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Eddie Chikamhi and Grace Chingoma
Senior Sports Reporters
DYNAMOS have paid school fees for some of the children who were orphaned in the accident, which claimed the lives of nine of their fans, in 2016.
The club’s fans are planning to hold a memorial service, at the National Sports Stadium, tomorrow.
The families of the deceased will be handed food hampers.
Dynamos Harare chapter chairman, Khain Nyambuya, who was one of the accident survivors, yesterday said they had mobilised resources, and will be meeting representatives, of the families.
“When we gather around Dynamos, we are not just football supporters. Dynamos have brought us together and made us one big family,” he said.
”So, we have to show love and care, for one another. That is why we continue doing this.
“We have been receiving support from our sister chapters and this year we have received a helping hand from two companies.
”We have also managed to secure school fees for some of the orphaned children.”
Tragedy struck the DeMbare family, on June 11, 2016, when a kombi carrying some of their fans crashed and killed nine people while leaving 16 others injured.
They were travelling to a league match against Chapungu in Gweru.
Meanwhile, club board chairman, Bernard Marriot, says he did not snub the funeral of one of the club’s greatest sons, David ”Yogi” Mandigora.
The domestic football scene has been abuzz, all week, after Marriot did not visit the Mandigora home, to pay his condolences, or attend his burial ceremony, at Glenforest Memorial Park.
DeMbare icons like George Shaya, Sunday Chidzambwa, David George, Moses Chunga, Simon Chuma, Angirayi Chapo, Desmond Maringwa, Labani Kandi, Henry Chari and Murape Murape were out in full force.
However, Marriot said he has been attending to some personal tragedies.
“We have had a difficult time in the last few days,” he said.
“Right now, I am driving to Lower Gweru for a funeral. We have received the sad news that one of my uncles has died.
“It’s actually a second funeral that I will be attending in a week.
”We lost one of our sons last Saturday. He was at Dandaro in Borrowdale, so as a family, we have not managed to get breathing time.
”We are still in mourning.”
The history of Dynamos cannot be complete without mentioning the late Mandigora.
He grew up in the system, having joined the club’s Under-16 side in 1973.
He became the first Soccer Star of the Year, in Independent Zimbabwe, in 1980, and went on to win seven league titles, with DeMbare, during the 10 years he spent at the club.
His brother, Thomas Mandigora, the former Zimbabwe Ambassador to Botswana, acknowledged the role played by the football family, during the Mandigora’s illness.
He said the family was deeply indebted to DeMbare for giving Mandigora the platform to shine.
Dynamos executive chairman, Isaiah Mupfurutsa, said the history of the club would not be complete, without mentioning Yogi’s contributions.
“He is one of the greatest players ever produced in Zimbabwe and at Dynamos. He contributed a lot to football, both as a player and a coach,” he said.
“He is the first Soccer Star in Independent Zimbabwe.
“That is historic, on its own, and also he was part of the team that had lots of achievements, in terms of accumulating the championships, for Dynamos.
“He also made history for Dynamos, as a championship-winning coach, particularly after the club had spent almost 10 years, without winning the league.”
Online Reporter