A tearful and emotional Clayton Daniels could not last in what was supposed to be a brief telephonic interview as he paid tribute to the late Kaizer Chiefs defender Luke Fleurs, revealing how death put off the player’s mega plans.
Instead, Daniels opted to pen a heartfelt message on WhatsApp, in which he described Fleurs as a positive and joyful person.
Daniels offered his deepest condolences to Fleurs’ family and loved ones, encouraging them to find solace in the immense hard work and dedication “their son” poured into his football career.
The 24-year-old defender tragically lost his life to violent crime in South Africa on Wednesday night. He was fatally shot during a reported hijacking incident.
“He was a happy soul, always smiling, he was like that on and off the field. Luke was a friendly person, and he wanted to make sure everyone was as happy as him and enjoying [life] like him,” Daniels told FARPost.
Daniels, who shared the pitch with Fleurs at SuperSport United from 2018 to 2022, also reminisced about the young defender’s kind heart and ambitious spirit.
CLAYTON DANIELS REMEMBERS FLEURS’ DREAMS AND KINDNESS
According to the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Cape Town Spurs defender, Fleurs’ dream wasn’t just about personal success on the field of play but about using his talent to elevate those who raised him.
Daniels revealed the former SA junior international’s cherished dream of buying his parents a house.
“Firstly, I would like to thank Luke’s parents for sharing their son with us in the football world. We became close friends, and I know how much he loved them,” added Clayton Daniels.
“He always made time for them and wanted to make his parents proud; he had plans of buying them a house and renovating the house they were staying in.
“He loved his family, and everything he did was to give them a better living. They can take comfort in the fact that he was fighting hard on the field to make them proud. We’re all going to miss him a lot. I’m sure I’m going to miss him.”
The Mitchells Plain-born defender Fleurs began his professional career at Ubuntu Cape Town FC, making his debut at the age of 17.
In his first season in the second-tier, he was impressive enough to catch SuperSport United’s attention and the Spartans signed him on a long-term deal.
After settling in Pretoria, where he gradually established himself as one of the most exciting young players in SA, his exploits earned him a DStv Premiership Young Defender of the Season award in the 2021/22 campaign. During his time at the club, he made 70 appearances and scored two goals.
Earlier this season, Fleurs went on to sign for Chiefs after parting ways with the Tshwane-based outfit. He was yet to make his debut for Amakhosi at the time of his death.
The centre-back represented SA at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, showcasing his talent on the international stage. That same year, Fleurs also received a call-up to the Bafana Bafana squad for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Though he did not make an official appearance for Bafana, his selection highlighted his potential for the future.
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