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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER Highlanders Rugby Club player Lameck Kasuka has died. He was 49. Kasuka, who had been confined to a wheelchair at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) for the past 26 years after suffering a spinal cord injury during training on January 25, 1990, died at the health institution yesterday afternoon.
Zimbabwe Rugby Union president Nyararai Sibanda was shocked when Chronicle Sport broke the news to him last night.
“It’s shattering; I can’t believe what you are telling me. I spent the day with him on Saturday and we watched rugby together and this morning (yesterday) I phoned him and we chatted for a long time. On behalf of the ZRU and on my own behalf, I extend my condolences to the family and the entire rugby family,” said Sibanda, who was Kasuka’s teammate at Highlanders and was present when he sustained the horrific spinal injury in 1990.
His death comes at a time local cigarette manufacturer Savanna Tobbaco had donated an unspecified amount of stock to him to kick-start a small business at UBH.
Sibanda had told members of the Sports Journalists Association (Southern Region) on Friday that Savanna Tobacco had agreed to assist Kasuka, who also ran a schools’ rugby tournament through his Lamsuka Foundation.
Residents of Gwabalanda and Luveve suburbs in Bulawayo aged 10 years and below as well as the elderly above 55 years also benefited from time to time from Kasuka’s foundation by receiving free medical services.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo