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Takudzwa Chitsiga
Sports Reporter
SCORES of mourners gathered at Zororo Memorial Park on the outskirts of Chitungwiza to bid farewell to football’s Gentle Giant as Nelson Matongorere was laid to rest yesterday.
Mourners said the void he left will be difficult to fill.
This is what they said:
“This big-hearted man was everything in terms of laying the foundation of coach education in the country and the region. He was a true mentor. His ability to adapt even to the new trends of coach education was amazing. His love and guidance is why most of us are at the level we are.” — PSL CEO Kenny Ndebele.
“I first meet Matongorere around 1974 when we attended a coaching course at the University of Zimbabwe and our relationship grew. He was a good man, a gentle giant who you would never see being sad. We worked together at Mashonaland Rovers before he took his coaching to another level when he attended some courses in Germany and England.” — Dynamos board chairman, Bernard Marriot.
“We were working on getting him back as CAF coaching instructor and his papers were already with Raul, CAF Development Director. VaMatongorere was a stalwart in bhora remunyika medu nemuAfrica. Former CAF Development Director, Abdel Moneim aka ‘Captain Shatta’ ranked Matongorere in the top six instructors in Africa.” — Senior Manager in the CAF General Secretary’s office, Kennedy Makambira.
“This is a very sad loss for all the football loving people of Zimbabwe and the world at large. I worked well with Matongorere and he was a man of principle whom I have never seen arguing or quarrelling with anyone. For us referees, and the soccer loving people of Zimbabwe, we are very saddened,” — ZIFA referees’ representative Wilfred Mukuna.
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