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Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
THE body of the late former CAPS United star Joe ‘’Kode’’ Mugabe is set to arrive home tomorrow ahead of burial in Harare on Tuesday.
Kode died in England earlier this month after losing his battle against cancer.
He was 52.
A funeral service was held in England yesterday where family members and close friends, including Memory Mucherahowa and Timothy Chirozvani, paid their last respects.
A number of Zimbabweans based in the UK congregated at Nyaradzo House where the church service were held.
Mugabe’s brother Innocent, who gave a moving speech, is expected to fly back home today to meet the family elders, ahead of the burial, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, at Glen Forest, in Harare.
Family spokesperson, Kudakwashe Mugabe, said the body of the CAPS United legend is expected to arrive tomorrow afternoon.
“The details about the whole funeral programme are still sketchy but what is certain is that Joe’s body will arrive at the Robert Mugabe International Airport on Sunday, around 12:20pm.
“From there, it will be taken to Nyaradzo Funeral parlour, then on Monday, the body will be taken home to Mabvuku, where it will lie in state overnight.
“Barring any changes, burial is expected to take place on Tuesday at Glen Forest. But, before that, there has been a request that the body be taken to Raylton Sports Club.
‘’The programme will be finalised when we meet as a family when Innocent arrives on Saturday (today).’’
Kode is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and three children, Ireen, Ashley and Alvin.
Zimbabwe diaspora community leader, Marshall Gore, who is also the chief executive officer of Team Zimbabwe-UK, paid a glowing tribute to the late football icon.
“I stand here short of words,” said Gore.
“I stand here representing Team Zimbabwe-UK, Joe was part of us and we worked together with him, it’s going to be a challenge working without him.
“I also stand here representing CAPS United, a club that gave a platform to the football icon.
‘’I would like to say to the Mugabe family, thank you for giving us a gem of a player in Joe, those who know him will agree that Joe was someone who did not like publicity very much.
“He led the club in 1996, as co-captain with Silver Chigwenje, it was because of Joe and his teammates that CAPS United was able to break the duck (of winning the league championship after independence).
“Joe left a legacy and that legacy has to continue,” said Gore.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter