GAZZA HONOURED IN HIS GRAVE

Blessed Katiyo in JOHANNESBURG

TWO months ago, traffic came to a halt in Johannesburg Central Business District as hundreds of Zimbabweans bade farewell to Tafadzwa “Gazza” Takaruza.

At the weekend, the late member of Dynamos’ Kidznet team at the turn of the millennium must have been smiling from his grave.

For the social football team which he used to coach here, which has been praised as a powerful bonding tool for Zimbabweans who are working in this city, was honoured.

It received the Outstanding Community Team Sports Award at the SA-Zimbabwe Business Expo.

Takaruza, who died in March following a short illness, was the driving force behind Mafaro FC, which is Jo’burg northern suburb of Windsor East.

The team shrugged off stiff competition from other contenders such as Guzzlers FC and Midrand Legends FC who are social clubs whose players are Zimbabweans.

“We dedicate this award to our late coach Gazza. We miss him and we will continue where he left off,” said his brother Irvine Takaruza.

Irvine is the interim coach at Mafaro FC.

Gazza was a very popular figure in this city.

He was 41 at the time of his death.

He died at Helen Joseph Hospital with his relatives saying he had been complaining of a nagging headache.

He was also known as MaCoach Manyama and was part of the famous Dynamos Kidznet project under the guidance of Moses Chunga.

He played alongside the likes of Samson Choruwa, Nyasha Chazika, Leo Kurauzvione, Eddie Mashiri and the late Norman Maroto, among others.

Gazza was laid to rest in Harare.