“Senzo was always happy,” says Kaizer Chiefs striker Katlego Mphela about the Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, who was shot dead on Sunday evening. “He had a great attitude, always being happy. He liked to joke around. That’s why everybody loved him.”

“Some players when playing for big clubs, like Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates,” continues Mphela, “can become big-headed and a bit arrogant. But that was not Senzo. He never changed, always staying that level-headed person, who would have a nice word for everybody.”

Mphela, who is recovering from his ankle injury, knew the goalkeeper well, having been regularly together in the Bafana Bafana camp. He adds: “Senzo had a strong character. Because for years he was the deputy to Orlando Pirates goalkeepers like Francis Chansa and Moeneeb Josephs and, later, at the Bafana level behind Itumeleng Khune. However, he never made an issue of that, still always smiling and being friendly.”

“And then just when Senzo started to make it at the international level, doing great in goal for Bafana Bafana, this happened. It’s so sad.”

Mphela also mentioned how Khune and Meyiwa, despite being rivals for Bafana’s No 1 jersey had “a healthy relationship, even becoming good friends.”

On Tuesday, the Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper visited Meyiwa’s family in Umlazi, Durban, with a delegation, including Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, SAFA president Danny Jordaan and Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba.