Tributes poured in yesterday for South African goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa after he was gunned down at his home on Sunday evening.

Two gunmen entered the Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain's house in Vosloorus township, near Johannesburg, while an accomplice waited outside and all three fled on foot after shots were fired, police said.

The men reportedly demanded money and phones before the shots were fired.

Orlando Pirates chairman Dr Irvin Khoza said he'd had an emotional meeting with players yesterday morning.

"It's not easy to hold back emotions, especially on an event like this one," he said. "Senzo was not an ordinary player. He was a national and club captain. It was only natural that there would have been some tears this morning. I encouraged it."

South Africa head coach Ephraim Mashaba paid tribute to 27-year-old Meyiwa for his kindness and affable personality on and off the pitch.

"Since he took on that (South Africa captain's) role, we never had issues with the team and staff," Mashaba said. "We never had issues with players coming to us after that.

"He had that personality that meant that he could easily defuse a situation.

"A good guy like Senzo will never just vanish. His spirit will live forever."

South African society, too, was in shock.

The Young Communist League pointed out that the country was still reeling from the "passing away of another legend in the form of Mbulaeni Mulaudzi," the former 800m world champion who died in a car crash on Friday.

Meyiwa was an "exceptional player who served both his country and team with diligence," said the youth organisation.

Police union Popcru urged the public to help catch the men "who left Meyiwa's children without a father."

A spokeswoman added: "May we be united in our anger towards crime in general and seek to be a part of the solution instead of passive complainants.

"Collectively, we have the power to turn the tide against crime."