dyton mupawaenda
Robson Sharuko
H-Metro Editor
ON this day, exactly a year ago, news broke out that George Chigova had died in his sleep at his home in South Africa.
He was just 32.
His death shocked a nation which had embraced him as its goalkeeper – thanks to a distinguished service for his country in the colours of the Warriors.
His giant frame made him the perfect goalkeeper but he was incredibly flexible and, along the way, he found a way to perfect the art of saving penalties.
His best performance, as a penalty-saving specialist, came on June 3, 2018, at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, which will this evening host Zimbabwe’s AFCON battle against bogey side Kenya.
It was a COSAFA Cup quarter-final game against Botswana and Chigova saved three consecutive penalties.
The Warriors went on to win the regional tournament.
The young family Chigova left behind will not be in Polokwane today to watch the national team that daddy used to pay for.
They are back home in Zimbabwe for a wreath laying ceremony.
George left behind his wife Nokuthula and three daughters.
“It has been a rollercoaster of a year and all seems like it happened yesterday,” Noku exclusively told Zimpapers Sport.
“It has been tough for the girls as they now realise their dad is not coming back.
“Every now and then Tanatswa (the youngest of the daughters) takes time to clean the accolades that George collected during his playing days.
“He got the most awards at Peter Mokaba Stadium and I have no doubt that Zimbabwe will be triumphant come Friday night.
“As the Warriors get onto the pitch on Friday may they do it for George.”
Interestingly, this year George would have been celebrating a decade since he made his international debut for the Warriors as a raw 22-year-old.
That was on May 18, 2014, when coach Ian Gorowa trusted him to keep goals in an AFCON qualifier against Tanzania in Dar-es-Salaam.
The Warriors lost that match 0-1 and a 1-1 draw at home meant they crashed out of the qualifiers.
George’s death came just when the local football community was celebrating their return to international football after a difficult period on the sidelines serving a FIFA suspension.
He was very close to a number of the players who are part of the team in Polokwane today trying to clear the final hurdle for them to return to the AFCON finals.
Khama Billiat, who was based in South Africa when George died, flew back home to attend the funeral of a man he knew very well from their days at the Aces Youth Soccer Academy.
A return to the Nations Cup final will be the biggest message the Warriors can send to the world that we are really back with a BANG from that suspension.
One gets this feeling that George’s spirit will be with them this evening – exactly a year to the day he breathed for the final time that morning at home in Kyalami, Midrand.
His former teammates will also carry his memory and hope to make his family proud.
Online Reporter