Batchelor ‘didn’t deserve to die’
COLD BLOODED: NO ARRESTS YET IN BATCHELOR’S DRIVE-BY KILLING
‘I’m completely devastated, no one deserves to die in that manner, it was hard seeing my brother lying in the car,” said Warren Batchelor.
Family hopes ‘for justice to prevail’ while football mourns former star’s death.
‘I’m completely devastated, no one deserves to die in that manner, it was hard seeing my brother lying in the car,” said Warren Batchelor yesterday morning.
Warren was speaking outside his dead brother Marc Batchelor’s home.
The former Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs football player was shot dead on Monday evening.
Marc Batchelor, 49, was driving with his gardener in his car when he was shot dead outside his Olivedale home in Johannesburg at about 6.30pm.
Initial reports said the former footballer was shot by two men who were riding on a motorbike.
Soon after the shooting on Monday police spokesperson, LtCol Lungelo Dlamini said: “Police are investigating a murder case after a former soccer player, Marc Batchelor, was attacked by two
men driving a motorbike in Olivedale outside his house.
“He was shot several times and died inside his vehicle.”
Yesterday, when recounting the events that led to the shooting, Warren said his brother was more concerned about his gardener. “He told the gardener to get down” when they started shooting. The gardener escaped unharmed.
“My brother had a colourful character and he was talented,” Warren reminisced.
Marc Batchelor is perhaps best remembered for being part of the Pirates team that won the African Champions League tournament in 1995.
Michelle Paine, a family friend said it was unbelievable, and what they did to Marc was unfair. “He was a good person, what happened to him is hard to explain”.
Warren said they were hoping that justice would prevailed.
Police, who are yet to figure out the motive for the cold-blooded killing, said they were looking for two suspects, who were seen fleeing the scene after they shot Batchelor several times.
Commenting on the murder, Irvin Khoza, the owner of Orlando Pirates Football Club and chairperson of the South African Premier Soccer League, nicknamed “Iron Duke or Squveve”, said Batchelor was a “hero”.
The “Iron Duke” said during apartheid the striker would train in the townships and use the same showers with black players. He said along with Mark Fish and Gavin Lane, Batchelor helped make South Africa appear “normal” when it was not. – ANA