adminRay Bande Senior Sports Reporter
IT is just over 15 years since the late CAPS United talismanic midfielder, Blessing ‘Yogo Yogo’ Makunike, breathed his last after a horrific car accident in March 2004 in Harare, but Zimbabwe is now on the verge of witnessing the reincarnation of the departed Makepekepe great.
His son, Shawn-Michaels, is not only making many recall his father owing to his looks, but the young boys’ similar antics on the field of play.
Yogo Yogo, who made a name for himself at CAPS United, traces his romance with the game that gave him fame to the dusty streets of Dangamvura before enrolling for some junior football teams in Mutare.
He went on to play for lower division teams that include the now defunct Chipinge-based DairiSteri where he left to join CAPS United, thanks to the then Dairiboard manager, Bonface Chigorimbo.
His blossoming soccer career was cut short by the horrific accident although he had managed to go on a half season loan spell at Serbian side FK Javor together with his teammate, Leonard Tsipa.
This is the same club that already had another international Zimbabwean footballer, Mike Temwanjira, who, together with other African players, helped them (Makunike and Tsipa) to incorporate in the squad.
Nevertheless, he and Leonard were back at CAPS the next summer, playing the second semester of the 2003 Zimbabwean football season.
On March 13, 2004, Blessing, together with other two players, Shingirai Alron and Gary Mashoko, and two supporters, were burnt to death in an accident after their car hit the pillar of the bridge and caught fire.
The tragedy marked the greatest loss of players’ lives in a single incident in Zimbabwean football.
The accident happened when the players were travelling back from Bulawayo after winning a league match 1-2 against Njube Sundowns in which Makunike had made a stellar performance.
Makunike was part of the trail-blazing CAPS United that won the league title back in 2004 as well as several cup competitions.
From 1998 to 2001 he played eight matches for the Zimbabwe national football team having scored one goal.
Be that as it may, Makunike’s son, Shawn-Michaels, who was born on March 3, 1999, is now part of the Matopo High School soccer team in Matabeleland South region.
Interestingly, the Matopo High Form Four student plays the same position that his father used to play during his career.
As if that was enough, Shawn-Michaels, just like his father has a knack of watching over his shoulders for a man on while receiving passes from teammates.
His mother, Sibongile Sibanda, spoke glowingly about her son’s budding career and how she is always reminded about her late better half each time she watches him play football.
“Shawn-Michaels is just like his father. At times, I used to cry whenever I see him on the field of play because he actually plays like his father.
“He uses both legs although he mainly uses his left leg. He does all what Blessing used to do and apart from the looks, the boy is just like his father in almost every other way, even in terms of dressing.
“Apart from football, Shawn-Michaels also plays chess and he once represented the country in a regional chess tournament. I am doing my best to support his soccer career. At first, I was worried that he would concentrate on football at the expense of his studies at school, but after consultations with his teachers I discovered that he can still handle both with aplomb,” she said.
Interestingly, young Shawn-Michaels’s heart is with CAPS United.
“Many clubs have approached me with the view of taking him on board at their respective clubs or academies, but the boys wants nothing apart from CAPS United. He says he wants to play for CAPS United and nothing else on the domestic scene,” she added.
While Shawn-Michaels grows up and completes his high school studies, the nation braces itself for the reincarnation of a talented midfielder – Blessing ‘Yogo-Yogo’ Makunike.
Online Reporter