adminTakudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
LECTURE Mpange — one of the directors and founder members of the now-defunct Premier Soccer League side Blackpool — has died. Mpange died early yesterday morning at Parirenyatwa Hospital after suffering from diabetes.
He was 53.
Mpange is survived by his wife Nyarai and mourners are gathered at his home at No. 4026 Tynwald North in Harare.
Born and bred in Mbare, Mpange was one of seven men who joined hands to form Blackpool that made a big splash on the Premier League in the mid-90s.
His close friend and former Blackpool official, Simeon Jamanda, said the local football fraternity has been dealt a major blow following the untimely death of Mpange.
“Lecture Mpange passed away this morning (yesterday) at Parirenyatwa Hospital after a battle with diabetes. We have lost a person who had soccer at heart and it is so devastating.
“He was part of the guys who pulled their resources together and bought the Black Mambas franchise in March 1993 to form Blackpool and the team went on to make history by winning the Castle Cup before going all the way to the semi-finals of a continental club competition — the Africa Cup of Cup winners (now the Confederation Cup).
“I am still shocked with his untimely death as I first worked with him at Harare United and later on at Blackpool. We had to buy the franchise of Black Mambas after we failed to gain promotion after we finished second behind Rufaro Rovers. “He was a young and dynamic man who also had his stake at Blackpool,” said Jamanda.
Blackpool was formed by very ambitious soccer-loving entrepreneurs who included Ronnie Chihota, who was the club’s chairman, the late Joe Salifu, Joe “Pajero” Musenda, Ben Muchedzi, Ginger Chinguwa and Mpange.
With former Premier Soccer League secretary-general Chris Sambo as their chief executive, “Ndochi”, as Blackpool were affectionately known, changed the face of domestic football.
The team provided a home for players like George Mbwando, Edzai Kasinauyo, Ernest Chirambadare, Marlon Jani, Misheck “Shava” Mapika, Kifton Kadurira, Liberty Masunda, Collins Kabote, Joseph Dube, Pardon Chivasa, Twaibu Sani, Hubert Munjanja, Timothy Chirozvani, Vusi Laher, Masimba Dinyero, Stewart Murisa, Alois Bunjira and Edelbert Dinha, among others, with Zimbabwean soccer legends Shacky Tauro and Joel “Jubilee” Shambo (both late) as the coaches.
The team’s franchise was later sold to Eric Rosen who changed it to Motor Action at the turn of the new millennium.
Online Reporter