UK-based former players do it for Mandigora

WITH love for the game!

In his heyday he was part of footballa��s aristocracy as the first post independence footballer of the year in 1980 and afterwards he lived the life many footballers would like to emulate when he took Dynamos to the championship in 2007 and subsequently semi-finals of the African Champions League in 2008.

He was unstoppable! Those that recognised his stardom called him a�?Yogia�?. Sadly, hea��s now on the sidelines having fallen on hard times after his most prized gift from God, his right foot was amputated because of diabetes.

But last week on Saturday former Zimbabwean footballers based in the United Kingdom held a fundraiser to help the living legend.

a�?We say a big thank you to all the former Zimbabwe players based in United Kingdom who took part in the David Mandigora Fundraising match. It was a match to be remembered,a�? said former Warriors and Chapungu stocky striker Maxwell a�?MaRhinoa�? Dube.

Dube said they managed to raise $1 077 for Mandigoraa��s cause and the otherA� former players that took part in the fundraising match are Memory Mucherahohwa, Brian Badza, Joe Mugabe, Obey Murefu, Alvin Chirimuta, Bheki Mlotshwa, Haddon Mutanda, Tom Tomik and Charles Kaseke.

The countrya��s local based football legends are also set to renew their romance with the ball in honour of their own as they also seek to raise funds for Mandigora.

Highlanders legend Ernest a�?Maphephaa�? Sibanda recently visited Mandigora at his Vainona residence in Harare where he revealed plans are underway to organise a benefit match for Yogi between Harare and Bulawayo legends.

Sibanda said as former footballers they have to come together and offer whatever assistance they could.

a�?The trend that we only unite when someone has passed on but we would have seen him struggling should come to an end. Yogi is one of the football stars that lit up our game. As former footballers in Bulawayo we agreed that we should do something for Mandigora but we first wanted to visit him and get permission from him for us to start planning a benefit match,a�? said Sibanda.

He added:A� a�?Mandigora could not believe Bulawayo legends were thinking about him and wanted to assist him. He said he never imagined football could unite people from opposing ends in that manner. He agreed that we host the match but added assistance should not be directed at him only but we should not forget other former players in distress.a�?