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Fungai Muderere
FORMER Highlanders, Hwange and Eagles goalkeeper Johannes Tshuma is reportedly in stable condition and responding well to treatment and was on Thursday set to go for a theatre procedure at Mpilo Central Hospital where he has been admitted for about one week.
Itai Masawi, who is one of the many local football greats who have been by Tshuma’s bedside, said despite being under the weather for some time, the yesteryear goal-minder, who also had several games with the national team, was showing great signs of improvement.
“He is improving with each passing day. I have just spoken to him this morning (Thursday). He is set to go to the theatre. He has been admitted to Mpilo Hospital since last week and what is pleasing is that he is always in a jovial mood,” said Masawi.
He added: “Every time I go and visit him, he always asks me why I didn’t bring a soccer ball and throw it to him to show that he still has those goalkeeping reflexes. The good thing is that all his former teammates got together and made funds available to cover his hospital bills and medication. Also with the funds that we are putting together, we hope to take care of his upkeep and rentals after recovery. I encourage former footballers and active footballers to come up with some benevolence fund schemes to help each other in times of ill health. The biggest mistake we always make is to wait for one’s death, instead of trying to save lives.”
Tshuma and his former teammates at Eagles have always been in touch.
“It all started as a WhatsApp group created by our former midfielder Collet Dube whereby we were notifying each other about bereavements of our former teammates. It was after the death of Rahman Gumbo that we decided to take it a step further.
“Having realised that some of us were dying due to lack of medication and moral support, we then decided to have a benevolence fund to assist each other in any difficult situation. I would also like to thank Highlanders legends, coaches’ association, and everyone else for making contributions,” said Masawi.
Born in 1962, Tshuma’s football career began at Eagles with the likes of Boy Ndlovu, the late Rahman Gumbo, Pernell Mckop, Tanny Banda, Stoneshed Moyo, Asani Karigeni and Eddie Zimunya, among others.
From Eagles, he moved to Hwange. Tshuma left Hwange for Highlanders in 1993 making an immediate impact by guiding the team to the BP League Cup in which they beat Dynamos in the final. At Highlanders, Tshuma played with the likes of Melusi Nkiwane, Mercedes “Rambo” Sibanda, Willard Khumalo , Sikhumbuzo Ndebele, Gift Lunga (Senior), Master Masiku, Kelvin Maseko, the late Oscar Ncube and Andrew Shue, an American footballer and actor, among others. Tshuma is a Fifa-trained goalkeepers’ trainer with a passion for working with juniors. He has coached a number of clubs in Division One and Premier League.
Online Reporter