Legendary Golfer Phiri Dies

LEGENDARY golfer and administrator Aloysius Phiri has died after collapsing at his home in Kitwe on Tuesday.

His son Gervase confirmed his father’s death in an interview saying “he wasn’t sick, his blood pressure just shot up and unfortunately that’s how he collapsed and died before we could take him to the hospital.”

Phiri, a former Chibuluma Golf Club captain was also director of junior golf under the Zambia Golf Union.

Zambia Open Organising Committee chairperson Emmanuel Mutati who worked closely with Phiri for a number of years said the golfing fraternity would greatly miss Phiri’s experience and dedication to the sport.

Phiri, who was Zambia Golf Union director of junior golf at the time of his death, also worked in-charge of tournaments in ZOOC during Zambia Open Golf tournaments under Mutati.

“He was a very experienced golfer and administrator. On the Zambia Opening Organising Committee he was in-charge of the tournaments. And during the Zambia Open he would be at the club at 05:00 hours and left at 20:00 hours every day for four days, because players were teeing off at 06:00 hours or 05:30 hours. He was very experienced, I relied on him very much, I enjoyed working with him, his commitment was very beneficial to the sport and the club, we will greatly miss him,” said Mutati.

Foreign affairs minister Joseph Malanji, a dedicated golfer and Phiri’s friend, described Phiri’s death as a terrible loss.

“He has contributed immensely to the growth of junior golf not just at Nkana Golf Club but the country as a whole. He was so instrumental in implementing golf rules, and during the Zambia Open wherever it was held, be it Lusaka or on the Copperbelt, his input was immeasurable, the growth of junior golf under his charge had reached greater heights. My prayer is that those that are serving will display that commitment and dedication to the growth of junior golf because that’s where talent is tapped from,” said Malanji.

Immediate-past Nkana Golf Club captain Kedrick Silondwa said the golfing fraternity has lost a visionary. 

Phiri, 63 will be buried tomorrow at Nkana East cemetery and is survived two children.

This article originally appeared on The Mast