South African goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead on Sunday during a home invasion gone wrong. Meyiwa was a goalkeeper and team captain for the Orlando Pirates soccer club in Johannesburg. He had also served as goalkeeper for the South African national team during several matches throughout the past year and a half.

Meyiwa’s death came as a shock to both fans and teammates. The Orlando Pirates held a press conference on Monday to express its sympathies to Meyiwa’s family.

“This is a sad loss whichever way you look at it – to Senzo’s family , his extended family, Orlando Pirates, and to the nation,” said Irvin Khoza, chairman of the Orlando Pirates.

Khoza went on to say that the team was “devastated” by Meyiwa’s death and that he encouraged players to cry during a get-together early Monday morning. Khoza has asked the Premier Soccer League and the South African Football Association to postpone a scheduled match between the Pirates and the Kaizer Chiefs, saying that holding the match at this time would be “insensitive.” He also requested that the media help track down Meyiwa’s killers and bring them to justice.

South African President Jacob Zuma also released a statement expressing shock and outrage over Meyiwa’s death.

“We mourn the death of this young footballer and team leader whose life has been taken away at the prime of his career,” said Zuma. “The law enforcement authorities must leave no stone unturned in finding his killers and bring them to justice. Words cannot express the nation’s shock at this loss. We wish to extend, on behalf of government and all the people of South Africa, our words of condolence to his family and relatives, his friends and peers in the football game, his club Orlando Pirates, and our national soccer team as well as the football fraternity as a whole. May his soul rest in peace.”

According to a BBC report Meyiwa was staying at his girlfriend’s house in the Johannesburg suburb of Vosloorus at the time of the shooting. South African police stated that two men entered the house Sunday evening and demanded valuables. After Meyiwa was shot the men fled with a third man who had been standing outside the house. Early reports have suggested that Meyiwa was shot while trying to defend his girlfriend.