The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
ON the day former Premier Soccer League chief executive Chris Sambo was laid to rest, the domestic football fraternity’s grief continued following the death of former Dynamos chairperson Philip Mugadza in Harare yesterday.
Mugadza died just a few hours before Sambo was buried at Greendale Cemetery.
The erstwhile Dynamos boss, who has been described as a peacemaker by fellow administrators, died at his house in Gunhill after complaining of hypertension.
He was about to be taken to West End Hospital when he passed away.
“Our brother died at home in Gunhill just when he was about to be taken to hospital,” Mugadza’s brother, Godfrey, told The Sunday Mail Sport yesterday.
Mugadza first arrived at Dynamos as a committee member in an enlarged nine-member executive appointed by then ZIFA chairperson Leo Mugabe at the turn of the millennium.
Rafiq Adam was the chairperson, while Simon Makaza was his deputy.
Other executive members included Godfrey Japajapa (treasurer), Raymond Majongwe (secretary), Seth Chigogora (organising secretary), as well as Ignatius Pamire, Victor Nyaumwe (late) and Dominic Kambeu, were the other committee members.
Mugadza, who was instrumental in bringing the late Zambian coach Keagan Mumba to Dynamos in 2003, then took over as chair before he was later replaced by Pamire.
Makaza, who also later chaired Dynamos in an on-and-off relationship with the Glamour Boys, described the late businessman and farmer as a “peacemaker and a Dynamos son through-and-through”.
“Our farms are just a stone’s throw away from each other, so we would always find time to share notes, especially on football, our beloved sport,” said Makaza.
“We were part of the same Dynamos executive back in the early 2000s and I have a lot of things that I learnt from Mugadza.
“We were part of that nine-member Dynamos executive that was appointed by then ZIFA president Leo Mugabe. We were many in that executive, but there was harmony.
“Mugadza was a peacemaker; he was someone who never wanted to retaliate.Dynamos had no sponsor during our time, but we managed to sail through because we had people like Mugadza who were willing to use their money to help the club.
“We were the first executive to take Dynamos to play in the Vodafone tournament in South Africa. We have lost a football man. The guy was too good and passionate about the game. He was a Dynamos son through and through.
“Anyway, it’s God who gives and takes in His own time. We can only thank God for the time we spent with Philip,” Makaza said.
Dynamos chairperson Isaiah Mupfurutsa said the club had been saddened by the death of their former leader.
“I was shocked . . . he is someone whom I have known for years both at Dynamos and in business. He was a client at the bank that I work for and he was like a brother to me. We interacted in various social circles and just two days ago he sent me a message.
“I was not aware that he was unwell and with this lockdown, it is difficult to physically meet, but he had his contributions in football, especially at Dynamos. He is part of the history of the club, thus his death is a loss to our institution.
“It is more painful that the Mugadza family has lost a pillar at a time when they were still mourning the death of Philip’s brother, Freddy, and whose burial he was still running around to organise,’’ Mupfurutsa said.
Former DeMbare skipper Memory Mucherahowa posted his condolence message on Facebook yesterday afternoon.
“Akomanaka zvakaoma. Rest in peace mudhara,” wrote Mucherahowa.
ZIFA also joined in mourning Mugadza, who died just two months after his brother and passionate DeMbare fan Freddy “Pasuwa’’ passed away in the United States.
“ZIFA commiserates with the Mugadza and football family following the passing on of former Dynamos FC chairman Philip Mugadza.
“Mr Mugadza was an astute administrator who served the beautiful game with dedication and commitment.
“We are saddened by this great loss,” ZIFA said in a statement.
Former Soccer Star of the Year Stewart Murisa suffered a double blow as he worked with both Sambo and Mugadza at Blackpool and Dynamos respectively.
“It’s a sad week for football, especially for me, as I have lost two great men,” Murisa said.
“Sambo was at Blackpool when I played there in 1996 and Philip Mugadza was an executive member at Dynamos when I also played there.
“They were both good administrators. No one is perfect in life, but I must say I never had any issues with Mugadza,” he said.
A number of football personalities took to social media to mourn the former Dynamos supremo.
“It’s sad for real, may his soul rest in peace,” said former Warriors manager Wellington Mupandare.
Staunch Dynamos supporter, Chris “Romario” Musekiwa, also mourned the former DeMbaber boss.
“We are gutted and can’t believe it.
“Surely, we are living on borrowed time,” said Musekiwa.
