Rhinos goalkeeper buried

Maria Chiguvari and Curtworth Masango

BLACK Rhinos goalkeeper, Simbarashe Nkosi, who died at Mutare General Hospital on Saturday, was laid to rest at Yeovil Cemetery in Mutare yesterday.

Nkosi passed away after suffering a chest infection. He was 26.

His casket was paraded at Sakubva Stadium before being taken to his final resting place.

He received a guard of honour from the army and a 21-gun salute. Nkosi completed his military training in 2021 and was due to link up with his Rhinos teammates for the first time this week.

Black Rhinos secretary general, Edward Mutukwa, described the late Nkosi as one of their brightest prospects.

“We believed that he was going to play an important role this season,” he said.

“We sent him to military training in 2021. On his return, he was posted to Masvingo and we had requested him back with 14 others.

“So, we were already preparing him for this year and it’s unfortunate he passed on. It’s a big loss for us the Black Rhinos family,” he said.

Itai Makumi, who coached Nkosi at Bottle Tiger in the ZIFA Eastern Region Division Two, said Nkosi was a great goalkeeper.

Makumi first worked with Nkosi in 2015 when he signed him for Bottle Tiger before taking him to then Division One side, Tenax, the following year.

“What a great loss to the football family. Simbarashe was a talented person and was bound to be a great goalkeeper.

“When I started working with him, he was a young boy, but I saw his potential,” he said.

ZIFA Manicaland Province chairman, Kudzai Nyabeze, said Nkosi was passionate about football. “It is a big loss to the game. Simbarashe was very passionate about his work.

“Whenever I had a conversation with him about football, you could feel the love he had for the game,” he said.