Johannesburg - Murdered Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa has been nominated for CAF’s prestigious African-based Player of the Year Award.
Meyiwa, who was shot dead last month, has been nominated with 20 other players, among them strikers Bernard Parker of Kaizer Chiefs and Bongani Ndulula of Amazulu.
Meanwhile, his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo’s latest album is making waves across the country, despite the lack of promotion and marketing for Back To My Roots, which was released in September.
Meyiwa was at the peak of his career, having been named captain of Bafana and the Pirates, and flying the flag high for his country when he was killed in an apparent botched robbery at the Vosloorus home of Khumalo’s mother.
He was responsible for taking the Pirates to the CAF Champions League, saved numerous penalties, and was named player of the tournament. Meyiwa played his final game for Pirates, which ended in a 4-1 win, against Ajax Cape Town at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto two weekends ago.
After the game, he took a walk around the stadium, waving at his fans, almost as if to say goodbye. The winners of the CAF Player/African-based player awards will be announced at a ceremony in Lagos on January 8.
The Confederation of African Football has also announced that Afcon 2015 will be held in Morocco, |as planned, from January 17 to February 8. Khumalo’s album is listed as one of the top-selling titles in the country currently, while its single Asine has been topping the charts on local radio stations.
Eugene Mthethwa, chief executive of Top Crew, said there were no plans to promote the album as Khumalo was observing a period of mourning. Police have arrested one man and have questioned several others.
Zanokuhle Mbatha, 25, from Vosloorus, appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court last Friday after police sought advice from prosecutors. He was identified by witnesses at an identity parade. He will be back in court on Tuesday.
sameer.naik@inl.co.za
Saturday Star