Former South Africa junior international Luke Fleurs, who played for the country's most popular club Kaizer Chiefs, tragically lost his life in an attempted hijacking in Johannesburg. The 24-year-old was fatally shot in the chest at a petrol station on Wednesday night, with the assailants fleeing in his vehicle.
According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, the incident occurred while Fleurs was waiting to be served by the petrol attendant and was confronted by two armed males. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the crime.
Fleurs, a talented centre-back, represented South Africa at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, playing every minute for his country. He was also called up to the senior national team for World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia in the same year, although he did not make an appearance on the field and remained uncapped.
The news of Fleurs' untimely passing has deeply saddened the football community. South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan expressed his condolences, describing the loss as significant for Fleurs' family, friends, teammates, and the sport of football as a whole.
South Africa's Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture, Zizi Kodwa, lamented the tragic event, highlighting the impact of violent crime on society. Fleurs had recently joined Kaizer Chiefs from SuperSport United in October, following his development through the Ubuntu Football Academy in Cape Town.
