National soccer team coach Ephraim Mashaba wiped away tears at a news conference in Johannesburg early Monday as he spoke about Meyiwa, who had recently been made South Africa captain and led the team in four African Cup of Nations qualifiers this year. He hadn't conceded a goal in the four games.
"Most of the time, these things come when you least expect," coach Mashaba said, tears running down his cheeks. "We're going to miss Senzo a lot ... never mind his saving goals."
Meyiwa also played for Orlando Pirates, one of South Africa's biggest clubs. South African police announced the shooting late Sunday on their Twitter account and called for calm, saying "upset" people had gathered at the house and at the hospital where Meyiwa was confirmed dead. Police opened a murder case.
Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza called on football fans to help find the people responsible for killing Meyiwa. He said the club and Meyiwa's teammates were "devastated" and were sobbing and crying when they gathered for training on Monday morning.
"Senzo was a good man," Khoza said. "24 hours cannot go past without knowing who killed Senzo ... We don't want to speculate, we want to know who killed Senzo."
South African President Jacob Zuma also released a statement saying "words cannot express the nation's shock at this loss." "The law enforcement authorities must leave no stone unturned in finding his killers and bring them to justice," Zuma said.
Dean Furman, one of Meyiwa's national teammates, wrote on Twitter: "Beyond devastated at the loss of our captain & friend Senzo Meyiwa. Thoughts & prayers are with his family & friends at this terrible time."
Meyiwa led the South Africa team in its last game, a 0-0 draw with Republic of Congo on Oct. 15 that kept it top of its group and on course to qualify for next year's continental championship. He played for Orlando Pirates on Saturday in a 4-1 win over Ajax Cape Town in a cup competition.
South Africa's Premier Soccer League postponed this weekend's derby game between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, the country's two biggest clubs, out of respect for Meyiwa.
Meyiwa's killing was the second death to hit South African sport in three days after former 800-meter world champion and Olympic silver medalist Mbulaeni Mulaudzi was killed in a car crash on Friday.
