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Langton Nyakwenda
THE late football guru and CAPS United assistant coach, Nelson Matongorere, has been described as a father, a football teacher and a humble being.
Matongorere, who was also a former ZIFA Technical Director, passed away at a Harare clinic on Wednesday evening.
He was 68.
Details on the cause of his death are still sketchy, but close family members hinted that he suffered a stroke.
Dynamos assistant coach, Lloyd “MaBlanyo” Chigowe said Matongorere’s death was a big loss to the football fraternity.
“Irreplaceable grandmaster of coach education and a father figure. This is a big loss,” Chigowe said.
Former CAPS United owner, Twine Phiri says he knew Matongorere from way back.
“Growing up I was very close to the late former CAPS United striker, Shacky Tauro, so when he married his wife, Mudhara Matongorere was the go-between, that’s how I also became close to him.
“We became very close and we were family,” said Phiri, a former Premier Soccer League chairman.
Matongorere was a renowned coaching instructor who mentored hundreds of gaffers, some of whom are now coaching in the Premier Soccer League.
He groomed the likes of Lloyd Chitembwe and the record-breaking Kalisto Pasuwa.
As ZIFA Technical Director, he implemented CAF’s coaching programmes in the country.
He was also credited for the growth of local women’s football.
“When I say every coach in this country passed through him (Matongorere), I mean it,” said Black Rhinos coach, Nesbert “Yabo” Saruchera.
Jonathan Mashingaidze, a former ZIFA chief executive officer who worked with Matongorere at the football association, described the football mentor as a teacher.
“A football teacher gone too soon. Football is left poorer,” he said.
Online Reporter