- He was a Zambia international football midfielder and manager
- Born in Northern Rhodesia, Phiri played club football for local side Nchanga Rangers F.C. for nearly fifteen years
- Phiri made several appearances for the senior Zambia national football team, including eleven FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, and played at 1974
- After retiring from playing football in 1983, Phiri became a coach. He was appointed a manager of Nchanga Rangers F.C. in 1984
- Born to policeman Mulimakwenda Phiri
- Willie Phiri’s father hoped for better ambitions for his first-born son and supported his education more than a fledgeling soccer career
- If anything Phiri senior opposed his sons love for the global game seeing it as more of a distraction towards attaining a better and secure future
- However, it was Phiri seniors friend Damiano Mutale who betrayed him and subsequently unearthed one of Zambia’s best ever midfield players
- In January 1993 Phiri got involved in a road traffic accident that left him wheelchair bound.
- Willie Phiri was survived by wife Alice Ivy Phiri and five children, two boys Willie Phiri Jnr and Fumbani Phiri and three girls Michelle Phiri-Kazala, Tracy Phiri-Bath and Karen Phiri
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