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Former South Africa junior international shot dead in hijacking
Former South Africa junior international Luke Fleurs, who played for the country’s most popular club Kaizer Chiefs, has been killed in an attempted hijacking in Johannesburg, police officials confirmed on Thursday.
The 24-year-old was shot in the chest at a petrol station on Wednesday night and the assailants drove off in his vehicle.
"While waiting to be served by the petrol attendant, he was confronted by two armed males," police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo told reporters, adding no arrests had yet been made.
It is with a great deal of sadness that we announce that Kaizer Chiefs player, Luke Fleurs tragically lost his life last night during a hijacking incident in Johannesburg.
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) April 4, 2024
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time.
The SAPS are handling… pic.twitter.com/4CTCiH1I41
Centre back Fleurs played every minute for South Africa at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, and that same year was called up to the senior team for World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia, though he did not make it off the bench and was uncapped.
"We woke up to the heartbreaking and devastating news of the passing of this young life. This is such a huge loss for his family, friends, his teammates and football in general. We are all grieving this young man’s passing," South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan said in a statement.
South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture, Zizi Kodwa said he was "saddened that yet another life has been cut short due to violent crime".
I am saddened by the passing of @KaizerChiefs defender and former junior international Luke Fleurs. I am saddened that yet another life has been cut short due to violent crime. My thoughts are with the Fleurs and Amakhosi family, and the entire South African football fraternity. pic.twitter.com/h7XFpZFNS6
— Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture (@zizikodwa) April 4, 2024
Fleurs joined Chiefs from SuperSport United in October, having come through the Ubuntu Football Academy in Cape Town.
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