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Vilakazi suffers robbery trauma

Johannesburg - A second Bafana Bafana player has been targetted in an armed robbery after the parents of midfielder Sibusiso Vilakazi were held up while he slept 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 October 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 Wits, lost only some clothes, while his parents had jewellery and household items stolen.

"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 (November 15) and away in Nigeria (November 19).

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

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