Last night is a bit of a blur. At around 9pm I got a tweet saying that there were rumours going around that Senzo Meyiwa, the Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana captain had been shot and rushed to hospital. I thought it was just another stupid Twitter rumour.
But I had to follow it up. I started making calls, to the player's agent, to his club, to some of his teammates, nobody could clarify if it was just an evil rumour or had some truth. I started to worry.
Unfortunately there is crime everywhere in the world, but the disregard for human life in South Africa sometimes terrifies me, and for that reason I had a horrible feeling in my gut that there was some truth to the rumours.
It was then that I got a call from Eddie, my boss, who confirmed it. Senzo hadn't just been shot and rushed to hospital, he'd been shot and killed. My heart stopped.
These things happen every day, that shouldn't be forgotten. But they don't happen to people that I know, people that I've had conversations and shared flights with. If a revered human like Senzo isn't safe, then who is?
I don't profess to have been close friends with Senzo, but I've had plenty of dealings with him and spent time talking to him over the last three years. I was in Cairo with Pirates and last season's CAF Champions League final and was lucky enough to spend a bit of time with him. He was a diamond.
Footballers are often criticised for their lack of humility, for allowing themselves to grow too big for their boots, but that wasn't Senzo. Over the last 18 months 'The King of Lubumbashi' had elevated himself to a status as one of Africa's best goalkeepers, but you'd never know it.
Speaking to Senzo he was always humble, always ready to praise those around him rather than attribute any form of success to himself. It was Meyiwa who, almost single-handedly at some stages, helped the Buccaneers reach that final in Cairo last year, but he'd never take any credit for it.
We haven't just lost a footballer in Senzo Meyiwa. We've lost a role model, we've lost a hero. Nzori was the sort of player that you want your kids to look up to and say, "I want to be like Senzo".
The South African football fraternity has been rocked by the news, but it's also made global headlines. I've been taking calls from all over the world asking for my comments on the situation, even Radio Sheffield, the local station from where I was born in the UK, wanted to offer their condolences and speak to me about it.
Senzo now has worldwide importance, it's just such a shame that it was his untimely death that gave it to him.
Casillas Mk.2 was in his prime. He was captaining his club and country and has never, and will never, concede a competitive goal in Bafana Bafana's colours. That's how he should be remembered. Solid, dependable and a helluva nice guy.
The last time I saw Senzo was on a wet Saturday night at Orlando Stadium doing what he did best. I'm glad that's how I'll personally remember him.
For me though, the most heart-breaking thing is this… Take away the fact that Senzo was a phenomenally talented footballer, he was also a partner and a father. It's another child and woman left without their rock, taken from them with no warning whatsoever. That's the most devastating part.
RIP Nzori, you'll be hugely missed.
