Senzo Meyiwa, South Africa captain shot dead

South Africa and Orlando Pirates captain and goalkeeper
Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead late Sunday near
Johannesburg, a police spokesman told AFP, with club
officials describing his slaying as a “loss to the nation”.

Senzo Meyiwa

South Africa and Orlando Pirates captain and goalkeeper

Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead late Sunday near

Johannesburg, a police spokesman told AFP, with club

officials describing his slaying as a “loss to the nation”.

Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale said Meyiwa, 27, was

gunned down at a house in Vosloorus, a township about 30

kilometres south of the city, and declared dead on

admission to hospital.

“We can confirm that Bucs (Pirates) goalkeeper Senzo

Meyiwa has been shot and sadly declared dead on arrival

at hospital,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said

on its Twitter feed.

Police later said there were seven people inside the house,

including Meyiwa, when two suspects entered and another

remained outside.

Makgale said that the motive behind the attack remained

unclear

The incident happened at around 2000 SA time (1800 GMT)

in Vosloorus township, added police who did not comment

on some media reports that the shooting was sparked by a

row over a mobile phone.

“There was an altercation and Senzo Meyiwa was shot. The

three suspects fled on foot after the shooting.

“We can assure South Africans that we will do all we can to

bring Meyiwa’s killers to book.

“A reward of up to R150 000 ($14,000) is being offered for

any information that can lead to arrests.”

Pirates, one of the most popular and successful South

African football clubs, also confirmed that the player had

been killed.

“@Orlando_Pirates family has learned with sadness of the

untimely death of our number 1 keeper & captain Senzo

Meyiwa,” the club tweeted.

Irvin Khoza, the club chairman, added: “This is a sad loss to

Senzo’s family especially his children, to Orlando Pirates &

the nation.”

Meyiwa played for his club in Soweto Saturday and has

been in outstanding form for the national team during recent

2015 Africa Cup qualifiers.

The death of the national football team captain is the second

tragedy to hit South African sport within three days after

former world 800-metre athletics champion Mbulaeni

Mulaudzi died Friday in a car crash.

South Africa team-mates Dean Furman and Andile Jali were

among the first to react to the Meyiwa tragedy on Twitter.

“Beyond devastated at the loss of our captain and friend

Senzo Meyiwa. Thoughts and prayers are with his family

and friends at this terrible time,” tweeted England-based

Furman, who plays for Doncaster Rovers in the third-tier in

the English league.

“Just got a call and I was sleeping, but now I cannot sleep

because of what I just heard,” tweeted Jali, who moved from

Pirates to Belgium club Ostend this year.

After many years in the South African football shadows,

Meyiwa had a meteoric climb to fame with club and country.

He displaced national squad goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs

as first-choice at Pirates, the only South African side to be

crowned African champions.

And a recent injury to South Africa captain and goalkeeper

Itumeleng Khune gave Meyiwa a chance in the national

team, popularly known as Bafana Bafana (The Boys).

New national coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba not only

promoted Durban-born Meyiwa to replace Khune but also

made him captain of a team that has been in the doldrums

for some years.

Meyiwa responded to his promotion by leading the team to

victories over Sudan and Congo Brazzaville and draws with

Congo and Nigeria, a country South Africa traditionally

struggle against.

He did not concede a goal in the four matches and if South

Africa defeat Sudan in eastern city Nelspruit on October 15

they will qualify the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

He was also made captain of Pirates and helped the club

defeat Ajax Cape Town 4-1 Saturday in a South African

League Cup quarter-final.

Meyiwa gave a flawless performance and the only Ajax

attempt that beat Meyiwa came from a penalty kick.

Full name: Senzo Robert Meyiwa

Date of birth: September 24 1987

Age: 27

Place of birth: Durban

Height: 1.75 metres

Club: Orlando Pirates (2005-2014)

Previous club: Cosmos (2002-2005)

International experience: South Africa goalkeeper and

captain

Posted by Donatus Joshua at 15:19