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In that glittering career, the father of two scored the second highest number of Warriors goals, 34, only bettered by his younger brother Peter — still admitted at Mater Dei hospital in Bulawayo.
Adam was killed in a horrific car crash on Sunday morning together Nomqhele Tshili who was a passenger in the car while Peter was seriously injured.
“In our tribute to Adam yesterday we indicated that we need to have a Hall of Fame for our soccer greats and in that place will be jersey number 13 which was worn by Adam.
“Let the nation know that just like what the Cameroonians did to jersey number 17 which was worn by Marc Vivien Foe, there will no longer be a jersey number 13 in the Warriors,” said Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze yesterday afternoon.
Foé was part of the Cameroon squad for the 2003 Fifa Confederation Cup, a tournament played between continental champions.
He played in wins against Brazil, Turkey, and was rested for the match against the United States of America, with Cameroon having already qualified.
On 26 June 2003, Cameroon faced Colombia in the semi-final, held at the Stade de Gerland in Lyon, France. In the 72nd minute of the match Foé collapsed in the centre circle with no other players near him. After attempts to resuscitate him on the pitch, he was stretchered off the field, where he received mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and oxygen.
Medics spent 45 minutes attempting to restart his heart, and although he was still alive upon arrival at the stadium’s medical centre he died shortly afterwards, in spite of the efforts to save his life.
In his condolence message to the Ndlovu family last night, Zifa president Cuthbert Dube said Ndlovu had distinguished himself as a fearless striker in the 1990s during the days of the Dream Team, under the late German Reinhard Fabisch which took Zimbabwe by storm.
Meanwhile, Sports Writers Association (Southern Region) patron Jabulani Nkomo has described the passing on of Adam and the injury of Peter as a deeply sad and touching event.
“The messages of condolences that have been pouring in have aptly described Adam the way I knew him. He was a good, likeable and well mannered gentleman, so easy going that if you met him for the first time, you would feel like you have known him for years. His fame never got the better of him, he still remained down to earth,” said Nkomo, son of Vice President Landa John Nkomo.
Nkomo said Adam’s illustrious and rich soccer career for Highlanders, other clubs and the national team was an envy to many, the tragic event coming at a time when he had professionally hung his boots and was giving back to the community by identifying and developing talent via Chicken Inn.
“This tragic event should bring to the fore the urgent need for the sports loving fraternity to get together and have a heroes place for sports achievers or something like a Hall of Fame. Such heroes as Adam deserve to be immortalised. There must be a way to get this done. Rest in peace Adam. I wish a speedy recovery to Peter and it’s good to hear that he is alert and is able to communicate.
“Kunzima Madinda. Kuyamele uqine mfowethu,” said Nkomo.
Former award winning referee Felix Tangawarima said he was devastated by Adam’s untimely demise.
“Why Lord Why? Adam offered so much and had so much to offer. I want to join the Ndlovu family and the entire nation in mourning one of the best footballers the country has ever produced. Adam was an advertising agent of the goodness and quality of footballers found in Zimbabwe. For years he flew the national flag high from the juniors to the senior national teams. He also did the same for his beloved Highlanders team.
“To me if there was ever going to be a heroes acre for sports persons, Adam would surely be resting there. I ask God’s grace to help the family in particular and the nation in general to be able to cope with this very difficult period.
“I also wish a speedy recovery to Peter. Let’s all join each other in prayer for the family,” said Tangawarima who is now a Fifa refereeing instructor for Southern and Eastern Africa based in Botswana.
Online Reporter