‘We are poorer without him’

ZIFA chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze praised Chiware’s priceless contribution towards the development of football and player welfare.Mashingaidze said Chiware’s untimely departure has left local football poorer in terms of individuals who toiled to develop the game of football.

“As the custodians of football, we have been left poorer by his passing on because he was part of our junior football structures. He spearheaded various football interventions which ensured that junior football blossomed from being an elitist sport to be played everywhere in the country,” Mashingaidze said.

Chiware had an ongoing working relationship with ZIFA from as long back as 1989 when ZIFA would second the then director for football development, Ben Koufie, to work closely with him.

Chiware was also part of the Zimbabwe Football Development Administration, an intervention that created a pathway for the development of players and it produced players like Shingi Kawondera and Master Masiku.

Chiware, together with Winstone Makamure, played a crucial role in the acceptance of Footballers Union of Zimbabwe as an associate member of the world players’ union International Federation of Professional Footballers generally referred to as FIFPro.

Mashingaidze went on to applaud the many projects Chiware spearheaded for development of football at grassroots level.

“Chiware conducted a lot of research in the field of football development and as ZIFA we will continue to use some of his works in developing the beautiful game, which he was so much in love with. He is no longer with us but his legacy will live with us till eternity,” he said.

Chiware was an executive committee member of Harare City FC, whose players and management came to bid him farewell.

He is survived by his wife Patience and two daughters — Mercy (19) and Kundai (14). — Zifa.