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Soweto unites to say farewell to murdered goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa Soweto unites to say farewell to murdered goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa
(about 2 hours later)
Saturday’s Soweto derby was meant to be all about two fierce rivals slugging it out in front of 90,000 loyal fans. Instead the hearts and minds of millions of Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs supporters across South Africa will be with Senzo Meyiwa’s family at his funeral in Umlazi in Durban.Saturday’s Soweto derby was meant to be all about two fierce rivals slugging it out in front of 90,000 loyal fans. Instead the hearts and minds of millions of Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs supporters across South Africa will be with Senzo Meyiwa’s family at his funeral in Umlazi in Durban.
After the shooting of the Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper on Sunday night, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) had no choice but to cancel the match scheduled to kick off at 3.30pm local time at the FNB Stadium on the outskirts of Soweto. Meyiwa’s No1 jersey has already been officially retired by his club, while tributes to the 27-year-old, who had just set a record of four successive clean sheets for South Africa, have flooded in from around the world.After the shooting of the Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper on Sunday night, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) had no choice but to cancel the match scheduled to kick off at 3.30pm local time at the FNB Stadium on the outskirts of Soweto. Meyiwa’s No1 jersey has already been officially retired by his club, while tributes to the 27-year-old, who had just set a record of four successive clean sheets for South Africa, have flooded in from around the world.
He had been supposed to return home to visit his family after Pirates’ 4-1 thrashing of Ajax Cape Town in the League Cup on Saturday night but a last-minute change of plans proved fatal. Despite some speculation that Meyiwa’s death could be linked to his extra-marital affair with the actress Kelly Khumalo, whom he was visiting that night in a relatively affluent part of the Vosloorus township 20 kilometres from Johannesburg, the botched robbery of a mobile phone is being blamed in a country where an average of 47 people have been murdered every day this year.He had been supposed to return home to visit his family after Pirates’ 4-1 thrashing of Ajax Cape Town in the League Cup on Saturday night but a last-minute change of plans proved fatal. Despite some speculation that Meyiwa’s death could be linked to his extra-marital affair with the actress Kelly Khumalo, whom he was visiting that night in a relatively affluent part of the Vosloorus township 20 kilometres from Johannesburg, the botched robbery of a mobile phone is being blamed in a country where an average of 47 people have been murdered every day this year.
“There is an absolute lack of respect for life and it really has to stop,” says Mike Makaab, Meyiwa’s agent and a former Pirates coach. “There is an absolute lack of respect for life and it really has to stop,” says Mike Makaab, Meyiwa’s agent and a former Pirates coach. “The tragedy is on a human scale but it just highlights the problems we have in South Africa. It’s just the fact that it’s Senzo Meyiwa, who was an icon that everybody loved, that means it is highlighted worldwide.
“The tragedy is on a human scale but it just highlights the problems we have in South Africa. It’s just the fact that it’s Senzo Meyiwa, who was an icon that everybody loved, that means it is highlighted worldwide.
“We can only hope and pray that, if anything positive can come of this, then it will be catalyst for the people in power to do something really positive to reduce unemployment and crime. We need to make a better life for all South Africans.”“We can only hope and pray that, if anything positive can come of this, then it will be catalyst for the people in power to do something really positive to reduce unemployment and crime. We need to make a better life for all South Africans.”
Makaab first met Meyiwa at the age of 13 when he played in the same youth team as his son in KwaZulu-Natal. He was signed by Pirates two years later and moved to Johannesburg to begin his professional career. “That showed they must have thought Senzo had something special,” he reflects. Makaab first met Meyiwa at the age of 13 when the goalkeeper played in the same youth team as his son in KwaZulu-Natal. He was signed by Pirates two years later and moved to Johannesburg to begin his professional career. “That showed they must have thought Senzo had something special,” he reflects.
Yet it took almost a decade to make his breakthrough into the first team under a series of foreign coaches, including the former Holland international Ruud Krol. When he left Pirates after winning the domestic treble in 2011 Meyiwa had made only a handful of appearances but never once asked for a transfer according to Makaab. Yet it took almost a decade to make his breakthrough into the first team under a series of foreign coaches, including the former Holland international Ruud Krol. When he left Pirates after winning the domestic treble in 2011 Meyiwa had made only a handful of appearances but never once asked for a transfer, according to Makaab.
Eventually his persistence paid off in 2012-13 season despite Pirates finishing only third, with his performances earning a first cap for Bafana against Lesotho. But it was the following season as ‘The Bucs’ made it all the way to the CAF Champions League final that sealed Meyiwa’s glowing reputation, even though they were eventually beaten by Egypt’s Al Ahly.Eventually his persistence paid off in 2012-13 season despite Pirates finishing only third, with his performances earning a first cap for Bafana against Lesotho. But it was the following season as ‘The Bucs’ made it all the way to the CAF Champions League final that sealed Meyiwa’s glowing reputation, even though they were eventually beaten by Egypt’s Al Ahly.
“A lot of people prefer to walk around obstacles or find the easier way out. But Senzo thrived on the challenge, both at Orlando Pirates and in the national team. He was brave and lion-hearted,” says Makaab, who coached Pirates to their only continental triumph in 1995 with a team that included Mark Fish and the Nigerian goalkeeper Willy Okpara.“A lot of people prefer to walk around obstacles or find the easier way out. But Senzo thrived on the challenge, both at Orlando Pirates and in the national team. He was brave and lion-hearted,” says Makaab, who coached Pirates to their only continental triumph in 1995 with a team that included Mark Fish and the Nigerian goalkeeper Willy Okpara.
“He had to really work his socks off to get the No1 jersey in both cases. Some people explode on the scene when they are young but Senzo had to sit and wait for almost seven years. All that pent up energy suddenly exploded when he was given his chance and it’s almost like that was all relieved in just nine months. “He had to really work his socks off to get the No1 jersey in both cases. Some people explode on the scene when they are young but Senzo had to sit and wait for almost seven years. All that pent up energy suddenly exploded when he was given his chance and it’s almost like that was all relieved in just nine months. There was no doubt in my mind that this was the start of a seriously blossoming career,” he adds.
“There was no doubt in my mind that this was the start of a seriously blossoming career,” he adds.
By coincidence Meyiwa’s untimely death came at the same as age as both the former Colombia defender Andrés Escobar – shot after scoring an own-goal at the 1994 World Cup – and the former Birmingham and Ecuador striker Christian Benítez, who died after suffering a cardiac arrest.By coincidence Meyiwa’s untimely death came at the same as age as both the former Colombia defender Andrés Escobar – shot after scoring an own-goal at the 1994 World Cup – and the former Birmingham and Ecuador striker Christian Benítez, who died after suffering a cardiac arrest.
While most outfield players are usually thought to be in their prime at 27, goalkeepers tend to have a few more years until they reach their peak. Meyiwa’s recent performances certainly seemed to support that, having just ended a streak of five PSL matches without conceding a goal.While most outfield players are usually thought to be in their prime at 27, goalkeepers tend to have a few more years until they reach their peak. Meyiwa’s recent performances certainly seemed to support that, having just ended a streak of five PSL matches without conceding a goal.
He had already displaced the Chiefs keeper Itumeleng Khune as Bafana Bafana’s No1 and captain, leading the national team to the top of their qualifying group for the Africa Cup of Nations after four matches thanks to an unblemished record in the goals against column.He had already displaced the Chiefs keeper Itumeleng Khune as Bafana Bafana’s No1 and captain, leading the national team to the top of their qualifying group for the Africa Cup of Nations after four matches thanks to an unblemished record in the goals against column.
They will now somehow have to do without the man whose nickname was Okpara Jr for next week’s critical fixtures at home to Sudan and away to the reigning champions, Nigeria. Regardless of the results South African football will be in mourning for a long time to come.They will now somehow have to do without the man whose nickname was Okpara Jr for next week’s critical fixtures at home to Sudan and away to the reigning champions, Nigeria. Regardless of the results South African football will be in mourning for a long time to come.
“For the first time in my life when I get out of bed to do a job that I’m absolutely passionate about, I’m not sure I want to do it any more,” admits Makaab. “For the first time in my life when I get out of bed to do a job that I’m absolutely passionate about, I’m not sure I want to do it any more,” admits Makaab. “I can imagine what his family are going through because I know how I’m feeling. But I have to be honest, I don’t think any of us will be the same after this.”
“I can imagine what his family are going through because I know how I’m feeling. But I have to be honest, I don’t think any of us will be the same after this.”