adminCollin Matiza Sports Editor
AFTER learning about the plight of many local players who are either ill or living in abject poverty, a group of former Zimbabwean soccer stars based in the United Kingdom have decided to come up with a Trust Fund to help their colleagues in Zimbabwe. Former CAPS United and Rio Tinto bustling striker Francis Nechironga has joined several other former Zimbabwean players in the UK in this venture which will see them raising funds for local soccer stars who would have fallen on hard times.
Speaking from his base in the UK at the weekend, Nechironga said former Zimbabwean soccer stars, who are now based in that country, are going to have a fund-raising day in Birmingham this coming Saturday, “and the aim is to raise funds to help former footballers who have fallen on hard times in Zimbabwe”.
A host of former Zimbabwean players, who are based in the UK, will be at this fund-raising day and they include the likes of Muzondiwa Mugadza, Kennedy Chihuri, Brian Badza, Chamu Musanhu, Joe “Kode” Mugabe, Maxwell “MaRhino” Dube, Eugene Langa, Timothy Chirozvani, Canny Tongesai, Ernest Mutano, Fanuel Ariberto, George Guyo, Hubert Munjanja, Alex “Chola” Chasweka, Matambanashe Sibanda and Japhet “Shortcat” Mparutsa.
“We call ourselves ‘Zim Legends UK’ and have been in existence for a year now as a group. We we want to help Zimbabweans in need,” said Nechironga, who added that they have already helped former Hwange, Motor Action and Monomotapa player Edmore Chitato who is ill here in Harare.
“Already we (have) helped that young man (Edmore Chitato) who was in hospital last month,” Nechironga said. “He is now (a) destitute and he is also immobile. His legs are swollen . . . He is in a sad state indeed.”
Nechironga also said they were sourcing for some old football kits which they would like to send back home.
“We are canvassing for old kits, equipment, football manuals and I am talking to (former Liverpool striker) Stan Collymore. He will help us revive the good times in Zimbabwean football. I am in contact with him and just waiting for our plan of action.
“We also hope to visit Zimbabwe and carry out training sessions for teachers. Our targets are the underprivileged in far away places in Zimbabwe. Junior football will be our passion and already some of us here in the UK are now administrators, coaches and motivation speakers with a psychological background.
“So, what we hope to do is to raise money to help the Zimbabwean community and footballers in dire straits,” Nechironga said.
Apart from Nechironga, other former players in the “Zim Legends UK” include Memory Mucherahowa, Ekshape Chemwayi, Frank “Dealer” Nyamukuta, Obey Murefu, Lloyd Jowa and Liberty Masunda, who is currently back home for a short holiday.
Former Zimbabwe Saints coach, the legendary Tendai Chieza is their patron.
Online Reporter