Grief and shock engulfed the sporting world with the untimely death of Uganda She Cranes netball center player, Harriet Apako on the 15th October 2015.
Apako was one of the 12 players who represented Uganda at the Netball World Cup in Australia two months ago.
Uganda She Cranes captain, Peace Proscovia and many others are still in shock barely a week after Apako was laid to rest at her ancestral Napyanga village in Kaberamaido district.
A teary Proscovia, who turns out for Loughborough Lightening Netball Club in the United Kingdom attested;
It is hard to believe up to now we lost Harriet (Apako). She was so friendly, hard-working, a team player and it will be difficult to replace a person like her.
The She Cranes netball world cup squad in Sydney. Apako (squating 2nd Right )
Apako, a vastly experienced center player would often buy off time her demanding schedule to feature in the Handball league with Police Handball Club.
She was also the national team Handball women captain for a long time.
The postmortem report from Rubaga hospital where the deceased had the last breathe on earth attributed her demise to acute kidney failure.
Proscovia credits her fallen teammate’s great heart of ‘sharing’;
She was a complete team player, always played to win and never jealousy. She had a special component of rallying all of us in a team. We were 12 at the world cup, we are now left with 11. She is irreplaceable.
To this end, glowing tributes from all corners of the world continue to flow in respect of the fallen icon.
2015 Netball World Cup Competition manager Emma Lappi conveyed heartfelt condolences to the family of the bereaved;
I just wanted to send the Ugandan team our deepest condolences for the loss of Harriet. It is very tragic news and our thoughts and wishes are with you all at this sad time. No doubt you are all in shock and there to support one another and her family through this period.
Apako started playing netball, aged 12 and was a diligent servant for the respective clubs she featured for and the national team.
