As tributes poured in for slain Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain Senzo Meyiwa, former national team coach Gordon Igesund said he was numb from the shock.
It was a feeling felt by many in the football fraternity – including former teammates Moeneeb Josephs and Sameehg Doutie – as they came to terms with the sudden loss of South Africa’s rising star.
Igesund, who gave Meyiwa his national team debut in a 2-0 win over Lesotho in Maseru last year, said Meyiwa had indefatigable self-belief and determination to be the country’s number one goalkeeper.
This showed, he said, in his rise from being third-choice behind Kaizer Chiefs’ Itumeleng Khune and Mamelodi Sundowns’ Wayne Sandilands to captaining the national team.
“Senzo was such a magnificent person,” said Igesund.
“He had so much character. He was prepared to fight for his place in the national team, he was prepared to work very hard and he believed in himself. He was a very positive and enthusiastic person that would always support the players around him.
“He fought his way through. He didn’t think he was owed something and he didn’t think he would become national team goalkeeper by default – he fought tooth and nail for that.
“He was prepared to work for all the success he had and he certainly did that.
“He would be the same optimistic person whether he was in the team or not and would always be ready to play. He’d be there when called upon. He was that special kind of person.
“He would always encourage the other players and told them how important it was for the team to create history in the gold national team jersey.”
Josephs, whose competition for the top goalkeeper spot at the Buccaneers with Meyiwa was well documented, told Radio 702 yesterday morning: “We’ve lost a gentle, humble soul. It is still hard to believe.
“It was difficult to wake up and know that the energy and the type of person he was is no longer there. The type of person Senzo was, he was unbelievable. I can’t believe it. It’s tough to take in.”
Doutie, who had a brief spell at Pirates, said yesterday the Wits players were in utter disbelief.
“Moeneeb is heart-sore, it’s crazy man,” he said.
FACTBOX: SENZO MEYIWA
Born: September 24 1987
Place of birth: Umlazi, Durban
Former clubs: Orlando Pirates juniors and Yebo Yes United (Pirates reserve team)
Pirates debut: November 8 2006, Pirates 2 AmaZulu 1 Orlando Pirates starts: 157
International honours: 7 Bafana Bafana caps (6 starts, 1sub)
Bafana Bafana debut: June 2 2013, Lesotho 0 South Africa 2
Honours: 2010 and 2011 MTN8 winner;
2011 and 2012 Absa Premiership winner;
2011 and 2014 Nedbank Cup winner; 2013 Caf Champions
League runner-up
SA mourns fallen hero
It was a feeling felt by many in the football fraternity – including former teammates Moeneeb Josephs and Sameehg Doutie – as they came to terms with the sudden loss of South Africa’s rising star.
Igesund, who gave Meyiwa his national team debut in a 2-0 win over Lesotho in Maseru last year, said Meyiwa had indefatigable self-belief and determination to be the country’s number one goalkeeper.
This showed, he said, in his rise from being third-choice behind Kaizer Chiefs’ Itumeleng Khune and Mamelodi Sundowns’ Wayne Sandilands to captaining the national team.
“Senzo was such a magnificent person,” said Igesund.
“He had so much character. He was prepared to fight for his place in the national team, he was prepared to work very hard and he believed in himself. He was a very positive and enthusiastic person that would always support the players around him.
“He fought his way through. He didn’t think he was owed something and he didn’t think he would become national team goalkeeper by default – he fought tooth and nail for that.
“He was prepared to work for all the success he had and he certainly did that.
“He would be the same optimistic person whether he was in the team or not and would always be ready to play. He’d be there when called upon. He was that special kind of person.
“He would always encourage the other players and told them how important it was for the team to create history in the gold national team jersey.”
Josephs, whose competition for the top goalkeeper spot at the Buccaneers with Meyiwa was well documented, told Radio 702 yesterday morning: “We’ve lost a gentle, humble soul. It is still hard to believe.
“It was difficult to wake up and know that the energy and the type of person he was is no longer there. The type of person Senzo was, he was unbelievable. I can’t believe it. It’s tough to take in.”
Doutie, who had a brief spell at Pirates, said yesterday the Wits players were in utter disbelief.
“Moeneeb is heart-sore, it’s crazy man,” he said.
FACTBOX: SENZO MEYIWA
Born: September 24 1987
Place of birth: Umlazi, Durban
Former clubs: Orlando Pirates juniors and Yebo Yes United (Pirates reserve team)
Pirates debut: November 8 2006, Pirates 2 AmaZulu 1 Orlando Pirates starts: 157
International honours: 7 Bafana Bafana caps (6 starts, 1sub)
Bafana Bafana debut: June 2 2013, Lesotho 0 South Africa 2
Honours: 2010 and 2011 MTN8 winner;
2011 and 2012 Absa Premiership winner;
2011 and 2014 Nedbank Cup winner; 2013 Caf Champions
League runner-up
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