South Africa football captain Senzo Meyiwa shot dead near Johannesburg

Posted Monday, October 27, 2014 by skysports.com

Senzo Meyiwa: South Africa goalkeeper and captain has been killed

South Africa captain and goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead near Johannesburg on Sunday.

Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale said Meyiwa was shot at a house in Vosloorus, a township about 20 kilometres south of the city, and declared dead on admission to hospital.

Meyiwa played for the Orlando Pirates on Saturday and has represented the national team in their past four 2015 Africa Cup qualifiers.

The cause of the 27-year-old's death was not given by the club, but the South African Police Service (SAPS) tweeted: "We have to brake normal protocol. We can confirm that Bucs keeper Senzo Meyiwa has been shot and sadly declared dead on arrival at hospital."

The Pirates, for who Meyiwa played on Saturday, said: "The @Orlando--Pirates family has learned with sadness of the untimely death of our number 1 keeper & captain Senzo Meyiwa."

Club chairman Dr Irvin Khoza added: "This is a sad loss to Senzo's family especially his children, to Orlando Pirates & the nation."

Having made his debut for Orlando in 2005, Meyiwa had made his mark for the South African national team in 2014, captaining the side in their last four qualifiers for the African Nations Cup.

International team-mates Dean Furman and Andile Jali reacted to the news on Twitter.

Furman, who plays for Doncaster player, said: "Beyond devastated at the loss of our captain & friend Senzo Meyiwa. thoughts & prayers are with his family & friends at this terrible time."

Jali, who moved from Pirates to Belgium club Ostend this year, added: "Just got a call and I was sleeping, but now I cannot sleep because of what I just heard."

Orlando Pirates are planning to give a press conference on Monday.

The death of the national football team captain is the second tragedy to hit South African sport within three days after former world 800m athletics champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi died on Friday in a car crash.