaya con dios, Miguel.
Rest in peace. Go Sharks.
sweet chaps im mikeys older brother and chaps was a harsh blow to our family as our old man passed on two months before mikey, but mikey took his passing on harsh. Yes dreams we had for him that is what shall be missed but michael never died but just went to be with the One we serve.Michael knew Jesus full on from a young age and in his passing many more lives were touched. But a few more years till we see him we live in TIME and he lives in ETERNITY now. I believe Michael would have wanted all his staunch fellow shark supporters to all have met Jesus cause his passion and love next to Jesus was the sharks. Just the flat where he stayed in my ol ladies backyard tells the tale or a neva die supporter. One thing I wud like to share with his fellow supporters is, I was driving one day and had a vision of michael like freaking as he wud when the sharks scored a try. And this confused me so I asked ol Jesus my conexion wat this meant and he told me Michael is rooting for a greater game now an eternal one where Satan and Jesus battles and every time we share Jesus with our neighbor which cud also be a stranger its a try for Gods Kingdom. So whoever reads this yes its sad that mikey passed on at such a young age but what wud have been devastating is if this happened while he didnt know Jesus. Now the ? remains do we know know ol Jesus who gave His life for us if we do dont fear chaps u will c mikey again in time. And by the way I believe he is just as big a sharks supporter where he is now. Keep it growing guys by the way i just joined to personally say THANKS GUYS FOR HONORING MICHAEL AS YOU DO IM NOT A RUGBY SUPPORTER BUT YOU SHARKS SUPPORTERS FAITHFULNESS TO ONE ANOTHER MAKES ME WANT TO BE PART N NOW I UNDERSTAND Y MIKE LOVED THE SHARKS AND ALL THE SUPPORTERS SO MUCH CAUSE OF GUYS LIKE YOU ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU GUYS ONE TIME
Thanks Arthur. A most touching tribute.
@arthur (Comment 45) : Michael made it after all…There’s a race to be run and I am in… π
@charlie you know the lingo eyes above and focused on the finish line with eternity with our King. Colosians 3 vs 5-17, read it sweet
@ arthur, awesome scripture !
hey to all the sharkies!!!
I am Mikeys sister, Samantha, was missing Michael terribly today, and thought I would catch up on a few things he loved, the Sharks was most defnitley top of the list. I personally do not really follow the game all to well, have the basics, but Michael was safe to say a “fanatic” and I am sure I could even go as far as to say the most loyal Shark supporter ever. I remember him as a very young boy, maybe 6 or 7 years old, crying each and every time the sharks would loose, he would pick up his rugby ball go out in the garden, sob his heart out and start to throw that ball around. By no means to him was there ever an option to let go of the boys in black, and would proudly through the years wear his clothing marked sharks with his hand on his heart quoting “black and white forever” Michael would drive me crazy with his ideas on the sharks and all his commeents, living in the freestate one year i ddecided to become a cheetahs supporter, man was he irate every time i thought i would make a comment concerning games between the 2, and it happened to be the year that the cheetahs won the curry cup. I believe that as much as Mike loved Jesus, he had a passion second for the Sharks, and Michael was a real passionate man, well almost a man ..gone to soon at 20yrs. His room was sharks everywhere, clothing, blinds, bedding, pens, cups..flags drapping from the roof..and of course, his favourite shark teddy..yes Michael had a huge puppy heart, was so full of love for all and even most passionate while even eating a hamburger, I tell you I have never again seen anyone enjoy any type of meal the way Mike would, he would eat as if it were the first time he had tasted anything, and as if it were his last. Well, anyway today I was reading through these posts again, and am so thankful for all the thoughts on Mike….And robdylan, to you I hold my hand on my heart and quote in the words of Mike “black and white forever” thank you to you for this awesome page. And for me having a chance to just share a thought or 2 on Mike.. We miss you soooooooooooooooooooooo much Michael, this space can never be filled and your place at home is so empty and noticed each and every day, time hardly makes it easier, yet hope remains to meet again. I love you boytjie…..
@sam4mike (Comment 50) : Wow, I wish I knew him better! Sounds like a great guy!
π he was in so many ways
@sam4mike (Comment 50) : Sorry for your loss…
Thanks for the post Sam, gave me some goosebumps.
close to 2years…unreal π
@sam4mike (Comment 55) : I never new Mike yet 2 years later through this page and all that is said he has touched my life. Thanks to your comment today I noticed the page so thanks to you Sam our God and creator still use the life of your brother to touch and change people’s life. To God be the glory,black and white forever. Peace
Never knew Mike,only been a blogger here for a couple of months,but from what I’m hearing,it seems he was a passionate oke with a huge heart,traits that are admirable of any man. Hope wherever he is,he looks upon this site with pride as it has become a blog where fans from all teams express their biased and unbiased opinions and engage in discussion over the game we all are so passionate about. A foundation that was laid by such gentlemen like Michael for us young bloggers. Thank you Miguel
Yes, God is good all the time, its so difficult to try to bring the essence of a life through with fullness, but yes those who knew Michael knew 2 things about him, His passion for Jesus, and His passion for the Sharks, strangely I never ever knew Michael was such a great blogger here and that He gave such interesting input, haha π then again I got to hear first hand with every game all his opinions on all the players, whether sharks or not. Always had great fun teasing him about the Sharks…the man would go to tears each and every time for his Sharkies, yet the sweetest was at night he would have his shark teddy purchased proudly at the shark cage off to bed!!! Memories are awesome! thank you guys for sharing.