Rest In Peace Yvonne

Yvonne Phiri, a member of the SPAR South African Netball Team, has died in a car crash 4km from Hartebeesfontein on Saturday night. Phiri, 21, was returning to her parent’s home in Hartebeesfontein via Rustenburg from the national team’s training camp at the High Performance Centre at Pretoria University.

Following the conclusion of the training camp in Pretoria, Phiri caught a taxi to Rustenberg, where she was collected by a friend with whom she had arranged a lift to her parents home.

Phiri, who played centre and wing defence, was in the South Africa team that toured Fiji and New Zealand earlier this year, and had been included in the team to tour England in January.

She had previously been a member of the Under 21 team that competed in the COSANA Games and toured England.  She was a student at Free State University, and played for the Lynx National netball League team, and had also represented Free State at the inter-provincial tournament in Port Elizabeth in August.

“Yvonne was a key player in the national team and we had great plans for her in the future,” said Mimi Mthethwa, President of Netball South Africa (NSA). “Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to her family.”

Mthethwa said Phiri had the type of spirit NSA required from its players.  “She had the right type of aggression, and the ability to maintain a sense of urgency from start to finish.  We thought she was going to make a major impact, particularly playing at centre.”

SPAR sponsorship and PR manager Wendy Kruger said the sponsors were saddened by the news of Phiri’s death. “It is a tragic loss to netball, and we extend our condolences to Yvonne’s family and friends, her team-mates, and Netball South Africa.”