Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sport Hub
THE widow of the late Rahman Gumbo, a football legend who played and coached Highlanders and the Warriors, Virginia Sibanda, will be buried at Bulawayo’s Umvutshwa Cemetery today.
Virginia (Virgie) died on Sunday at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) after a long battle with cancer.
Her death came barely two years after Gumbo died in Botswana in 2023.
“I can confirm that our late sister’s burial will take place tomorrow (today) at Umvutshwa Cemetery. We will first conduct a church service at Brethren In Christ Church (Bulawayo Central) after leaving the Nyaradzo Funeral Parlour at 7.30am. After the burial we will also go back to the church,” said Veson Sibanda, family spokesperson.
He confirmed that relatives who are based outside Zimbabwe had since arrived for the burial.
Mourners have been gathering at number 2B Wells Road Sunnyside in Bulawayo.
A few weeks before her death, the Sibanda family had made a plea for donations and assistance to pay mounting hospital bills following surgery that cost US$15 000.
Her late husband, a former Warriors, Highlanders and CAPS United gaffer was buried at Lady Stanley — a place set aside as a burial cemetery for outstanding citizens of Bulawayo.
Virginia was considered the pillar behind the successful run in Botswana, Malawi and Zimbabwe, countries in which Gumbo won league championships.
