Senzo Meyiwa, the captain and goalkeeper of the South African team was shot dead by while trying to stop burglars who broke into his girlfriend, the singer Kelly Khumalo’s house. He was just 27 years of age. Meyiwa was also the goalie and captain of the Orlando Pirates, a club he joined as a teenager. On Saturday, he was part of his side’s 4-1 winning effort over Ajax Cape Town in the South African League Cup. Less than two weeks ago, he was overseeing Bafana Bafana’s Africa Cup of Nations challenge against Congo.

At 17,000 murders a year which averages to 46 murders a day, South Africa remains one of the world’s most dangerous countries. The crime rate dropped perceptibly during the run up to the 2010 World Cup and thereafter but has been climbing up again.

Can’t sum it up more succinctly than Darren Keet, SA’s number two goalie. A tragic, senseless death takes the life of a footballer in his prime and by all accounts, a well liked, humble man. His finest moment came when he saved two PKs against TP Mazembe which helped the Pirates qualify for the 2013 CAF Champions League group stage, the first SA club to do so in eight years. The Pirates went all the way to the finals where they lost to eventual winners and perennial powerhouse, Al Ahly, 1-3 on aggregate.

RIP Senzo, you did your club and country proud.

A tribute: