Star forward Kgatlana tells of family grief amid Banyana's World Cup breakthrough

Banyana Banyana vice-captain Thembi Kgatlana apologised for not speaking to the media at OR Tambo International last week when she returned to South Africa from the World Cup, explaining that her time in Australasia had been an emotional battle following the loss of three family members while she had been on national duty.

Along with her Banyana teammates, the star forward, who either scored or had a hand in every Banyana goal at the World Cup, and the Proteas netball team were attending a Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture breakfast hosted by Minister Zizi Kodwa on Thursday.

Upon first arriving in New Zealand, Kgatlana learnt of the passing of her aunt and her great-grandmother, who had died within a day of each other. She decided then to go back home for a short while.

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When she had returned to New Zealand once more, she then lost her aunt to cancer three days before the World Cup started, something Kgatlana said sapped her spirit.

Having suffered a torn Achilles tendon at last year's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, she had returned to action just before the World Cup and had wanted to repay the faith shown in her during her recovery from injury.

"I hadn't been with Banyana for a year because of my torn Achilles tendon and I was finally ready to represent South Africa," Kgatlana said.

"I came into camp and my mom called and told me my father's aunt passed away. I thought of going home, but I couldn't because part of the team that included me, Andile, and Refiloe were part of the team issue (pay dispute) we were discussing at the time.

"The next morning, I woke up to the news of my great-grandmother passing away and I told the managers,