Senzo Meyiwa, captain of the South African football team, was shot dead by burglars who broke into his girlfriend's house on Sunday, authorities said.

The incident occurred after Meyiwa reportedly tried to protect his girlfriend, singer-actress Kelly Khumalo, from the men who entered her house in Vosloorus in the southern part of Johannesburg.

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According to reports, Meyiwa sustained one gunshot wound to the chest after confronting two of three intruders. Police said that he was already dead when he arrived at the hospital.

An official statement revealed that around 8 p.m., two unidentified men entered Khumalo's house and demanded for the couple's phones and other valuables, while another man served as the lookout outside.

The three men fled after the incident and still remains at large.

Authorities said late Sunday that their early announcement of the football star's death soon after the incident has occurred was a breach of protocol.

Meanwhile, in a statement released Monday by South African President Jacob Zuma, the entire nation was shocked and mourned the sudden death of Meyiwa, whose life was taken "at the prime of his career."

During a media conference, Meyiwa's coach, Ephraim Mashaba, could not fight his tears as he spoke about the loss of his team's captain, who he described as a very kind person.

"I have never sen him get angry or sad in the camp," Mashaba said.

The South African football team's coach also urged the rest of his team to stay strong despite of the unfortunate incident.

In addition, Irvin Khoza, chairman of the Orlando Pirates, where Meyiwa has been playing for since 2005, said the loss saddened not only the football captain's family, but the entire nation as well.

Meyiwa's death has again highlighted gun-related violence in South Africa, after athlete Oscar Pistorius was sent to prison for killing his girlfriend when he mistook her for an intruder.

TagsSports, African People, Orlando Pirates FC, Senzo Meyiwa