by Chidi Okoye

South Africa’s national football teams’s captain and goalkeeper, Senzo Meyiwa, has died after being shot at his girlfriend’s house in Vosloorus, south of Johannesburg. Meyiwa was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

The 27-year-old played for Orlando Pirates in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League, and had played in Bafana Bafana’s last four Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Only on Saturday, Meyiwa was in action for his club, when they progressed to the semi-finals of the South African League Cup. Orlando Pirates beat Ajax Cape Town 4-1.

In a statement, the South African Police Service said two men had entered the house, around 8 pm, while a third man remained outside. All three fled after shots were fired, in what local media reports say was an attempted burglary.

A reward of about R153,000 (N2,300,000) has been offered for information leading to the suspects’ arrest.