Neighbours Of Killed Soccer Player Senzo Meyiwa's Girlfriend Kelly Khumalo
Neighbours of Kelly Khumalo, girlfriend of killed soccer player Senzo Meyiwa, look on outside her home in the township of Vosloorus October 27, 2014. South Africa soccer captain Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead by intruders when trying to protect his girlfriend Khumalo during a robbery at her home near Johannesburg, officials said on Monday. The 27-year-old Orlando Pirates goalkeeper died on Sunday after suffering a single shot through the chest at the home of Khumalo, a local actress and singer, in Vosloorus. Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko (SOUTH

He was a goalkeeper and a lifesaver. South African soccer team captain Senzo Meyiwa was shot while defending his girlfriend from intruders in a Vosloorus, a town near Johannesburg, South Africa. The Orlando Pirates star was visiting his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, when two men entered the house and demanded for the victim's cellphones, money and other valuables.

A single fatal shot ended the life of Meyiwa who, according to witnesses, tried to pacify the intruder who was pointing a gun at his girlfriend who was a local singer. Police confirmed the incident was an attempted robbery, and one other suspect, who stood watch outside the house, was involved. Police said two men entered the house at around 8 p.m. local time and roughed up seven persons in the house including Meyiwa.

"Two guys entered the house and demanded cellphones, money and other valuables," provincial Community Safety official Sizakele Nkosi-Malubane told reporters per Yahoo Sports. "Senzo tried to protect Kelly because one of the men had a gun pointed towards her."

Police have already placed a bounty for the capture of the suspects, with the reward amounting to 250,000 rand (25,888 AUD). The police commission has also formed a special task force that will investigate the murder. The South African nation is in mourning with the tragic news, with South African President Jacob Zuma leading the tribute for the goalkeeper and captain of the national soccer team.

The unfortunate incident is the second tragedy that followed the passing of another famous sports personality in Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, a former world 800 metres champion, who perished in a car accident Friday. Just last week, the nation also finally closed the chapter on Oscar Pistoruis, the quadriplegic Paralympian who was sentenced to five years for culpable manslaughter.

However, the death of Meyiwa has a bigger social impact as the country is grappling to minimise violence. South Africa has appeared to curtail incidents of violence since it hosted the World Cup in 2010, but recent statistics show that there was tremendous uptick in gun-related violence from April 2013 to March 2013 when 17,00 people were murdered, an increase of about 800 incidents.

Meyiwa last played Saturday for his Orlando Pirates, helping his squad advance to the semi-final stage of the South African Cup by holding the fort and not conceding a goal to the opponents. The talented goalkeeper also played for the last four qualifying matches for the African Nations Cup and has not conceded a single goal during his previous stints.