A SAD AND BAD OMEN: Siphiwo Ntshebe dies

YAHOO/REUTERS:

A South African opera singer personally chosen by Nelson Mandela to sing at the World Cup's opening ceremony has died two weeks before he was due to perform.

Siphiwo Ntshebe, 34, an up-and-coming tenor known to local fans as the "new Pavarotti", contracted bacterial meningitis while rehearsing for the June 11 concert. He died in hospital Tuesday.

The singer was to perform his signature song, called "'Hope," during the ceremony, ahead of the opening match between South Africa and Mexico.

RIP.

THIS IS A BAD OMEN, I FEEL...

LISTEN TO HIS SINGING HERE.