Netballer dies at OYDC

THE Southern Africa Inter-municipal Sports Association (SAIMSA) games kicked off on a sad note with a netballer dying few hours after featuring for her team, Chililambwe Municipal Council.

According to a statement by SAIMSA publicity committee, Katete Malekano complained of not feeling well. She had featured in her team’s first game in the morning.

Later, she sought medical attention within the Olympic Youth Development Centre, the main venue for the games.

After her BP was checked, she was advised to rest but shortly the condition changed and she was taken to University Teaching Hospital (UTH). She was pronounced dead on arrival.

Consoling members of the Chililabombwe delegation, SAIMSA vice president Daniel Albertus Maiton expressed shock over the death of Melekano who was chief committee clerk.

“I was emotional on receipt of the depressing development. SAIMSA is a family. Therefore, when calamity strikes such as death everyone is affected. I wish to express our condolences to the family, Chililabombwe Municipality and the [Zambia Local Authorities Sports Association] fraternity,” Maiton said. ZALASA president Christopher Shakafuswa described the player and council employee’s death as sad.

“The sudden death of Mrs Melekano is devastating to ZALASA as what has befallen us is quite heavy to bear. As for the way forward on whether Chiliabombwe continues participating in the games, this decision is left to her colleagues here to decide,” he said.

After her BP was checked, she was advised to rest but shortly the condition changed and she was taken to University Teaching Hospital (UTH). She was pronounced dead on arrival.