The death of former national goal-shooter Tricia Roberts, 43, on Monday night sent shock waves through the netball fraternity. The police officer passed away following a tedious battle with Lupus. She was diagnosed last year and made frequent visits to the hospital over the past year.
Roberts, who was outstanding with her left-hand play, will be remembered for her accuracy and exceptional shooting ability on the netball court. She first represented T&T at the Caribbean Netball Championships in Montserrat in 1993. Standing at five feet- nine inches tall, she operated efficiently as both shooter and goal-attack, remaining an integral part of the “Calypso Girls” until 1998. That year after her outstanding shooting at the Americas Federation of Netball Association (AFNA) in Grenada, she was named on the AFNA team that toured Australia.
President of T&T Netball Association (TTNA) Dr Patricia Butcher was taken aback by the death of the Roberts saying: “It is very sad, her passing at such a young age but God is in charge and he knows best.
“I want to express my sympathy to the family, netball fraternity and friends, the All Sectors Netball family. The lord has called her back home. She is in a better place. She doesn’t have to suffer any more.
“Death teaches us to live life, live positive and give back. God gives us talents to share and to give back to others.”
The St Ann’s native began playing netball at the age of eight with Soul City. One of the many teams that had the pleasure of having the prolific shooter on their roster in her shortlived but impactful netball career. She also played with Carib Senators, Horizon Sports and Cultural Club all of which compete in the Port-of-Spain Netball League. The mother of two and grandmother of three also competed in the All Sectors Netball League (ASNL), where she played with Government Printery, Defence Force, and of course Police.
“She was such a jovial person. It is really sad to hear of her passing,” said Brenda Prince of the ASNL.
Roberts was also active in the schools’ leagues in her earlier years, playing for the netball team at the St Ann’s RC, excelling quickly in her age group and went on to represent her primary school in various inter-school competitions. Similarly at Belmont Junior Secondary School, competed in various inter-school championships with her school’s netball team.
Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. Autoimmune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues and creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.
Rachael King