Chronicle Editor
Bongani Ndlovu, Sports Reporter
THE late Highlanders’ president Ndumiso Gumede, has been described as a jovial man and a fountain of knowledge who contributed immensely to the game and will be hard to replace.
Gumede died yesterday afternoon at Mpilo Central Hospital from a kidney ailment. He was 76.
Gumede’s death comes seven days after an event was held in his honour on Unity Day at the Highlanders clubhouse to commemorate his 48 years in football administration.
Highlanders FC patron Jimmy Solumba Ncube said in a statement that they had learnt with disbelief about the passing away of Gumede.
“Ndumiso Gumede was a larger-than-life character and a football luminary whose contribution to the growth of football in general and Highlanders in particular can never be overemphasised. He was a natural leader and a teacher; a fountain of wisdom knowledge,” said Ncube.
He said Gumede was pivotal in producing players and administrators for the club.
“Having produced for the nation so many footballers and administrators, including Ndumiso Gumede himself, it is plausible to argue that we have become a school of football excellence. It is unfortunate that this school of excellence has lost its senior and most decorated professor at a time he was still needed the most.
“It is difficult to express in words the gratitude and honour that Highlanders FC and football in general owes Ndumiso Gumede for his hard work and commitment towards the development of the sport. The club is poorer without Ndumiso Gumede. On behalf of the entire Highlanders family, I say Hamba kuhle qhawe. You fought a good fight.
Your soul might have gone, but your legacy will live on. It shall forever be cherished. Rest in Peace Yours Truly, the One and Only,” he said.
Highlanders board chairman Luke Mnkandla said he met Gumede in 1973 in Harare and they had been close ever since.
“I remember when his name was forwarded as the Highlanders’ chairman at Stanley Hall, he refused. He was young, perhaps 33 towards 34.
This was heard by the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo that Highlanders had no chairman and he called Gumede to his home in Pelandaba and persuaded him to lead Highlanders. He accepted after that,” said Mnkandla.
“He was such a jovial man, any gathering whether Gumede is drunk or sober, he’ll give life into it.
You don’t want to lose a person like that. We, as Highlanders celebrated his achievements a week ago, where I have a speech about his life and our friendship and a week later, he has passed on,” said Mnkandla. He said Gumede was an honest administrator, who shunned embezzling funds.
“I remember him saying to me last week, that ‘ubatshele abantu laba Mnkandla ukuthi mina ngibhalwe ukuthi ngingumyanga emhlane, ngoba angizange ngintshontshe lutho lomuntu’,” said Mnkandla
Highlanders’ benefactor Tshinga Dube said it’s sad that his death comes only a week after the Highlanders’ family gathered to celebrate the great work he did for sports in the country.
“People came from all walks of life to witness this occasion and I was the guest of honour. When he was a teacher, he was a sports administrator and became the Highlanders chairman.
It was very unusual because most people don’t think teachers make good sportsmen, especially administrators. He did extremely well and groomed a lot of young people.
He was a very good Mathematics teacher. When he finished his training at Gweru Teachers’ College he came back to teach at Mzilikazi Secondary School.
Everybody spoke highly of him. He was really a wonderful man who enjoyed his drink though. When he danced when he was drinking, he never quarrelled with people and he was always very jovial. The sporting fraternity will miss him greatly.
He has left a big gap, as he was the Highlanders’ president. He served the club until his death,” said Dube.
Popularly known in football circles as Gumz or Yours Truly, Gumede, a trained school teacher, served Highlanders in various capacities, as chairman, chief executive officer and as club president.
He also held a number of positions at Zifa as committee member, vice-president, general secretary and chief executive officer. Zifa also mourned Gumede saying he would be hard to replace.
“Our condolences to the football fraternity and nation at large on the sudden passing of former Zifa vice-president and general secretary Ndumiso Gumede. A decorated football administrator who truly loved the beautiful game will be difficult to replace,” Zifa tweeted.
The Castle Lager Premier Soccer League said:
“We are devastated by the passing of veteran football administrator, Ndumiso Gumede, a man whose passion and commitment towards football development remains unmatched. He was an exemplary leader who excelled at both club and national level. He served the game with distinction.
We will always cherish his sincerity, professionalism and work ethic. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Gumede family, Highlanders FC and the entire football community during this difficult time.”
In 2005, the Bulawayo City Council awarded Gumede a civic honour for his sterling work.
Bulawayo deputy mayor Mlandu Ncube said the city had lost a hero.
“Gumede was a great man and a key person in Bulawayo. He worked hard from his days as a teacher and a sportsperson. That’s why he was given the civic honour by Bulawayo and he produced good players who played for
Highlanders and the national team, lifting Bulawayo’s name high,” said Ncube.
He said as the people of Bulawayo they appreciate those who organised his celebration party last week.
Born on 14 October 1945 in Bulawayo Gumede grew up in Mzilikazi suburb and since his late father Sithelo Gumede was a teacher, he did his education at a number of schools in and around Bulawayo.
Gumede enrolled for teacher training course at Gweru Teachers’ College and first taught at Highfield Secondary
School in the then Salisbury from 1969 to 1975 before being transferred to Mzilikazi Secondary School.
Mourners are gathered at Number 12 Cheltenham Road, Montrose, Bulawayo.
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