Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, Zimpapers Sports Hub
FORMER Zimbabwe international Esrom Nyandoro is set to part with six of his most treasured football jerseys in a high-profile charity auction aimed at transforming lives. The event, scheduled for December 13 at a Johannesburg hotel, will raise funds for education and community support programmes under the Esrom Nyandoro Foundation.
Nyandoro, whose career spanned from the dusty pitches of Mzilikazi to the bright lights of Mamelodi Sundowns, AmaZulu, and the African football stage, says the goal is simple: “I want charity to win.”
Foundation spokesperson Vimbai Ndlovu said Nyandoro’s hands-on community work began during the Covid-19 pandemic, when he donated 240 bags of mealie-meal to struggling families in Bulawayo. That gesture sparked a broader mission to support vulnerable children.
“When Covid-19 ended, Nyandoro explored what else he could do. He chose education and started assisting children with school fees. Many parents had lost jobs and could not afford to keep their children in school,” said Ndlovu.
Today, the foundation pays school fees for 20 learners in primary and secondary school, while another 30 students are in tertiary education. Some have achieved outstanding results, including 11 A-Level points, and are pursuing tourism and hospitality courses at Andreas Training Centre in Bulawayo.
Among the jerseys going under the hammer is the iconic Warriors shirt, Nyandoro wore when he scored a stunning long-range goal against Cameroon at the 2004 Afcon finals in Tunisia — a strike still regarded as one of the tournament’s best.
The gala dinner will feature live entertainment and a call for donations, with tables priced at R4 000. Guests will include members of the football fraternity and the Zimbabwean community in Johannesburg.
“It’s not just the auction and entertainment. We will also honour six women who have made an outstanding impact in uplifting the Girl Child, including some from Zimbabwe,” said Ndlovu.
Nyandoro remains one of Bulawayo’s finest football exports, earning numerous caps for the Warriors and lifting trophies during a celebrated career in South Africa. Now, through his foundation, he is determined to channel that success into opportunities for others.
“The event is meant to raise funds for the 2026 needs of the children. We work closely with Mzilikazi High School, his former school, to assist the less fortunate,” said Ndlovu.
Bongani Ndlovu