A tragic event unfolded as a 24-year-old South African soccer player was fatally shot during an attempted carjacking gone wrong.
Luke Fleurs, a defender for the Kaizer Chiefs, met his untimely demise in the Gauteng province’s Florida area, roughly ten miles west of Johannesburg.
The incident occurred on a Wednesday evening, as reported. Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, a spokesperson for the South African Police, conveyed to Sunday World that the police were in the process of gathering information about the incident and would provide further comments once more details were obtained.
According to Times Live, a South African sports publication, the sad news was verified by someone with close ties to the Kaizer Chiefs, although the club has yet to issue a formal statement.
The news has left fans deeply mournful, expressing their sorrow over the loss. Cape Town FC, another club, expressed their condolences on Twitter, mourning the loss of Fleurs.
Fleurs, who had moved to the Johannesburg-based team from SuperSport United on a two-year deal in October 2023, shared his excitement about joining the team on Instagram, citing his achievement as a fulfillment of his dreams.
Sadly, he never got to play a game for the Kaizer Chiefs, despite being on the bench once shortly after his 24th birthday.
The player was not listed for the team’s most recent match, a 1-0 loss at home to Stellenbosch.
He had represented South Africa at the Under-17 and U23 levels, including participation in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and was considered a promising defensive talent in the country’s football scene.