According to Sport24 Odille Monk, 28, was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 after a tumour was discovered in her chest. Her father won hearts earlier this year when it was reported that he had been by her side during all her chemotherapy sessions.
“You mustn’t just tell your children you care, you must show them,” de Villiers was quoted in an interview with YOU magazine after his daughter’s diagnosis was made public.
“Sometimes I’d just sleep but he’d still stay with me,” Monk told You magazine earlier this year.
De Villiers coached the Springboks between 2008 and 2011, was the director of rugby at the University of the Western Cape between 2012 and 2015 and most recently coached Zimbabwe’s national team in 2018-19.
Tributes have poured in on social media for the De Villiers family.
1/ Saddened to announce that former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers (PDV) @PeterDeVillier5 has lost his daughter Odille. This just advised me by Peter’s agent, Yasina Sport. Details soon. I’ve always been a great admirer of PDV. Peter is a gracious admirer of my rugby-son. 🇿🇼 pic.twitter.com/39L9rH2j6D
— Coach Jerry🇿🇼 (@maguranyanga) December 15, 2019
My sincere condolences to Peter De Villiers and his family on the death of his beloved daughter Odille. May God comfort you and your family in this time. pic.twitter.com/ZkdrUi93Br
— Marco Jacobs Radio Guy ™️ 🇿🇦 (@MarcoJacobsZA) December 15, 2019
