South African footballer Luke Fleurs has died after being shot in an attempted carjacking; his club Kaizer Chiefs have announced.
The shooting took place at a petrol station on Wednesday April 3, 2024, night in the Johannesburg suburb of Florida.
Fleur, 24 was waiting to be attended to when he was approached by unknown gunmen, who ordered him to get out of the vehicle.
It is reported that one of the suspects fled the scene with Fleurs’ car after the shooting.
“The suspects pointed [at] him with a firearm and took him out of his vehicle, then shot him once in the upper body,” Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo told Soth Africa media.
Clubs and Country Eulogizes Fleurs
His club Kaizer Chiefs released a statement on social media platform X on Thursday April 4 morning.
“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,” Kaizers Chiefs said in a statement.
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South Africa Sports Minister 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 Kaizer Chiefs defender and former junior international Luke Fleurs. My thoughts are with the Fleurs and Amakhosi family, and the entire South African football fraternity,” Zizi Kodwa said.
The defender previously played for Ubuntu Cape Town and SuperSport United in his native country, while he also represented Bafana Bafana at Under 17 and Under 23 level.
“Late yesterday evening we received the devastating news that Luke Fleurs had been killed in a carjacking in Johannesburg. As an Ubuntu family, we mourn the loss of this talented, young man who was taken far too early and who had been a part of our Ubuntu family for many years,” Ubuntu Football team shared.
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Luke Fleurs Football Journey
The late was playing as a Centre back for South African Premier Division side for Kaizer Chiefs before his demise.
He used to idolize Barcelona legend Carles Puyol who later ended up meeting him on his 18th birthday.
Fleurs was called up twice with the ‘Bafana Bafana’ but did not make his debut for the South African senior team.
He began his football career in 2013 in the Ubuntu Cape Town Academy at the age of 13.
The center back made his National First Division debut aged 17 and made 18 league appearances in his first season of professional football.
Fleurs later signed for South African Premier Division club SuperSport United on a long-term deal in summer 2018.
On 26 October 2023, Fleurs joined fellow Premiership side Kaizer Chiefs, signing a two-year contract with an option for a further year.
