Former DeMbare boss Mugadza buried

Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter

FORMER Dynamos chairman, Phillip Mugadza, was finally laid to rest at Glen Forest cemetery in Harare yesterday, exactly three weeks after his death.

The veteran football administrator, who was diabetic, died on August 1.

But, the burial was delayed as the family decided to wait for some of his children, who were coming from abroad. The children had to go for the mandatory quarantine, which they completed early this week.

And, yesterday football leaders including PSL chairman, Farai Jere, Dynamos chairman Isaiah Mupfurutsa, Yadah chairman Everson Chatambudza, as well as supporters, gathered at Glen Forest to pay their last respects.

Jere described Mugadza as an iconic football administrator who will be dearly missed.

“Mugadza (Philip) was a larger-than-life character and his leadership qualities, when he was still at Dynamos, were telling,” he said.

“He will be dearly missed.’’

Mupfurutsa said he knew Mugadza long before he took over as DeMbare leader.

‘’We were friends, business partners and family,’’ he said. “He was a good administrator, we would talk football and business, during his time as the Dynamos chairman.

“When I was appointed Dynamos executive chairman, Mugadza was one of the first people to congratulate me and he has always been supportive.

“Dynamos is a big institution and we are very much saddened by his untimely death.

“You know, on the very day he died, I had sent him a message via Whatsapp which he didn’t respond to. It indicated that it hadn’t been read but it had been delivered. I just thought maybe he was busy.’’

Warriors and Dynamos cheerleader, Chris “Romario” Musekiwa, said Mugadza was a unifier. “Football is poorer without Mugadza. He was a top-notch administrator who was capable of uniting players with fans,” said Musekiwa. “It is very sad to lose doyens like him at a time when we need his counsel the most. He will be dearly missed by football in Zimbabwe.”

Mugadza is survived by wife, Dorcas, 13 children and seven grandchildren.

He lost his young brother, Freddy, who was popularly known as Pasuwa, recently.

Freddy died in the United States and family spokesperson, Godfrey Mugadza, said plans to repatriate Freddy’s body were underway.