South African title holders Kaizer Chiefs expressed their deepest condolences to the

Malagasy football federation and the families of the two children who tragically lost

their lives in a stampeded last Sunday.

Chiefs players and the technical staff laid the wreaths at the venue where this

unfortunate incident occurred. News wire service AFP reported that two children died from

injuries sustained during a stampede at an overcrowded football stadium here at the

weekend, hospital sources confirmed on Monday.

The children, aged 12 and 13 years, died of massive head wounds at the Joseph Ravohangy

hospital in the capital Antananarivo, hospital director Violette Rasoavelonoro said.

They were among at least 25 people injured on Sunday when more than 40 000 people tried

to squeeze into the 21 500-seater Anatanarivo municpal stadium for a match between

Madagascar USJF Ravinala and South African side Kaizer Chiefs.

Eight

of the wounded, including one in a coma, are still being treated for their injuries,

hospital officials said.

"There was an enormous crush at the entrance because 50 000 people were trying to

enter a stadium which holds 25 000," said Sylvain Ranjalahy, spokesperson for the

Madagascar football federation, who attended the game.

"There was so much pressure on the gates that the doors were opened and people

were crushed," Health Minister Dr Jean-Louis Robinson told AFP.