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Fungai Muderere
THE body of the late football great, Rahman Gumbo, will arrive in the country from Francistown Botswana today.
The late Gumbo breathed his last in the neighbouring country last Friday at the Francistown Academic Hospital where he was admitted to after falling sick at his Palapye home.
Family spokesperson Zeblon Mhlanga said while they did not have the exact time of when the body would arrive tomorrow, all the necessary paperwork to repatriate the body of the Zimbabwe football icon has been completed.
“There have been some positive developments. All the necessary paperwork to repatriate the body has been completed and the body of our late hero is set to arrive in the country tomorrow (today). We wouldn’t know of the exact time because we think that will also depend on the border procedures. We have how-ever, told our family members in Botswana to get in touch with us soon as they reach Ramokgwebana Border Post because there are some family members who have expressed their willingness to meet the Botswana travelling team at Figtree,” said Mhlanga. He said the burial place of the legend would be subjected to family discussions despite Bulawayo City Council dutifully according him a spot at Lady Stanley where some prominent football personalities were buried.
He added:
“A Memorial Service will be held at Bulawayo’s Amphitheatre on Friday from 2pm and a Funeral Service will be held on Saturday starting from 7am. We are grateful that the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has offered us a grave at Lady Stanley Cemetery but that is still subject to consent by family members.”
It is at Lady Stanley Cemetery that Bulawayo’s top sportspersons that include Gumbo’s ex Warriors and Bosso teammates Mercedes “Rambo” Sibanda, Willard Mashinkila Khumalo and Adam “Adamski” Ndlovu were buried.
The place also has Tymon Mabaleka, Barry Daka and Chipo Soko.
The ex-Warriors mentor’s death came a few days after he had parted ways with Botswana Premier Soccer League outfit Morupule Wanderers.
Nyaradzo Funeral Services has donated flood lights, chairs, tents and mobile toi-lets to the Gumbo family.
The late Gumbo had fruitful mentoring stints in Zimbabwe, Botswana and Malawi where he won league titles.
He made history by winning championship trophies as a coach in three different countries.
In Botswana Rush coached some top Batswana clubs that include Gaborone United, Township Rollers and Mochudi Centre Chiefs among others.
Besides coaching Highlanders at home, the late Gumbo also had coaching jobs at CAPS United, Buymore, Bulawayo Wanderers, Bulawayo Chiefs, FC Platinum, at the now defunct Motor Action and Chicken Inn.
His last local elite football league contract was with former Premiership club TelOne.
The late Gumbo started his professional football career with the now defunct Eagles in the 1980s before moving to Highlanders where he became a hit.
He made his name as an attacking midfielder, though he started off as a striker.
Gumbo broke into the national team and he was a key figure of the celebrated Dream Team.
He had stints in Cyprus and Denmark as a player. His playing days were put to an end by a knee injury in 1993 at the age of 30.
The late Gumbo is survived by his wife Virginia Gumbo, four children Bukhosi, Mkhuseli, Mandisa and Thabo.
Mourners are gathered at 13 Lendy Road, North End in Bulawayo.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter