adminSawu, Adam and Peter Ndlovu and another former Warriors player Zenzo Moyo founded Rising Football Academy last year. The academy seeks to nurture football talent not only in Bulawayo but the country as a whole. It is this football project which Sawu believes has also lost a father-figure as well as a cornerstone.
The football legends had already acquired land from the Bulawayo City Council to conduct their football activities. Now that Adam is no more, Sawu said it is going to be difficult to carry on without him.
This Saturday the academy was supposed to hold a ground-breaking ceremony. Due to Ndlovu’s death they have postponed the ceremony to 29 December.
“We have lost a brother, friend and a hero and our football project will never be the same again without Adam. As partners in football our project was doing well and we were in the right direction. But Adamski has left a huge void which will be difficult to fill,” said Sawu.
Sawu said he knew Ndlovu from their schooldays as junior footballers.
“I grew up with Adam and we played against each other when I was at Pumula High School and Adamski at Mzilikazi. While turning out for Saints juniors we rubbed shoulders when he was playing for Bosso juniors,” said the Chikwata legend.
Sawu also revealed that they were long-time roommates from the days of the Coca-Cola Under-18 tournament and the inter-provincial tournaments. He said the friendship continued at the national Under-23 and senior national team level where they shared rooms.
The Under-23 national team which had the likes of Sawu, Adam, Peter, Benjamin Nkonjera, Nelson Bandura and Ian Matondo was arguably the best that was ever assembled.
“I shared the same room with Adam, Peter and Benjamin Nkonjera at Under-23 level. When the three of us graduated into the senior national team we found Madinda, Mercedes “Rambo” Sibanda, Rahman Gumbo, Willard Kumalo and Bruce Grobbelaar as roommates,” said Sawu.
Sawu later moved to Switzerland where he turned out for FC Lucerne. When Ndlovu moved to the same country he stayed with Sawu in the same hotel. The late Nkonjera later joined the two in Switzerland where they would take turns with cooking duties.
“In Switzerland we continued with our bond as brothers as we used to rotate our meal days with Adam and Benjamin. We could have roped in Claudius Zviripayi (formerly with Dynamos) to our meal ‘cabinet’ but he was staying in a far away town in Switzerland,” said the former Warriors hitman.
The Warriors great said Ndlovu’s death robbed the nation of a hero, brother, friend and a football unifier who sacrificed a lot for Zimbabwean football
“I am at loss for words to describe how I feel but what I know is that God will be with us during this darkest hour and life will never be the same again without Adam,” said a saddened Sawu.
Dumaza Dube who was in the company of Sawu described Ndlovu as a down-to-earth and simple person who could socialise with anyone in society.
“Of the Ndlovu siblings, Adam was the most humble. At one time he was invited to Cement Siding during the Africa Day celebrations and cancelled all his personal plans to give us his time. The people were surprised when he turned up as they thought he was not interested. He even ate sadza with them,” said Dube.
Meanwhile, the Highlanders Heart and Soul Supporters Association has paid tribute to Ndlovu whom they described as a loyal son who served the club with distinction and never wavered along the way.
In an interview, the association’s chairman Peacot Hadebe said Ndlovu’s death was a huge loss not only to the Ndlovu and Highlanders families but the nation at large.
“We feel pained as an association because Adam was one of the club’s most loyal sons who made us enjoy the game of football. His blood was black and white and we had great moments at Barbourfields because of Adamski.
“His death is a huge loss not only to us but the nation at large. I wish the people of Zimbabwe will attend the burial of a football hero on Saturday,” said Hadebe.
The association also said their prayers are with the Ndlovu family during this trying time.
“As an association we pray and grieve together with the Ndlovu family and ask for God’s guidance during this darkest hour.
“To Adam we say rest in peace and we will always remember you and cherish those moments you showcased your football skills across the globe,” said Hadebe.
Online Reporter