VIDEO/PhOtOs=Football Captain Shot Dead
South Africa Football Captain Senzo Meyiwa Shot Dead
South Africa's football captain Senzo Meyiwa has died after being shot during a burglary, police say. BBC, 27 October 2014 http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/image...senzogetty.jpg Senzo Meyiwa began playing for Orlando Pirates in 2005 and went on to captain the national team He was reportedly attacked after men entered his girlfriend's house in Vosloorus, south of Johannesburg. His agent described him as a humble man from a tough background who had become a "hero in everyone's eyes". The 27-year-old was the goalkeeper for Orlando Pirates and had played in South Africa's last four Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. On Saturday, he was in action for his club, when they progressed to the semi-finals of the South African League Cup, beating Ajax Cape Town 4-1. Reward offered In a statement, the South African Police Service said two men had entered the house, around 20:00 (18:00 GMT), demanding mobiles phones and valuables. A third man remained outside. http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/image...24487881-1.jpg Reports said Meyiwa may have been trying to defend his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo All three fled on foot after shots were fired. The footballer may have been trying to defend his girlfriend Kelly Khumalo, a South African singer and celebrity, when he was shot, reports said. He was declared dead on arrival at hospital. Police say South African footballer Senzo Meyiwa was shot during a robbery whilst visiting friends Police said on Sunday evening that they were breaking protocol to announce his death so soon after the shooting. Relatives and fans gathered outside the hospital and Ms Khumalo's house to grieve over Meyiwa's death. Quote:
South African President Jacob Zuma said in a statement on Monday: "We mourn the death of this young footballer and team leader whose life has been taken away at the prime of his career. Words cannot express the nation's shock at this loss." http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/image...24488164-1.jpg Members of Kelly Khumalo's family arrived at her home on Monday morning Ephraim Mashaba, head coach of South Africa's football team wept during a news conference called on Monday in response to the footballer's death. 'Senzo is everything', "Senzo was a very kind person," he said. "I have never seen Senzo being sad or angry in the camp." Urging Meyiwa's team-mates and colleagues to stay strong, he added: "Senzo is a team player, Senzo is everything." His words were echoed by South Africa midfielder Dean Furman who told the BBC that Meyiwa was "just the nicest guy you could wish to meet". http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/image...24487930-1.jpg President Jacob Zuma (here with Meyiwa in 2013) said words could not express the nation's shock http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/image...24488904-1.jpg Investigators worked outside the scene of the shooting in the Vosloorus township on Monday "It's tragic, so sad", Furman added. "He has a young family so there's more to it than losing a footballer. Someone's lost a dad." Meyiwa's agent Mike Makaab called the death "a huge shock", saying that Meyiwa was "really a hero in everybody's eyes". Team mate Tsepo Masilela was among many voicing their shock at the news on social media. "How do you kill someone for a cellphone?" he tweeted, saying the whole country was at a loss. "When does it STOP South Africa?" wrote Darren Keet, the national team's number two goalkeeper. Gun violence A reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest of Senzo Meyiwa's killer "This is a sad loss whichever way you look at it, to Senzo's family, his extended family, Orlando Pirates and to the nation,'' said Pirates' chairman Irvin Khoza. His death is the second blow to South Africa's sporting community in three days. On Friday, former 800m world champion runner Mbulaeni Mulaudzi was killed in a car crash. The shooting has once again highlighted South Africa's high crime rates and problems with gun violence. Between April 2013 and March 2014, more than 17,000 people were murdered in South Africa, an increase of about 5% since the previous year, according to police figures. South Africa's football coach Ephraim Mashaba paid a tearful tribute to captain Senzo Meyiwa South Africa Football Captain Shot Dead |
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