Maimane Alfred Phiri has been released from hospital. Photo: Twitter
Ex-Bafana midfielder Phiri speaks out for the first time since shooting
Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Maimane Alfred Phiri has shared a message after being discharged from hospital after a shooting incident.
Maimane Alfred Phiri has been released from hospital. Photo: 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.
“On Thursday 30 December, I was involved in an unfortunate incident outside my place of business in Alexandra,” Phiri said in a statement on Wednesday.
“I just want to take this time to thank the loving people of SA for their well wishes, prayers and support you have shown my family and me through the past two weeks. From the bottom of my heart, I say thank you.
“I have since been discharged from hospital and am continuing with my recovery at home surrounded by my family and close friends.
“Finally, I want to send a special thank you to the medical staff of Edenvale hospital and Netcare Milpark for their outstanding work.”
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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