Luke Fleurs Explained

Luke Fleurs
Full Name:Luke Donn Fleurs
Birth Date:3 March 2000
Birth Place:Cape Town, South Africa
Death Place:Johannesburg, South Africa
Height:182 cm
Position:Centre-back
Youthyears1:2013–2017
Youthclubs1:Ubuntu Cape Town
Years1:2017–2018
Clubs1:Ubuntu Cape Town
Caps1:18
Goals1:0
Years2:2018–2023
Clubs2:SuperSport United
Caps2:56
Goals2:2
Years3:2023–2024
Clubs3:Kaizer Chiefs
Caps3:2
Goals3:0
Totalcaps:76
Totalgoals:2
Nationalyears1:2016
Nationalteam1:South Africa U17
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2021
Nationalteam2:South Africa U23
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:0

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

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.

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.[4]

International career

Fleurs represented South Africa at under-20 level.[5] He was called up for the Bafana Bafana in 2021[6] and 2022, albeit without receiving a cap.

Death

Fleurs was shot dead in a hijacking on 3 April 2024, at the age of 24.[7] [8] 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.[9] Six suspects were later arrested in Slovoville, Soweto and were believed to be members of a carjacking syndicate active in Gauteng.[10] .In the memory of Fleurs,Kaizer Chiefs retired jersey number 26

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mtuta . Lukhanyo . 14 October 2021 . Bafana Bafana defender Luke Fleurs . 16 December 2021 . Kick Off.
  2. Web site: Luke Fleurs, destined for Bafana?. 31 August 2018. 21 December 2020.
  3. Web site: SuperSport United sign young defender Luke Fleurs | Goal.com. www.goal.com. 21 December 2020.
  4. Web site: 26 October 2023 . Luke Fleurs signs for Amakhosi . 26 October 2023 . Kaizer Chiefs . en.
  5. Web site: FIFA U-20 World Cup 2019 - News - Fleurs: I'm ready for any future Messi or Ronaldo . https://web.archive.org/web/20190401093534/https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/news/fleurs-i-m-ready-for-any-future-messi-or-ronaldo. dead. 1 April 2019. www.fifa.com. 21 December 2020.
  6. News: Donn’s World Cup and SuperSport title dreams. October 26, 2021. CAJ News. 11 June 2023.
  7. News: Kohler . Lorenz . Chiefs Defender Fleurs Gunned Down In Hijacking . 3 April 2024 . iDiski Times . 3 April 2024.
  8. Web site: Mncwabe . Sammy . 2024-04-04 . Kaizer Chiefs soccer player Luke Fleurs killed in carjacking in Johannesburg . 2024-04-04 . CNN . en.
  9. News: 2024-04-04 . Luke Fleurs: South African footballer shot dead in car hijacking . 2024-04-04 . BBC News . en-GB.
  10. News: 2024-04-10 . Six arrested in connection with the murder and hijacking of South African player Luke Fleurs . 2024-04-10 . Africanews . en-GB.