adminTakudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
SCORES of local football personalities converged at the Warren Hills Cemetery to pay their last respects to former Monomotapa treasurer Bekhithemba “Far” Ndlovu yesterday.
Despite the scorching heat, coaches, players, administrators and representatives of the corporate world came together to lay to rest the veteran administrator who also served as national Under-20 team manager for several years.
Ndlovu, who was 46, died on Monday evening at Parirenyatwa Hospital after a long battle with cancer.
Several speakers showered praises on the late administrator and chronicled his contribution to the domestic game.
Betta Balls Sports managing director Maureen Nyemba, a close business associate of the late administrator, said she was saddened by Ndlovu’s death and revealed that she treated him just like a son.
“I have known Ndlovu for more than 30 years and he was more of my son and it is a major blow to the whole family,” Nyemba said.
“We stayed together before I moved from Marimba and he is the one who remained at my place which he took care of for 10 years before he moved out.
“I am saddened for his wife and especially her mother who he used to look after. Her mother feels hard done as she had only two kids.
“I last saw Ndlovu last Friday and he said he was to go for chemotherapy and he would come to our offices regularly as he used to work there. He was a strong man and was optimistic and as he always said I am healed,” Nyemba said.
Dynamos midfielder Russell Madamombe, who honed his skills at Monoz, described Far as a father figure.
“Ndlovu was more of a father to me as he was part of the people who took me from Bindura to join Monomotapa. He accommodated me and gave me the platform to showcase my talent while at Monomotapa,” said Madamombe.
Nokuthula Sengurai, a sister to Ndlovu said she was still to come to terms with her brother’s death as they were only two in their family and they were so close.
“He is the only person I looked up to as an elder brother and it is painful to lose him. I feel lost as I looked up to him,” Sengurai said.
Former Young Warriors left back Qadr Amini, now at FC Platinum, ex Monoz assistant coach Nkululeko Dhlamaini and former Premier Soccer League fixtures secretary Godfrey Japajapa were among scores of people who converged at Warren Hills yesterday. Zimbabwe National Soccer Supporters representative Tendai Makoni said they had a good working relationship with Ndlovu and football will never be the same again.
“We co-ordinated support for the Young Warriors with him and he was a good man who will be missed dearly by the football community,”Makoni said.
Online Reporter