adminTobias Mandoreba Hwange Correspondent
FORMER ZIFA panel referee Bernard Pelile Gomba has died.
He was 75.Gomba died on the spot when the car he was travelling in overturned just before Victoria Falls Airport on Monday.
His second eldest son Mose Gomba confirmed the sad news yesterday morning.
“My father was going to the resort town and was travelling in a private car which I am told had six people on board.
“Just before the airport the driver lost control of the vehicle which overturned leading to the unfortunate death of my father. We are waiting for the post mortem results from Bulawayo to finalise burial arrangements but its most likely to be on Friday at Kasibo area,” he said.
Retired referee Felix Dube who went to school with Gomba said he was pained by the loss of his friend.
“I am at a loss of words following the death of my colleague. We grew up together and attended St Mary’s Primary School before we became active soccer referees in the then Super League in the 1980s.
“From there we were engaged as assessors before retiring after some two decades of service. Bernard was a very sociable guy and was a devoted Christian,” said Dube.
Zifa Matabeleland North chairman Denis Tshuma paid tribute to Gomba for his contribution to soccer development.
“The class of referees in the mould of Bernard Gomba is difficult to find and replace for generations to come. I saw him during his days at the centre and if nature would make human beings to stay young and fit forever, soccer would be different today,” he said.
Some of the referees who worked alongside Gomba from the coal mining town include Ernest Mpofu and Shadreck Shasha.
Mourners are gathered at House No 1196 Baobab North in Empumalanga surburb.
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