Netball icon Connis Mhone dies
A sharp shooter in her heyday, a productive coach later; netball icon Connis Mhone died on Monday at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe after succumbing to cervical cancer, her family has confirmed.
Her sister, Temweka Kazembe, said Mhone was diagnosed with the disease some time back and was expected to travel for chemotherapy in India before her condition deteriorated. She was aged 47.
“She was admitted to the hospital after complaining of stomach pains. Doctors diagnosed that the cancer was causing kidney failure and she was becoming anaemic too,” Kazembe said.
She described Mhone as a calm person who was full of love: “I am totally devastated because in Connis I have lost my best friend.”
Paying her tribute, Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) president Rose Chinunda said the nation has lost a citizen who was dedicated to the netball cause.
“It’s heartbreaking to lose Connis who spent her whole life trying to improve netball standards both as a player and a coach,” she said.
Mhone started her career at Oriental Tobacco Sisters in Mzuzu before being poached by Blue Eagles Sisters in 1980s.
Samuel Kanyenda was the then Eagles coach and on Monday also paid homage to Mhone: “She had rare talent in attacking positions. I am the one who brought her to Eagles. She was such an amazing netballer.”
Mhone later joined Admarc Tigresses (now Complex Tigresses). She was also part of the golden generation of national team players that included Mary Waya and Peace Chawinga-Kalua.
After retiring from playing over six years ago, she became Civo Nets coach and was recently named Under-21 national team coach. Until her death, she was still holding the two posts.
Mhone, who is survived by two children, will be buried at her home in Chikwina Village, Sub-Traditional Authority Nyaluwanga in Nkhata Bay district. n
