adminSikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
A memorial service for the former Sports and Recreation Commission chairperson and Bulawayo lawyer Joseph James was held yesterday at AmaZulu sports club with lawyers and football legends taking part in a four team mini tournament. Nicknamed “Jumbo”, James died on June 28, 2015 at the age of 59.
Speaking during the function, James’ widow, Isabel said life has never been the same since the death of her husband.
She thanked organisers of the service for remembering her husband.
“I am really touched by what is happening today, it shows that my husband was a man of the people but on the other hand as a family it’s also an emotional event, life has never really been the same. We have not even accepted his death,” said an emotional Isabel.
The Coloured community from Thorngrove, where James grew up came out in numbers.
“J, (Joseph) was something else, he fought for the poor in our community. He would represent guys from the hood without charging a dime, that was him and he also used to sponsor a community juniors team and it’s now hard for the boys,” said a member of the Thorngrove suburb community Ted Spantan.
Legends, among them Douglas British Mloyi, Zenzo Moyo, Joel Luphahla, Jerry Sibanda, Godfrey Paradza, Philimon Dangarembwa, Johannes Tshuma and Simba Rusike, took to the field to celebrate the life of a larger than life legal and football personality.
Also in attendance was revered junior football coach Ali “Baba” Dube, retired fiery wrestler Allan “The Ripper” Mpofu, Zifa education officer Brian Moyo, former Zimbabwe Referees’Committee boss Samukeliso Silengane and Highlanders committee member Wisdom Mabhena.
Conspicous by their absence were members of the SRC board which James led.
Online Reporter