Maimane Alfred Phiri at the MAP Games in Alexandra. Image: Twitter
LATEST: Phiri offers heartfelt ‘THANK YOU’ after shooting incident
Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Alfred Phiri, who was recently injured in a shooting, has spoken out for the first time since the incident.
Maimane Alfred Phiri at the MAP Games in Alexandra. Image: Twitter
The incident occured in Alexandra at the end of last year, with Phiri having been wounded in the arm and leg, while another victim was fatally shot in the abdomen before the gunman turned the weapon on himself, later dying in hospital.
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Phiri was said to be in some discomfort, but is responding well to treatment, which he will now continue at home after being discharged from hospital.
“I just want to thank the people of South Africa for the well wishes, prayers and support that you have shown me and my family through the past 2 weeks. From the bottom of my heart, I say THANK YOU,” he said after he was discharged from hospital.
Phiri described the shooting as an “unfortunate incident”, but added that he couldn’t say any more about the matter while it is under police investigation.
Phiri appears to have been injured while acting heroically
Police in Gauteng revealed further details of the incident in an official statement.
“Police have opened a case of murder, attempted murder and an inquest docket after a man allegedly shot two people and then shot himself in Alexandra on Thursday, 30 December 2021, at approximately 19:00.
“It is reported that the suspect was carrying a firearm chasing his girlfriend into a tavern in Alexandra. The owner of the tavern, who is a brother of the woman, and another man tried to stop the suspect.
“The suspect shot the tavern owner in the arm and lower body and shot the other man on the upper body before turning the gun on himself.
“All three men were taken to hospital. The suspect and the other man died in hospital while the tavern owner was admitted in a serious but stable condition.”
Phiri enjoyed his best years on the football field in the late 1990s, travelling with the Bafana Bafana squad that did duty at the 1998 World Cup in France. In all, he played 13 internationals and enjoyed a stellar career in the Premier Soccer League, while he also spent time abroad playing in Turkey.
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