dyton mupawaenda
Fungai Muderere in Plumtree
The body of the late football legend, Rahman Gumbo arrived in the country yesterday afternoon.
Relatives and friends gathered at the Plumtree border post early in the day, waiting for his body to arrive and accompany the remains to his home town of Bulawayo.
“It’s just unbelievable, so heart breaking. I’m very much devastated because this is a man who gave me great football lessons in the 1990s. It’s really painful,” said a teary Simba Rusike a former AmaZulu, Highlanders, Gaborone United and Thorngrove United striker. Also present was Botswana based ex Highlanders coach Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu.
“I don’t know where to start. What really happened to Rahman? It’s really sad. I’m here to make a closure, my brother is gone. He gave me all the football guidance.
“I have managed to have another coaching stint in Botswana because of him,” said a dejected Mpofu who was holding his passport and car papers.
After a lengthy moment of proving to be brave, Rahman’s wife Virginia could not help but shed tears as she was comforted by the late Rahman’s siblings that included Norman and Nkosana among others.
Better known as Sancho in his playing days, Nkosana could not help but cry for his departed elder brother.
It was so touching!
Indeed, Doctor Rush is no more and it was no wonder that Chicken Inn players, officials and local football enthusiasts took some time off to welcome their football icon at Bulawayo’s Bellevue suburb amid song and dance. So it sank to ex-Highlanders chairman Kenneth Mhlophe, former club vice chairman Modern Ngwenya and renowned former radio personality Ezra “Tshisa” Sibanda as they all turned up to bid farewell to the late Njube bred football hero.
The late Gumbo has deservedly been granted a State assisted funeral after he died in neighbouring Botswana last Friday after a short illness. Gumbo is survived by his wife Virginia and four children.
He will be buried at Bulawayo’s Lady Stanley Cemetery tomorrow.
Online Reporter