Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
ONE of the companies that has supported the Bulawayo Amateur Football Association (BAFA) since 1957, Townshend and Butcher, will honour the late Charles Chunda with a special event before the end of the year.
Chunda, a passionate football administrator and sports enthusiast, died at Mpilo Central Hospital on Sunday following a short illness. He was 65.
Townshend and Butcher managing director Peter Leondios, whose company has sponsored BAFA’s annual tournament for decades, described Chunda as a hardworking football enthusiast whose passion helped keep the partnership between the company and the association alive.
Leondios said Chunda was both a colleague and friend whom he had worked with for many years.
“He was a friend and a colleague, Mr Charles Chunda. For many years we worked together in sponsoring the football association, the oldest football association in Bulawayo,” said Leondios.
He said the company would dedicate this year’s tournament to Chunda’s memory.
Leondios said the tribute would celebrate Chunda’s contribution to football and his long association with BAFA.
Chunda rose to prominence in football administration after retiring as a player and volunteering to run BAFA.
He later served as the Zifa Southern Region representative on the Zifa Assembly.
His death has left the local football fraternity mourning a man who dedicated years to the development and administration of the sport in Bulawayo.
Chunda’s funeral service will be held at Mzilikazi Baptist Church at 8am on Friday, with burial to follow at Umvutshwa Cemetery.
