tawandamusarurwa
Online Reporter
COLLEAGUES and former teammates have described slain ex-Zimbabwe and Bidvest defender Charles Yohane as a fine gentleman who dedicated the better part of his life to football, especially youth development.
Yohane (48) was shot and killed by armed robbers in a carjacking incident in Johannesburg, South Africa, last weekend.
His friends and former teammates have expressed shock at the soft-spoken former CAPS United left-back’s death.
They were also angered by the callous manner in which his life was taken in the streets of Johannesburg.
Apart from dedicating most his playing career in the South African Premiership to Bidvest Wits, he also coached the club’s development squad until the side’s franchise was sold.
Former Bidvest Wits and Zimbabwe winger Alois Bunjira spoke of his time with player, with whom he grew to be very close friends.
“He was my best friend in South Africa when we were still playing. We remained close friends after our playing days,” said Bunjira.
“We spent basically most of our free time together. We loved soapies and we would watch a lot of soapies together. We watched football together and it always was war whenever Manchester United played against Liverpool.
“He was a staunch Liverpool fan.”
Just like Yohane, Bunjira also spent nearly a decade at Wits before moving to Mamelodi Sundowns.
“During all of my eight years at Bidvest Wits University, Charlie was my roommate.
“He would tease me about fixing my hair before games because he used to shave his head at first.
“Then he joined the bandwagon when he started plaiting his hair.
“I started teasing him about his hair as well. So, before the games, if we were in camp, we would fight for the mirror.’’
It was, however, on the field that the duo seemingly had some telepathy, as they plied the flanks for both club and country.
“On the field, we formed a deadly combination on the left side of midfield. I should say most of the goals I scored at Wits University were from his assists.
“He had an educated left foot that delivered pin-point crosses.
“We separated when I joined Mamelodi Sundowns and then Cosmos, but later united again at FC AK, where we both eventually called time on our careers.
“We both had the passion for development and it was no surprise he went into development and was in it at the time of his death.
“We also played together in the national Under-20, Under-23 and senior national teams.
“He was my teammate and roommate at the 2004 AFCON finals in Tunisia.
“He goes away with one footballing secret of mine pertaining the AFCON 2004 in Tunisia. He is the only one who knew… and I will now only talk about it in my biography.”
Other South African-based former Zimbabwe internationals Edelbert Dinha and Ian ‘Dibango’ Gorowa also expressed sadness at the loss of their friend.
Dinha and Yohane were in the same Warriors squad for the AFCON tournament in Egypt in 2006.
“In the national team, we used to compete tichiti nhasi toda kuona achamhanyisa vanhu and who is going to be man of the match iye ari left-back and ini ndiri right-back. Very quiet and humble guy,” said Dinha.
“In South Africa, we used to tease each other when our teams played against each other – ‘nhasi munofa!’ I used to call him Mhondoro; iye woti Nyamuzihwa nhasi panozvarwa mwana asina vhudzi. Good memories; wonderful, funny, always smiling.
“Charlie was a true gentleman; a humble and respectful brother. He had no quarrels with anyone.
“His death has left us gutted. We will sadly miss him.”
Gorowa, who apart from playing in the South African Premiership, went on to coach clubs in that country and was the Warriors gaffer when they finished fourth at the 2014 African Nations Championships (CHAN), said Yohane’s death had hurt all those who knew and liked him.
“Hey, zvinorwadza! Very sad indeed! So sad for me to comment,’’ Gorowa said.
Kaizer Chiefs legend Tinashe Nengomasha, who later moved to Wits at the end of his lengthy stay at Amakhosi, said he had been left in shock after learning of the player’s demise.
“There is no human being who is supposed to die the way our brother has died.
“I am so hurt and really sad. It is just not fair at all,’’ he said.
Online Reporter