South Africa and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa 'shot dead' in Johannesburg just hours after playing for his club

The 27-year-old captained his club side in their 4-1 win against Ajax Cape Town on Saturday night, and was pictured looking happy with girlfriend Kelly Khumalo, a South African pop star, earlier on Sunday.

But the South African police service broke normal protocol to tweet that Meyiwa, who has also led the Bafana Bafana in recent games, was killed on Sunday.

Police reported that two men entered the house where Meyiwa was shot, where an altercation took place, while one waited outside

The South African goalkeeper was reportedly shot before all three suspects fled on foot. He was declared dead on arrival at hospital.

His club, Orlando Pirates, released a statement expressing 'sadness' at his 'untimely death'.

'This is a sad loss whichever way you look at it - to Senzo's family , his extended family, Orlando Pirates and to the nation', commented the chairman Dr Irvin Khoza.

Career: The South African goalkeeper has played for Orlando Pirates since 2006,becoming first choice for the club a year later.In 2013 his performances in the African Champions League were nothing short of incredible, helping the Pirates to the final.

Meyiwa has won six caps for South Africa, the most recent coming this month, as captain

South Africa and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa 'shot dead' in Johannesburg just hours after playing for his club
The 27-year-old captained his club side in their 4-1 win against Ajax Cape Town on Saturday night, and was pictured looking happy with girlfriend Kelly Khumalo, a South African pop star, earlier on Sunday.But the South African police service broke normal protocol to tweet that Meyiwa, who has also led the Bafana Bafana in recent games, was killed on Sunday.

Police reported that two men entered the house where Meyiwa was shot, where an altercation took place, while one waited outsideThe South African goalkeeper was reportedly shot before all three suspects fled on foot. He was declared dead on arrival at hospital.His club, Orlando Pirates, released a statement expressing 'sadness' at his 'untimely death'.'This is a sad loss whichever way you look at it - to Senzo's family , his extended family, Orlando Pirates and to the nation', commented the chairman Dr Irvin Khoza.

Career: The South African goalkeeper has played for Orlando Pirates since 2006, becoming first choice for the club a year later. In 2013 his performances in the African Champions League were nothing short of incredible, helping the Pirates to the final. Meyiwa has won six caps for South Africa, the most recent coming this month, as captain.

Worst thing ever in football is death...

Terrible for the family and also for the teams he's involved with

The captain of South Africa's national soccer team was fatally shot when armed men broke into the house where he was staying, police said.

Goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa was killed Sunday after two gunmen entered a house in Vosloorus township near Johannesburg while an accomplice waited outside, the national police force said on its Twitter account. The three assailants then fled on foot, according to the police service, which offered a reward of nearly $14,000 for information leading to arrests in the case.

Police said there were seven people in the house at the time of the attack, and that the shooting followed an "altercation."

South African soccer club Orlando Pirates confirmed Meyiwa's death, saying in a statement that it "has learned with sadness about the untimely death of our number one goalkeeper and current captain Senzo Meyiwa."

"This is a sad loss whichever way you look at it -- to Senzo's family, his extended family, Orlando Pirates and to the nation," Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza said.

Meyiwa was South Africa's captain in its four qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations this year, including its last game, a 0-0 draw with Republic of Congo on Oct. 15.

It's the second death to hit South African sports in three days, as former 800-meter world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi was killed in a car crash on Friday. At the time, President Jacob Zuma said "the nation has lost a true hero."

RIP