Chronicle Editor
By Lovemore Dube
GABRIEL Bennedict Mlilo, the men who coached footballers Max Makanza (Lunga), Allan Ndlovu, Collet Dube, Alfred Ncube and Zephaniah Ncube died last Wednesday at his Pelandaba home in Bulawayo. He was 78.
According to his daughter Senelisiwe Sitotombe, Mlilo suffered a stroke in 2017 and life never got to be the same for him. Born at St Joseph’s Mission in Matobo District, Mlilo attended the local school and Empandeni. He trained as a teacher at Empandeni and went on to teach in Hwange at St Ignatius before proceeding for a stint at Victoria Falls’ Chinotimba Primary School.
A former lower division centre back, Mlilo had a passion for sport and coached both athletics and soccer at the schools he was posted to. In Hwange he coached Francis Kalala and Masiyiwa Sakala who replaced Posani Sibanda when the former Rhodesia goalkeeper left for Harare in 1973.
Notable athletes he coached in Hwange include Alfred Ncube and Zimbabwe legend Zephaniah Ncube. But it is while at Induba that Mlilo carved his name among the city’s best talent identifiers and developers.
Among the players he developed are former Young Warriors winger Collet Dube, Max Makanza (Lunga), Rabson Muchichwa, Allan Ndlovu and now Assistant Commissioner Kenneth Thebe all of whom played in the Zimbabwe Super League. Several others played for Division One and Two teams.
Mlilo won the regional primary schools cup sponsored by Ingwebu in 1995. He also founded Falakhe FC, a Bulawayo Province Division Two side. In athletics Mlilo was a coach and track judge for over 30 years. He retired from teaching in 2007. Mlilo leaves behind his widow Mary, five children and 16 grandchildren. Mlilo will be buried at Hyde Park (Number Six).
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