adminIn an emotionally charged speech during a funeral service for the late former ZPC (Hwange) head coach Lindile Dube who died at his rural home of Igusu in Tsholotsho on Sunday, Zulu said many a coach signed employment contracts without looking at the legal aspects of the document especially on issues like remuneration package and pension.
The service, held at Dube’s family home at house number 1152 Old Luveve, was attended by hundreds of mourners who included the who-is-who of football from Bulawayo and various parts of the country before mourners left for burial at Luveve Cemetery.
“As coaches, we make one mistake everytime. We just sign those documents without looking at the contract carefully and at the end of the day we are fired like dogs and we leave without anything to show for our sweat,” said Zulu.
He said most contracts had no legal clauses that protect the coach on any eventuality that may befall him, especially death.
“I therefore challenge the Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association and indeed Football Union of Zimbabwe to look into that issue seriously or else we will come and take over those organisations,” said Zulu.
He said football has been taken over by people who never worked for it, in an apparent reference to administrators.
“This is why we have things like Asiagate and now Zimgate. It’s all because of people who know nothing about this game. People like Lindile did a great job and I promise you Lindile that all those who did you wrong shall pay for it,” he said.
Speaking about the late Dube, the former Railstars and championship winning coach with Highlanders said he was personally saddened on receiving news about Dube’s death.
He said Dube had his own tactics in coaching which he admired even though he was his assistant at Railstars.
“He was my assistant, yes, but I can tell you that I learnt a lot from the man we are bidding farewell this morning. We reached the Zifa Cup final with Railstars and I am proud of that,” said Zulu.
Speaking on the same occasion, a family representative, Saul Mhlanga, said the family has lost a son who united them with the rest of the nation.
“He made us proud by taking teams from the lower divisions to the premiership and we now wonder who will do that for the family now,” said Mhlanga.
Among football personalities who attended the service were the entire ZPC (Hwange) players, coaches Amin Soma Phiri, Tobias Mudyambanje, Willard Mashinkila-
Khumalo, Anderson Phiri, Paul Gundani, Moses Chunga, Newsome Mutema, Adam Ndlovu, Mark Mathe, Seymore Dube, Chicken Inn treasurer Obert Masara, Railstars assistant coach Tirivaviri Sithole, national volleyball team coach Vulindlela Moyo and a host of retired players.
Born in October 51 years ago, Dube did his education at Mafakela Primary and Njube High schools before proceeding to Hlekweni Vocational Trainig Centre. He then attended several coaching clinics where he attained coaching certificates and diplomas.
Some of the most prominent teams that he coached in his lifetime include Lancashire Steel, Chicken Inn, Motor Action, Railstars, Zimbabwe Saints and Underhill. At the time of his death he was ZPC (Hwange) head coach.
Dube is survived by his wife and four kids.
Online Reporter