In honour of Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa, Orlando Pirates chairman, Dr Irvin Khoza, has announced the goalkeeper's No 1 jersey at the club will be retired.
"I don't think anyone can replace Senzo and his jersey will never be worn by anyone else again," Khoza said.
Meyiwa, the 27-year-old Pirates captain, was shot dead while visiting his girlfriend in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, last Sunday evening.
He is the second player to be honoured in this way, with former striker Lesley Manyathela's No. 22 Pirates shirt retired after he died in a car accident in 2003.
Meyiwa was set to lead the Buccaneers in the Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday – the clash has since been postponed.
Meyiwa joined the Pirates academy as a 13-year-old and broke through the ranks into the senior team later in his career.
After patiently waiting for his time, Meyiwa asserted himself as the first-choice goalkeeper in 2012.
His leadership credentials also led to him recently becoming Bafana Bafana captain and first-choice goalkeeper under new coach Shakes Mashaba.
In his final match Meyiwa guided Pirates to a 4-1 win over Ajax Cape Town in the Telkom Knockout quarterfinal last Saturday at the Orlando Stadium.
Meanwhile, Meyiwa's family has announced that the goalkeeper will be buried in his home town Umlazi in Durban on Saturday, November 1.
Following deliberations in Druban between Dr Irvin Khoza and the late goalkeeper's family, it was agreed to grant the family’s wish for the burial to take place on Saturday instead of Sunday which was initially suggested to accommodate the funeral of South African middle distance great, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi.
credit: supersport.com
