Divine Lunga: Zimbabwe player survives shooting attack

Zimbabwean football player Divine Lunga, defender of Mamelodi Sundowns and the Zimbabwe national team, survived a shooting attack in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. The incident occurred last Sunday, when Lunga and his brother were driving in the Hillbrow neighborhood, known for its high crime rate. According to local reports, an unknown gunman shot at the car they were in, but fortunately, both were unharmed. South African police have confirmed they are investigating the case as an attempted murder, but so far there have been no arrests in connection with the attack. Police spokeswoman Captain Tintswalo Sibeko did not provide further details about what happened, but South African newspaper The Citizen reported that Lunga was on his way to church with his brother when they were attacked. The gunman apparently mistook Lunga for an undercover police officer. Divine Lunga, who is 31 years old, is an experienced player. He has already worn the Zimbabwe national team shirt on 21 occasions and was called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which are scheduled to take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Since joining Mamelodi Sundowns in 2021, Lunga has been a key player in the team's defense, helping to win four domestic league titles and the second edition of the African Champions League, won in May this year.  To date, neither Mamelodi Sundowns nor the Zimbabwe Football Association have officially commented on the attack. However, the national team, affectionately called the Warriors, published an image of Lunga in a prayer position on their social networks, accompanied by the message "In God we trust". Support for the player has been significant, reflecting the concern and solidarity of his fans and colleagues. This incident highlights growing security concerns in South Africa, which faces one of the highest homicide rates in the world. Armed violence is a serious problem in the country, and cases like Lunga's spark debate about public security and the protection of citizens and public figures. With the future of Zimbabwean football at stake and the World Cup qualifiers awaiting, Lunga's recovery and his safety are of utmost importance to his fans and the sport in the country.

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