Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
FOR decades, he was the man behind the dominant Hwange Colliery team that dominated the ZITF, Harare Agricultural Show and Chamber of Mines Tug-of-War Championships.
He was a revered figure in Hwange sport and life.
The coal mining town was on Monday morning thrown into mourning when news of the passing on of legendary John Nkonde was broken.
Nkonde died in Hwange and was in his mid-80s.
Former athlete, Themba Ncube and Twyman Ncube a football legend in the town confirmed the passing on of the larger than life character in Matabeleland North.
Hwange groups have been filled with grief since the breaking of the news of Nkonde’s passing on Monday.
Nkonde managed and trained the famous Wankie Colliery tug-of-war team that was a regular winning feature at the Trade Fair main arena. Not only did they dominate the scene at the exhibition centre but had for decades been the team to beat even among Zimbabwe mines where tug-of-war was popular pastime for the communities and employees.
Their dominance was eventually broken in the mid to late 1990s with the emergence of Chikurubi, Mutare Board and Timber, Red Seal, Zisco, Ingwebu and other teams.
But he had already carved his name in the annals of history in the sport.
For those short of entertainment in Hwange, it was a marvel watching him and his team move yellow equipment with breaks on as they prepared for big competitions.
His animated antics on the sidelines as the tug seemed to go either way with a seeming stalemate and then all of a sudden… a shout for the guys to pull and finish off the opponents as easy as a hot knife slicing through butter.
Nkonde was the darling of the Hwange community because of his excellent people’s skills and that he was multi-talented and trained many in badminton, basketball, tennis, squash and ballroom dancing, his passion.
Hwange and Zimbabwe athletics legend, among the first to run a sub 46 seconds 400m, Themba said he was identified by Nkonde while running for Wankie Secondary School.
“He identified me while I was running for Wankie Secondary and he became my club coach in 1994 and took me to levels of national recognition. I broke two records or was part of teams that broke records, the 4×100 and 4x400m as he worked as an assistant sports officer. He taught many sports in Hwange and many champions were born out of his service.
“Nkonde, is a true champion of the community, a legend deserving his stripes, he was multi-talented. We have lost an iconic figure in our community,” said Themba who was in the dominant sprint team of the late 1990s, which had Savieri Nghidi, Gabriel Chikomo and Phillip Mukomana, at times including Garnett Dube and Juma Phiri.
Twyman, nicknamed “The Ghost of “ described Nkonde as a legendary figure and a man who brought communities together, especially the Zambian and Congolese people of Hwange.
He was among the leading Bemba elders in Makwika and Hwange in general and loved to dance to Congolese and Zambian music before it even got world recognition.
Twyman said Nkonde played football and was influential in Makwika (Number 3) where he supported Kabwe, a team popular with Zambians because of its name.
“When I was in the Hwange first team, he played for the reserve team that took part in the Chamber of Mines Games.
He was an athlete, let me say he played every sport on offer in the town and went on to be a good trainer, making legends. I toured with him to South Africa during the off-season as we would take the reserve team to offer substitutes in tournaments we took part in,” said Twyman who played for Wankie and Chibuku Shumba.
Nkonde’s son Nelson who is based in Lusaka, is expected in Zimbabwe today.
