Benjamin Moyo remembered

On Sunday FC Platinum were pipped to the league title by Dynamos and probably everyone in the Moneybags camp did not think that the relay which was started by coach Moyo would end, unfortunately in agony.
Away from the hive of activity which gripped Harare on Sunday as mobile operators made brisk business with phone calls from Rufaro to Gwanzura and vice versa, away in Cairo which, months ago and even some areas today, was a no go area with uprisings, the brother to late Benjamin, Benedict “Grinder” Moyo took time to reflect on his brother’s legacy.

Moyo, who is here with the women’s national team and is expected to present a paper to Caf on the early indicators of match-fixing, quietly marked the half year anniversary and said maybe, maybe a league title for the newboys FC Platinum would have, in some way, consoled the family.
A league title for the newboys would have been a befitting posthumous award to the coach who passed on in his new job after years in the wilderness where he had attained high level coaching badges in England.
But all the learning, the goals, the future objectives were drowned in a swimming pool on Good Friday as the team prepared for their first derby in the Premiership against Shabanie Mine.

The late coach had opened his top flight campaign with an expensively assembled team managing a 2-0 victory against Shooting Stars before beating Monomotapa 2-0. He came to Harare and suffered his first defeat at the hands of Dynamos.
Yesterday, the fiery board member for competitions, in tears, spoke about the painful death which still remains a mystery to the family.
“We had all hoped that Platinum were going to make it. They should have done it for Benjie, it would have meant a lot to the family.

“But what is painful most is that six months down the line, the police have not finished the investigations. We can’t do an inquest because the docket is still open. We have no problems with Platinum, the only problem is that we are not getting enough co-operation from the police and maybe the club should be involved.
“We are going through a difficult time as a family especially with his children. They are always asking about their father.
“And it affected our father most. He is no longer the same. There is definitely foul play but we cannot pinpoint anyone. But definitely there was foul play and that is the most painful thing. We would feel vindicated and even him would rest in peace feeling the family have done something if someone was brought to book. We will commemorate in April but we shall never enjoy Easter again.

“Benjie was one of the most highly qualified coaches in the country and we were planning to put boreholes at our rural home in Empandeni where we have a small ground so that the father would retire and start an academy because of his passion for football but he cannot coach forever. And Benjie was the driver of that vision when he returned back home,” said Moyo.
Moyo added that the newboys should celebrate their success and now prepare for the African safari.
“Platinum should acknowledge that they did very well in their first year in Premiership and should not take it as if they lost to Dynamos.

“They should prepare and strive to do well in Africa. Credit must go to them. They have done wonders beyond anyone’s imagination considering it is their first year and they faced tragedy.
“They should embrace their success and celebrate. The club has brought a new dimension to local football. Yes, there are some shortcomings here and there but every institution has weaknesses but we should focus on the positives.
“People now know that it is possible for our football to be professional and to have huge sponsorship and this has been done by Mimosa,” said Moyo.
As the club celebrate and reflect on the achievements they should also spare a thought for the late coach.

Meanwhile, Zimbabweans based here consisting mainly of students and diplomatic staff have joined Dynamos supporters in celebrating their team’s record title.
The supporters on Sunday night were celebrating with the popular “zora butter.” The fans caught the action on facebook where the evergrowing DeMbare dotcomms page operated by one VaShagare made sure that all the fans dotted around the world were not starved of the action.

The fans had pictures of the helicopter entering Rufaro, the trophy handover courtesy of the page and VaShagare who is always on the pulse with the latest DeMbare gossip.
Though his identity remains a deep mystery, he has charmed the hearts of fans here and is surely causing waves on the social network.-The Chronicle