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LUCAS Sabawo, one of the finest wrestlers to emerge from Zimbabwe, has died. The former owner of the now defunct Epworth-based Biggos Wrestling Club and member of the Association of Associated Wrestling Styles of Zimbabwe (AAWSZ), succumbed to malaria at a hospital in Zambia last month. He had migrated to that country and was working in the construction industry.
Sabawo, who was 51, was buried in Epworth on Thursday and is survived by wife and three children.
A close friend and owner of the rival Sagittarius Wrestling Club, Cleopas Gochera described the late Sabawo as a hard worker.
Gochera, who was the technical adviser of AAWSZ, promised to organise a tournament in honour of his friend and other departed greats like Max ‘‘Moondog’’ Kutsanzira and Patrick ‘‘Flyer’’ Ncube.
‘‘It is very painful for us and the sport of wrestling in general to lose such a man who was committed to wrestling and showed high resilience during some of the frustrations we encountered in the sport.
‘‘I will try hard to come up with a memorial tournament for him and other legends like Max Kutsanzira and Patrick Ncube, at least once a year,’’ said Gochera, who hosted several tournaments won by Sabawo in the 1990s.
Zimbabwe Wrestling Board of Control president Tapiwa Masinire received the news with shock, saying it was a ‘‘big setback’’ as he had shortlisted Sabawo to be one of the members of the newly constituted Zimbabwe Wrestling Federation Bureau.
‘‘I am really shocked with the news. It is a very big setback as I had shortlisted him to be one of the members of our bureau which would have over 40 gurus who would pass their knowledge and advice to the youngsters,’’ said the ZWBC president.
Sabawo was part of a four-man team with Fungai Banda, Paul Phiri and Charles Chiweshe which took part at Coastal Championships in Windhoek, Namibia, in July 1999. Chiweshe brought home a bronze medal from the event which drew 450 participants from the hosts and South Africa.
In another sad development, former international player and Matabeleland Cricket Association president Derrick Walter Townshend died. He was 69.
Townshend died last week in Bulawayo of cancer of the bone and was buried in the same city on Friday.
Online Reporter