Collin Matiza-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ADOLF Mutuma, a legend of Zimbabwean football in the mid-1960s and mid-1970s, has passed away at the age of 86 after a long battle with illness.
According to one of his sons, Enoch, Mutuma was suffering from high blood pressure and he died on his way to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital on Thursday morning.
He is survived by eight children and 18 grandchildren.
Mourners are gathered at number 100 Mukonde Street in Mufakose.
He will be buried tomorrow in his rural home of Mhondoro.
Mutuma was a celebrated Zimbabwean football legend hailing from the historic coloured community of Arcadia in Harare.
Widely respected as one of the standout stalwarts of community football in Harare’s Arcadia neighbourhood, he made the prestigious Soccer Stars of the Year calendar highlights and remains a revered elder statesman of Zimbabwean football.
He is remembered as a standout defender and one of the notable black players who starred for Arcadia United alongside teammates like Allan “Teacher” Hlatywayo, Jimmy
“Daddy” Finch and Titus Mugodi.
Mutuma starred for Arcadia United from the mid-60s to mid-70s as a combative right-back despite his small frame.
He also featured briefly or was associated with sides like Salisbury United and Highlanders.
He earned international recognition playing for the then Rhodesia senior national team during the 1969 World Cup qualifying campaigns.
Mutuma was part of the then Rhodesia senior national team for the 1970 World Cup qualifying campaign in November 1969 when they narrowly lost in the penultimate stage against Australia.
The match was played in Lourenco Marques (now Maputo) in Mozambique.
His teammates in that national squad included talented players such as Bobby Chalmers (defender), Robin Jordan (goalkeeper), Stewart “Giri the Cat” Gilbert (goalkeeper), Peter Haddon (defender), Isaac Chieza (defender), Stuart Knowles (defender) and James Nxumalo (defender).
The late legendary George “Mastermind” Shaya was also part of that squad together with his Dynamos teammate Shepherd Murape.
Other local football icons such as Gibson Homela, James Chibaya, Topsy Robertson, William Sibanda, Philemon Tigere, Nelson Mapara, Alex Mwanza, and Itayi Chieza also rubbed shoulders with Mutuma in that squad.
The coach was Danny McLennan.
In the senior national team, Mutuma formed an outstanding defensive partnership with Nxumalo and Steven “Faka Simbi” Chimedza.
In fact, Mutuma, Nxumalo and Chimedza were outstanding for the country in a partnership that at times had Murape in the thick of things from the mid-1960s to early 1970s.
Mutuma was a Soccer Star of the Year finalist in 1969 and 1970.
The 1970 Soccer Star of the Year finalists included the winner Tendayi Chieza, George Shaya, who went on to win the award a record five times, Shadreck Ngwenya, Peter “Thunderboots” Nyama, Alick Masanjala, Rex Sheasby, Brian Pearce, Simon Supiya and Billy Sharman.
