Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
FAZIL Barreto, the widow of the legendary Zimbabwe soccer coach Roy, says as a family they have been overawed by tributes that have been flowing since his demise on Monday evening.
Roy died on Monday evening after a battle with illness.
At the time of his death, he was now resident in Portugal with his wife while their two daughters lived in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Fazil said the family was in awe as they did not expect the kind of outpouring grief and condolence messages that were still coming as of yesterday evening.
“It is so humbling for us as a family. The tributes have been flowing in numbers.
“It is now that we realise how much Roy impacted the lives of many people back home in Zimbabwe and around the globe. We are really humbled that he was so big in soccer and community.
“We have been trying to hold on strong as a family but we are overwhelmed by the love and compassion shown to us,” said the mother of two.
She said as a family they were yet to finalise on when the former coach will be buried.
But the decision, she said, would most probably be made today when the family has met.
“We are yet to finalise the exact date and time. We will be ready to say so, tomorrow (today) when family has met and deliberated on the issue,” said Fazil.
Speaking before boarding a plane to Tel Aviv yesterday afternoon, Illan Elkaim, a very close family friend to the Barretos for close to 40 years, said another factor that could have determined when the burial would be, is whether his former clubs back home would be arranging a funeral service in his honour.
Both the clubs and Zifa, for whom he worked, have been mum on the idea which is not a familiar occurrence to the majority of Zimbabwe residents and communities.
Roy, a former Black Rhinos, Shushine Wolves, Highlanders, Free State Stars, Orlando Pirates, Zimbabwe Saints and Warriors coach died in Portugal on Monday evening after a battle with illness.
The coach began his dugout journey in Mutare in the early 1980s before relocating to Bulawayo where he worked as a civil works yard foreman at the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ).
He eventually joined the Zimbabwe Saints technical team.
He helped Chikwata to the Chibuku Trophy title in 1988 before steering the club to the 1988 league championship, cementing his reputation as one of Zimbabwe’s finest football tacticians.
In that year he oversaw Chikwata lose in the final of the Rothmans Shield to Highlanders in a season Bulawayo clubs swept all silverware and the Footballer of the Year which went to Ephraim Chawanda.
In 1989, Roy crossed the city divide to join Highlanders, where he enjoyed further success. He led Bosso to the league and cup double in 1990 before winning the inaugural Premier Soccer League title in 1993.
He was also part of Zimbabwe’s celebrated “Dream Team” technical setup, serving as assistant to the late Reinhard Fabisch during one of the national team’s most successful eras.
Roy’s coaching career extended beyond Zimbabwe. He worked in Namibia, had a stint with South African side Free State Stars and later joined Orlando Pirates, where he won the South African league title.
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