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Sports Reporter
PROMINENT Bulawayo fitness trainer Godfrey Gordon, popularly known as Khumalo, has died. He was 68. Khumalo, whose family members said was fit as a fiddle, suddenly started complaining of pain in his legs on Saturday and his condition deteriorated on Monday morning. His brother Lameck Gordon said Khumalo died on Monday night in Pumula suburb where he had gone to seek prayers.
“He was fine all along and we are shocked by his untimely death. He really loved to keep fit and only complained of some pain in his legs on Saturday and on Monday he started to vomit blood as his condition deteriorated. He then left to seek prayers in Pumula where he passed on and we had to collect his body from there,” Gordon said.
When Khumalo died, he was with his friend and How Mine FC coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube who had taken him to Pumula to seek spiritual healing.
“He was a good friend of mine who gave me advice in my coaching career. He helped a lot in conditioning my teams especially during the pre-season. He passed on in my hands as we went to church for prayers but it was too late and I helplessly watched him dying. It’s so sad,” said Ncube.
Khumalo used to conduct physical training sessions at Ascot Racecourse with most Bulawayo soccer clubs like city giants Highlanders, Chicken Inn, How Mine and Quelaton being some of his clients.
Even sports personalities and fitness enthusiasts also trained under Khumalo.
Mourners are gathered at number 17 Hambly Road, Thorngrove.
Gordon appealed to well-wishers to assist with resources to bury Khumalo.
“We haven’t set a date for the burial because we are still looking for resources to cater for costs associated with the work at hand. Everyone is shocked and no one has money so it’s rather difficult to plan anything. We haven’t even put up the red flag at home because people will start coming and we will need food and after the service we will be expected to speak about burial arrangements which we cannot commit to at this stage.
“We are appealing to his friends, former clients as well as well-wishers to assist with whatever they can so that we bury my brother,” he said.
At the time of his death, Khumalo was still conducting training sessions at Ascot Racecourse.
A former army physical instructor, Khumalo rose to fame in the 1980s when he worked with the star-studded Highlanders side which had club legends Madinda Ndlovu, Peter Nkomo, Willard Khumalo, Tito Paketh and the late Mercedes Sibanda.
Apart from sports teams, Khumalo was involved in the training of security guards.
Khumalo is survived by 11 children.
Online Reporter