Online Reporter
STEWART “Shutto” Murisa, one of the finest local footballers of his generation, published his autobiography on Friday night in Birmingham, England.
The book is quite a fascinating story which captures his journey from birth to the final chapter in the beautiful game.
The book was launched on his 52nd birthday anniversary.
It also comes on the 29th anniversary of his finest hour when he was crowned Soccer Star of the Year in 1996.
It clarifies a lot of things, including the controversy over his real date of birth, and how it happened.
He also has dedicated a chapter to his “eye for the beautful ones.”
It’s a tale of his two marriages, which gave him his kids, and his respect to the two women despite their union having collapsed at some stage of their lives.
He gives readers an insight into his football adventure, which saw him play for Darryn T, CAPS United, Dynamos and Highlanders and in South Africa and Poland.
The book was written by sports journalist Clemence Marijeni.
“My life-story is dedicated to the memory of my grandmother Mbuya Martha Murisa, my mother Gladys Murisa and my brother Ngonidzashe ‘Yahwe’ Murisa and all the members of the Murisa family and my greater extended family,” Murisa writes.
“My coaches, administrators, fellow players, friends and fans alike, departed and alive, there is enough space in my heart for all of you.
“It can only be right to start by acknowledging my immediate family first for the support and continued encouragement for me to immortalise my story in print.
“A big thank you to everyone in the Murisa family and my greater extended family.
“Big gratitude to my daughters Nicole Murisa and Natalie Mapfunde together with my son-in-law Nieville Mapfunde, plus my son Stewart (Jnr). My appreciation goes to their mothers Getrude and Eunice too. It had always been wish for my football story to be thus recorded.
“When we eventually depart from this earth we should not take our life-stories with us especially if you had one which you may feel it deserved to be told.
“I am glad to have done this for the sake of posterity and I am especially elated that my story will be around for the forthcoming generations of my family and everyone alike to read.”
He adds: “This was a labour of love indeed and it took more than two years of planning, interviews, research and writing as we worked tirelessly with Clemence Marijeni whom I felt was best poised to help tell my story given his vast knowledge of Zimbabwean football.
“His additional graphic designing expertise also came in handy in typesetting, formatting and designing the whole book including the cover.
“Having played in South Africa over a spell of eight years, it was prudent to rely too on someone who had intimate knowledge of that country’s game to double-check and verify the facts.
“Many thanks to my long-time boyhood friend, South African based veteran TV sports analyst, Odacious Marowa who did a splendid job. My sincere gratitudes also go to many other football personalities who contributed their knowledge and expertise.
“These include Lloyd Chigowe. His vast experience with junior football helped a great deal in explaining the junior football structures of yesteryear. Many thanks to Robson Sharuko and Collin Matiza of The Herald, Lovemore Dube of The Chronicle and Langton Nyakwenda of The Sunday Mail whom we relied on for additional fact verification and research.
“Goodwill Zunidza’s network was invaluable in connecting us with some sources of information.” He also thanked his manager.
“Martin Changandirere, who acted as my manager on different occasions and did a splendid job over the years, was at his usual best again this time providing some of the pictures that he had so delicately preserved in his bank of frozen time memories.
“Edzai Muzhange, an Administrator of popular Facebook group ‘Old Football Pictures-ZIMBABWE’ was also on hand to provide some of my images used in this book that I did not even know existed.
“I also thank my peers and coaches for the heart-felt testimonials – Gift “Umbro” Muzadzi, Liberty Masunda, Timothy Chirozvani, Wieslaw Grabowski, Lloyd Chigowe and my long-time benefactor Mr Lazarus Kabare.”
