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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
ZIFA have described the late former Dynamos and Black Rhinos coach Keegan Mumba, as a great hero whose death has left a void which will be difficult to fill.The Zambian passed on Saturday night at Lusaka Trust Hospital after an illness.
He was 53.
In a condolence message to the Mumba family and the Football Association of Zambia, Zifa said they learnt with great shock and sorrow of the untimely death of Mumba.
“A respected and talented coach, Mumba was a diligent mentor at both Dynamos and Black Rhinos and it is undeniable veracity that he contributed immensely to the development of football in Zimbabwe. The beautiful game has lost a great hero and he will be very difficult to replace,” said Zifa through its communications manager Xolisani Gwesela.
He added, “Zifa and the entire football family joins our sister federation Football Association of Zambia (Faz) and the Mumba family during this difficult time. May his soul rest in eternal peace and may the family also find comfort in the Lord Almighty.”
The Zambian coach first took charge of Zimbabwean champions Dynamos in March 2003 and he wrote his own piece of history in December of the same year when he became the first foreign mentor to lift a trophy at DeMbare after they won the Zifa Unity Cup.
At the beginning of the 2004 season, Mumba was at the centre of a wrangle between Dynamos and Black Rhinos with the latter side claiming that the Zambian had taken over the hot seat at the Zimbabwean army side.
Mumba briefly coached Black Rhinos before returning to Dynamos in May 2004, claiming that he had been given a raw deal by the army side.
A nomadic coach, Mumba later dumped Dynamos and crossed the Limpopo River to coach South African side Zulu Royals in July 2004 but he returned to Zimbabwe towards the end of the same year to take charge of army side Green Buffaloes.
Mumba also coached the now-defunct Zimbabwean Premiership side Shooting Stars before he returned home to Zambia where he took charge of several clubs until his untimely death on Saturday night.
The Zambian football fraternity has described Mumba’s death as shocking.
Before falling ill, Mumba was among 25 coaches who attended the Confederation of African Football A coaching course in Lusaka.
He completed the first phase but was unable to complete the second phase due to illness.
Mumba, a journalist by training, is survived by a wife Florence and five children.
Online Reporter