The local netball fraternity was yesterday plunged into shock with the news of the death of recently appointed secretary and former vice president of the Guyana Netball Association (GNA), Shondell Samaroo.
A Guyana Police Force press release stated yesterday that the 34-year-old Samaroo, of 34 Public Road, La Grange, West Bank Demerara, was involved in a fatal accident at around 4am yesterday morning.
The accident between a mini bus and motor cyclist Samaroo, occurred on Mandela Avenue in the vicinity of the National Cultural Centre.
“Investigations revealed that the driver of mini bus BLL 9965 and the motor cyclist were proceeding in the same direction along Mandela Avenue when the motor cyclist lost control and ended up in the path of the mini-bus and was struck down,” the release stated.
“Shondell Samaroo received injuries to her body and was taken to the GPHC where she was pronounced DOA,” it added.
Samaroo’s brother, Jermaine told Stabroek Sport that it was his understanding that on her journey home Shondell lost control of the motor cycle she was driving and ran into a minibus on Mandela Avenue.
The Guyana Netball Association also issued a reslese in which it stated that it was grappling with the news of the young administrator’s death.
“We woke up to the news this morning (Tue) that the Manager, Ms. Shondell Samaroo and Secretary of the Guyana Netball Association died when her motor cycle collided with a mini-bus in the wee hours of the morning.
‘We are still grappling with the information and trying to comfort the players who spent the better part of 2010 and 2011 up to Sunday with her.
“We also have to keep our eyes out and on her two kids (9-10 and 12-13),” the release stated. Samaroo had only returned to Guyana on Sunday where she was manager of the national Under-16 team which partipated in the Caribbean U-16 netball championships in St Kitts.
Samaroo, a former member of the Emanie Netball Club, began serving on the executive of the GNA in 2009 when she took up the post of VP serving under then President Maxine Paris-Aaron. Samaroo served in the post until February of this year when she took up the post of secretary of the association.
Coach of the Emanie Netball Club, Lavern Fraser-Thomas recalls that it was through her job at the Bank of Guyana that Samaroo first got involved in the sport of netball.
Fraser-Thomas said it was approximately around 2006 that Samaroo started on with the sport.
“Her first exposure to netball was through the bank (of Guyana), because they used to take part in the sport. That was probably around back in 2006, so it was a result of her exposure to the game through the Bank of Guyana that she eventually joined the Emanie Netball Club,” Fraser-Thomas said.
Aside from serving on the executive, Samaroo was also a member of the national female senior netball team and the President and founder of the Eagles Netball Club, that was formed late last year.
Speaking with Stabroek Sport yesterday, GNA vice president, Lawrence Griffith, says Samaroo was very dedicated to the sport of netball and was very emotional with the sport.
“From the time I knew Shondell she was very emotional with the game and because of her love for the game at times she would admit that she was a bit over emotional but it was because of her love for the sport. What I really admired about her is that she had really good record keeping. She always knew who was coming late and such things with the players she always had a record. And she always had a personal interest in the players, she was like a mother to them,” Griffith related.
Current President of the GNA, Kim Kyte-John could not be reached for a comment, however Griffith relayed that the association will be planning something to honour Samaroo.
Samaroo leaves to mourn two young children.
