Soccer star Sibusisio Vilakazi : home attacked by robbers

Bafana Bafana midfielder Sibusiso Vilakazi has been a target of a robbery attack, the second South African footballer to be targeted in recent weeks after the tragic attack on Senzo Meyiwa.

Vilakazi’s parents were held up in their Soweto home while he slept in a neighbouring property.

The close shave comes just days after goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead in a botched robbery at the home of his girlfriend on Oct. 26.

Vilakazi was a roommate of Meyiwa in recent national team camps and claims the robbers asked for him specifically, but his parents would not disclose he was sleeping in a cottage behind the house.

The 24-year-old South African Player of the Year, who plays for the BidVest Wits club in Johannesburg, lost only some clothes, while his parents had jewellery and household items stolen.

According to EyeWitness News, three armed men entered the house in the early hours on Saturday morning, while two others waited outside the Orlando East home.

Vilakazi says his father was hit on the head with a gun, and his mother and brother tied up, before they were robbed.

“These guys had ropes and they tied up my family so they couldn’t move or anything.”

“I was sleeping in one of the rooms at the back. They asked about my whereabouts and the keys of my car,” he was quoted in local media.

“My mom, father and young brother were held hostage by the criminals. They took cash, TV set, music system, wedding rings from my parents and some of my clothing.

“Everything happened when I was sleeping and I didn’t hear anything. Imagine if I woke up and went in what would have happened. I’m still hurt and trying to recover from what happened to Senzo Meyiwa.”

Vilakazi was on Tuesday named in the South Africa squad for the African Nations Cup qualifiers home to Sudan (Nov. 15) and away in Nigeria (Nov. 19).

Even though South Africa’s murder rate has been gradually dropping, police recorded more than 17,000 murders last year.