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Luke Fleurs

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Luke Fleurs
Personal information
Full name Luke Donn Fleurs
Date of birth (2000-03-03)3 March 2000
Place of birth Cape Town, South Africa
Date of death 3 April 2024(2024-04-03) (aged 24)
Place of death Johannesburg, South Africa
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
2013–2017 Ubuntu Cape Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 Ubuntu Cape Town 18 (0)
2018–2023 SuperSport United 56 (2)
2023–2024 Kaizer Chiefs 0 (0)
Total 76 (2)
International career
2016 South Africa U17 5 (0)
2021 South Africa U23 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Luke Donn Fleurs (3 March 2000 – 3 April 2024) was a South African professional footballer who played as a centre-back for South African Premier Division side Kaizer Chiefs.

Club career

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Fleurs was born in Cape Town on 3 March 2000.[1] He was from Mitchells Plain but moved to Fish Hoek after signing for Ubuntu Cape Town's academy in 2013, at the age of 13.[2][3] He made his National First Division debut aged 17,[2] and made 18 league appearances in his first season of professional football.[4]

Fleurs signed for South African Premier Division club SuperSport United on a long-term deal in summer 2018.[3]

On 26 October 2023, Fleurs joined fellow Premiership side Kaizer Chiefs, signing a two-year contract with an option for a further year.[5]

International career

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Fleurs represented South Africa at under-20 level.[6] He was called up for the Bafana Bafana in 2021[7] and 2022, albeit without receiving a cap.

Death

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Fleurs was shot dead in a hijacking on 3 April 2024, at the age of 24.[8][9] The shooting took place at a petrol station in the Johannesburg suburb of Florida, during which the gunmen shot him in the upper body and fled with his vehicle.

The South African Premier Division said a moment of silence will be observed at all first and second-tier games on 6 and 7 April in memory of Fleurs.[10] Six suspects were later arrested in Slovoville, Soweto and were believed to be members of a carjacking syndicate active in Gauteng.[11] In the memory of Fleurs, Kaizer Chiefs retired jersey number 26.

References

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  1. ^ Mtuta, Lukhanyo (14 October 2021). "Bafana Bafana defender Luke Fleurs". Kick Off. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Luke Fleurs, destined for Bafana?". 31 August 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  3. ^ a b "SuperSport United sign young defender Luke Fleurs | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  4. ^ Luke Fleurs at Soccerway. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Luke Fleurs signs for Amakhosi". Kaizer Chiefs. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  6. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup 2019 - News - Fleurs: I'm ready for any future Messi or Ronaldo". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Donn's World Cup and SuperSport title dreams". CAJ News. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  8. ^ Kohler, Lorenz (3 April 2024). "Chiefs Defender Fleurs Gunned Down In Hijacking". iDiski Times. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  9. ^ Mncwabe, Sammy (4 April 2024). "Kaizer Chiefs soccer player Luke Fleurs killed in carjacking in Johannesburg". CNN. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Luke Fleurs: South African footballer shot dead in car hijacking". BBC News. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Six arrested in connection with the murder and hijacking of South African player Luke Fleurs". Africanews. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
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