Senzo Meyiwa Bafana Bafana goalkeeper and Orlando Pirates captain will be buried in his hometown Umlazi,Durban on Saturday November 1.
This was in the statement released by Orlando Pirates.
The Chairperson of Orlando Pirates Dr Irvin Khoza, was received by the KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu, his Deputy Willies Mchunu and Cabinet including the Secretary General of the ANC in KZN Sihle Zikalala, who all joined Khoza in the visit to the Meyiwa family.
Born in Umlazi, Durban 27 years ago, he began his career with London Cosmos before joining Pirates’ juniors at the age of 13.
From there on his career progressed as he went on to play for the national Under-17s and Under-20s.
It was his good friend at Kaizer Chiefs, Itumeleng Khune, who first made a name for himself in the Premier Soccer League
Meyiwa was the first-choice goalkeeper for the national Under-23s.
Khoza said, “Senzo was like a son to me.
“It was heart-warming to see the KwaZulu-Natal leadership put aside their busy diaries to join in visiting the Meyiwa family.”
Pirates also confirmed that there had been a consideration to hold the funeral on Sunday to accommodate the South African middle distance runner, and 2009 world champion in the men’s 800 metres, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi’s funeral.
Mulaudzi’s funeral will be held on the same day in Limpopo, it is in the granting of the Meyiwa family’s wish that the Saturday date was confirmed.
As a mark of respect, the Soweto derby match between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates due to be played on November 1 was postponed.
The President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma mourned the loss of Meyiwa and called for his killers to be found.
President of FIFA, Sepp Blatter tweeted his condolences, calling the death of Meyiwa a “senseless”, tragic loss.
The captain of the Spanish national football team, Iker Casillas posted a picture on Instagram of Meyiwa holding Iker Casillas Real Madrid and Spainish captain’s jersey that was exchanged with Meyiwa when Spain played against South Africa in an international match.
South African cricket captains, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers both expressed their condolences
The 27-year-old’s family was in Johannesburg yesterday to identify his body in preparation for his burial in Durban.
