Online Reporter
Ashford Mamelodi
THE last time I met with Clever Hunda was at Manor Resort Hotel in Harare on Sunday March 30, 2025, where together with Jethro Hunidzarira commonly known as Chemi and who is also presently serving as Technical Director of the Zimbabwe Football Association. Also in our company was Michael Nees, the current Zimbabwe coach.
Although I was expecting Michael, Clever was a huge surprise encounter. Chemi met with him at a football match earlier, knowing how close I had been with Clever, he just invited him to accompany him to meet an old friend.
On arrival at the hotel Chemi and Clever headed straight for my room. To Clever and I it was a shock, excitement and disbelief all wrapped in one, followed by a warm embrace.
After a few exchanges we went to the dining room to meet Michael who was already waiting for us. I was in Harare to conduct two very engaging on-boarding workshops for ZIFA Standing Committees and the ZIFA Executive Committee.
Given that there was much to talk about there was very little time to get stuck into our dinner. Coincidentally, we all ordered the famous Zimbabwe whole bream. I recall that whilst the three of us took it with vegetables or chips, Hunda ordered sadza.
I had met Nees in South Africa where he served at SAFA as Technical Director. There was plenty to reminisce about at the same time getting stuck into a scrumptious meal.
I had no idea that this would be the last that I would meet with Clever nor that it would be the biblical “last supper” that I would share with him, who was looking as lively and as energetic as ever.
Clever had been amongst a handful of foreign coaches that I could describe as close.
This of course is apart from the late Ben Koufie, Fred Mwila, Thomas Zero Johnson and Tizzah Sekgapane. The latter two having passed on and who had become citizens of Botswana.
Hunda’s football history, particularly in his home country Zimbabwe, has been well documented. He was a born midfielder, both attacking and defensive.
He played for Dynamos juniors and later seniors with the likes of George Shaya and Ernest Kamba. He then went to be part of the birth of Black Aces with David Muchineripi, Rodrick Muganhiri, Simon Mudzudzu, Booker Muchema to mention but a few. His coaching career started at Smirnoff Tigers and continued with the State House Tornadoes with the then President Canaan Banana of Zimbabwe.
Importantly as a player, he went through all the developmental stages including Under-16 and Under-18. He is also said to have donned the colours of Rhodesia U-16, U-18 and U-21 select sides.
At the pinnacle of his playing career at Dynamos he played alongside legendary players like David Madondo and Stephen Chimedza.
After doing business in Zimbabwe he left for Botswana to continue his coaching career there in 1984, where he started a decade-long association with Police XI where he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Sthandwa, Junior, Summer and Pikati amongst others.
Clever must be ranked as the most nomadic coach in Botswana, having coached at one point or another most clubs in the country’s top-flight football.
He must also be ranked amongst the most well-dressed local coaches. He had a penchant for smart dress, especially suits, which he sometimes even wore when sitting on the bench.
He believed in football development as a pre-requisite to elite football. Regrettably most of the clubs that he coached in Botswana were all about instant results and this perhaps best explains why he moved from club to club.
Clever was a hard-working coach and very disciplined. Clever came across as a respectful and well-mannered gentleman.
He was also a likeable character with an excellent sense of humour. By all accounts he lived and died for football.
He joined BMC and got them promoted to the then Super League, where he coached amongst the likes of Jones Mfakose, Gotlop, and Collins Zulu to mention a few.
He won the Coca-Cola Cup with Flamingo Santos with the likes of Tsotso Ngele amongst others. He had two stints with Extension Gunners, with the likes of Marshlow Motlogelwa and Chicco Nare.
He had a big hand in grooming a good number of coaches, who include Sthandwa and Junior at Police XI, Chicco at BMC, Mandivenga from Extension Gunners, Gilport Lions and City Polar.
Sadly, as he ran out of football coaching jobs and as it was becoming increasingly challenging to sustain himself in Botswana, he knew time was right for him to return home, ending a 40-year stay.
He still loved Botswana and would have loved to stay even longer. Upon his return home he was being persuaded to consider a vacant position as chief in his home village, something that he could not warm up to.
He was a football coach nothing more nothing less.
Clever returned home in February 2024 whilst assisting Tlokweng United, only to meet his tragic end when he was said to have collapsed at home, where he stayed alone.
He was buried at his home village of Murehwa, 100km from Harare, last Saturday. We salute some of his friends who made it to the funeral wake from Botswana.
We also understand that a memorial is, deservedly, being planned in his honour in Botswana.
Clever shall be sorely missed by people he played the game with, those he touched and mentored through his coaching, together with his many friends.
Thank you bro, for sharing with me our “last supper” at Manor hotel in Harare.
When the history of football is written for both Botswana and Zimbabwe, the name of Clever Hunda is bound to feature, detailing his laudable contribution to the game in both countries.
Rest well my dear brother.
Ashford Mamelodi: Former FIFA Development Officer, Honorary GS of COSAFA & Former CEO, Botswana Football Association.
