The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
HE was the total entertainment package: an actor, good dancer, singer and a good story-teller.
A man described by President Mnangagwa as a sports administrator of distinction.
The unexpected death of Ndumiso “Yours Truly” Gumede was particularly devastating to the nation.
In Accra, Ghana, some still remember him for his sleek dance moves that belied his huge frame when Dynamos played Hearts of Oak in a Champions League group fixture in 1998.
Hours after Dynamos had drawn 1-1 against the West African team in a Group A match at Accra Sports Stadium, Gumede mesmerised the locals with his dance moves during a musical show by a band that played on the street that night.
He was head of delegation for that assignment and was in the company of then-Dynamos chairperson George Shaya that particular night. Gumede reminisced about that night in a touching tribute to Shaya, who passed away in August.
Sadly, four months later, people are having to pay their tribute to Gumede, who passed away on Wednesday, exactly seven days after Highlanders held a special function in honour of his contribution to the game.
He also danced a lot during that function as if it was a way of saying goodbye to his beloved constituency.
Gumede was the Highlanders president at the time of his death, but he held many football administration posts in a career spanning over four decades. He also starred in a number of local films including “Yellow Card” and “Amakorokoza”.
It was not by coincidence that he was mentioned in Lovemore Majavaina’s legendary song “Badhlala Njani” — a tribute to those who made Highlanders a giant that it is today.
A veteran teacher, a former ZIFA vice chairperson, referee and member of the powerful CAF Appeals Committee, the late Gumede mentored a number of administrators in this land. One of them is Kennedy Ndebele, who rose from a Highlanders executive member to become the Premier Soccer League’s chief executive officer.
Ndebele is now one of the most powerful man in local football.
“I learnt with shock the passing of Mdala Gumz (Gumede), a man I have worked closely with for 21 years, but the one I have known as a Bosso boss way back in the early 1980s when he used to stay in Gwabalanda suburb.
“For all those years, I learnt a lot from Gumede, he was a role model.
“Having held key positions in all strata of football means a lot,” Ndebele told The Sunday Mail Sport.
Gumede once held the posts of Highlanders chair, ZIFA secretary-general and Highlanders CEO.
“He was so sociable that I can’t remember ever seeing his angry face,” added Ndebele.
“I would call him anytime for advice . . . and later learnt the easiest route to football administration was the understanding, interpretation and application of rules and regulations without fear and favour.
“Gumede headed one of the most powerful ZIFA secretariats we have had. He worked with guys like Lazarus Mhurushomana, Cliff McCliwane . . .
“Leo Mugabe, who was the ZIFA chairperson, and Vincent Pamire (vice chair) did not have to micro-manage the secretariat.”
He also remembers how Gumede transformed Highlanders into a football powerhouse, which would at one time dominate the Premier Soccer League for four consecutive years between 1999 and 2002.
“Leading a successful Highlanders is one of the most difficult challenges in football. You become popular with the masses but you also become unpopular with some who are eyeing the position.
“You face all sorts of accusations, but Gumede stood the test of time.”
Vincent Pamire recalls how they had to summon Gumede from Botswana to save a sinking ZIFA ship in the early 2000s.
“At one time, Leo Mugabe and myself, after realising things were not moving at ZIFA, we decided to call Gumede to come back from Botswana where he was working just to come and save us.
“We appointed him secretary. Imagine going for one individual in a country that had about 12 million people at that time. It tells you Gumede was one of the best administrators ever produced in the country.
“Gumede did a great job and his death is a great loss to the football family.”
Fellow administrators on the continent have been equally touched by his demise.
Former FIFA development officer for Eastern and Southern Africa and COSAFA founding secretary-general Ashford Mamelodi described him as a rare breed.
“I learnt with shock about the passing of Ndumiso Gumede from a friend in Harare, Twine Phiri,” said Mamelodi.
“I have known Ndumiso Gemede for over thirty years – initially when he and I were both general secretaries of our respective football associations in Botswana and Zimbabwe.
“I had a great admiration for the solid leadership of ZIFA that comprised, amongst others, Nelson Chirwa and Frank Valdemarca, president and treasurer, respectively.
“Gumede and I did not take long to bond, as we had similar challenges.
“Whenever the opportunity arose, I always declared how impressive it was that ZIFA, before any funding by FIFA became available, already owned offices in different cities and towns including headquarters in Harare, being amongst very few African associations that had such facilities.
“ZIFA also had a national team bus sponsored by the then-FIFA president Joao Havelange at a time where a few teams on the continent had one.”
He said the late veteran administrator came across as astute and knew the tools of the trade.
Mamelodi also recalled how Gumede steered the committee that was tasked with probing match-fixing allegations that blighted the national game and became famously known as the Asiagate scandal.
“I recall interacting with him when I was working for FIFA and when he chaired the all-important committee that investigated a match-fixing scandal that rocked Zimbabwe football.
“The types of Ndumiso Gumede are too few and far between on the African continent.
“This does not bode well for the future of the game that is plagued by poor governance generally …
“He will be sadly missed.
“May his soul find eternal rest and may his family be comforted at this time.”
Former Dynamos skipper Memory Mucherahowa, who travelled with Gumede during some of the 1998 Champions League matches, described him as a football guru.
“He was a great leader not only for Highlanders as other people might think, but to almost everyone involved in Zimbabwean football,” Mucherahowa told The Sunday Mail Sport from his United Kingdom base.
“I was shocked to hear about his death. And when I watch the videos at the Highlanders function held recently, I am pained a lot.
“I remember Gumede would sing a lot each time he got a chance at functions or on assignments, especially when we played away.
“Tinongoti basa vakapedza, ngavazorore murugare,” he said.
Former Dynamos keeper Laban Kandi was Gumede’s student when the late administrator taught in Highfield in the 1960s.
“Gumede was a very jovial and bubbly young teacher back then, about 24-years-old I think, and we all enjoyed his lessons as he would throw in a joke here and there, making it easier for us,” said Kandi.
“During that same time, he showed his love for football, though I never associated him with Highlanders because of his being in Harare.
“He would pitch up at our school soccer training sessions, observe and give a tip or two to the teacher in charge.
“Gumede was also an accomplished guitarist/vocalist and would sometimes display his skills when he visited us in the school’s music club sessions.
“We have lost a really multi-talented character,” said Kandi.
Zimbabwe National Soccer Supporters Association president Eddie Nyatanga also remembers the international assignments they had with Gumede as head of delegation.
“It was always nice hanging out with Mudhara Gumede. You would feel free around him,” said Nyatanga.
“Zimbabwe has lost a fountain of football knowledge.”
Former ZIFA chairperson Rafik Khan had some differences with Gumede during his reign between 2004 and 2006 but to him one thing is clear: “He (Gumede) was a fine gentleman and administrator. He was a rare breed of administrators.”
