Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube in BULAWAYO
FAZIL Barreto, the widow of the legendary Zimbabwe coach Roy, says her family has been overawed by the tributes which have been flowing since his death on Monday evening.
Roy died after a long battle with illness.
At the time of his death, he was staying in Portugal with his wife while their two daughters lived in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
“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 strongly as a family but we are overwhelmed by the love and compassion shown to us.”
She said they were yet to finalise on when the former coach will be buried.
“We are yet to finalise the exact date and time. We will be ready to say so, tomorrow (today) when the family has met and deliberated on the issue,” said Fazil.
Illan Elkaim, a very close family friend of the Barretos for close to 40 years, said another factor that could determine when the burial would be, is whether his former clubs back home would be arranging a funeral service in his honour.
Roy, a former Black Rhinos, Shushine Wolves, Highlanders, Free State Stars, Orlando Pirates, Zimbabwe Saints and Warriors coach died in Portugal on Monday evening.
The coach began his coaching 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.
He eventually joined the Zimbabwe Saints technical team.
He helped Chikwata win the Chibuku Trophy 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, Saints star Ephraim Chawanda won the Soccer Star of the Year.
The following year, 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 set-up, 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.
