The Sunday Mail
Petros Kausiyo
Sports Editor
IT may be three years since domestic football was dealt a body blow by Edzai Kasinauyo’s death, but those who worked with the former Zimbabwe international midfielder continue to cherish the legacy of “honesty, hard work and commitment’’ he bequeathed to the country’s flagship sport.
Kasinauyo died on June 16, 2017 at Donald Gordon Medical Centre, a private hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.
He was 42.
Before his death, he had transformed himself from a player into a successful businessman, player-manager and football administrator after retiring in 2008.
Apart from venturing into business on retirement, he engaged in philanthropy in partnership with his friend George Mbwando, catering for orphaned children in Hwange through the Football Against HIV/AIDS project while his passion for development was underlined by the youth tournaments he staged for primary and secondary schools in Mufakose and his rural home, Guruve.
Together with former Warriors captain Peter Ndlovu, they were appointed VW Football Ambassadors for Zimbabwe and he used that opportunity to create a platform that saw this country sending 16 Under-13 players to the VW World Junior Masters Championships in Madrid, Spain in 2012.
In the week that friends, family, colleagues, former teammates, coaches and some of the players he managed remembered him, all seemed to sing the same hymn — that of his dedication to duty, how he had resisted the lure to go into coaching when he quit playing and his passion for development.
As an agent, Kasinauyo would give a host of players — including Knowledge Musona, Khama Billliat, Willard Katsande, Tafadzwa Rusike, Gilbert Mapemba, Oscar Machapa, Evans Rusike and Zhaimu Jambo — their break into the professional game and revived Thomas Sweswe’s romance with the South African Premiership.
Both Katsande and Musona then excelled to become captains of the Warriors for the 2017 and 2019 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Some of those who played alongside him like Edelbert Dinha revealed that beneath the veneer of a strict businessman that Kasinauyo was, lay a humorous character who exuded confidence in all he did.
Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt, who coached Kasinauyo before working with him when he had retired, paid special tribute to his former prodigy as did ex-Nigerian international goalkeeper Greg Etafia who played in the same Moroka Swallows team with the late former ZIFA board member for development.
Hunt, a highly-regarded coach, said he knew Kasinauyo from the time he arrived at Cape Town Spurs through to his days at Moroka Swallows.
“It’s very sad how he passed away . . . I had known him from CT Spurs, then Ajax in Cape Town then to Moroka Swallows in Johannesburg.
“He was a good winger, very explosive and he did very well for me. He was a good guy as well and was a good agent and a good family man. I knew his wife as well . . . very sad that he got so ill and passed away RIP.
“He was a very dedicated player and a good professional who trained hard and looked after himself,’’ Hunt said.
Former Super Eagles man Etafia, who spent 14 years at Swallows, said: “Edzai was not only a teammate, he was a brother and a friend. I will always remember the great moments we shared at Swallows, great and so humble a guy.
“For me what really distinguished him was his dedication towards his job and family. Very confident in his ability’’.
Former Warriors coach Ian Gorowa, CAPS United juniors coach Stewart Murisa, ex-PSL chairman Twine Phiri, the league’s chief executive Kenny Ndebele and former Warriors team manager Sharif Mussa are among those who commemorated the anniversary of his death.
Ian Gorowa:
He was a good friend and I miss him dearly. The Lord took him maybe a little bit early, but you can’t ask the Lord that. I feel he could have done more in unearthing more talent and exposing it on the international football market. On the ZIFA side, as a former player he had done well to put himself within the structures of the governing body of something he knew.
For him to retire and not opt for the football way to become a coach after playing but choose to lead . . . it’s a legacy. The problem with us former footballers is we don’t appreciate and enhance one another. That’s why when he was at ZIFA he never got enough support from former players and it’s really difficult. Edzai put his head up and said I will do it for the love of the game and my life was football therefore I need to change how it is being administered.
So his legacy of running football at the highest level as a former player will go on and inspire some players, former and current.
Sharif Mussa:
I first came into contact with Edzai when he was playing for the national team and I was the Warriors manager. In him I saw a rare breed of player who was disciplined, hardworking and an honest man who always wanted the best for his country.
It did not surprise me that he would go on to maintain the same principles as a businessman and he was successful in all the spheres he specialised in.
For him to provide the career pathway for many Zimbabwean players to get their professional breakthrough is a legacy which I think all progressive football people should always cherish and as player manager he always demanded that his players be disciplined, do their best for club and country and for themselves.
It is a pity we lost him when he was still young but he had also acquitted himself very well in his short stint as a ZIFA board member in charge of development. I hope our football can unearth someone like him again.
Edelbert Dinha:
Edzai was a very good friend of mine, in fact a brother nicknamed Chimusoro. We used to call each other “Mudhara”. When you agree to do something together, make sure it’s done otherwise waiona moto. We played against each other in Cape Town when he was playing for Cape Town Spurs and I was playing for Seven Stars and we would tease each other before the game in the tunnel. Edzai and Ian Gorowa same team vs me and my good friend Kaitano Tembo. Edzai would say Bango (Gorowa) nhasi vanomhanya varume ava and Ngwenya would shout Dinha ngatirume varume avo and everyone would look at the four of us like we were crazy.
He was a great player who believed in his speed and strength, but kutya 50-50. Ndaimutsika ku training and he would change sides. A good father to his family, very strict businessman and that’s why he was very successful.
When it came to work zvehushamwari maikanganwa, basa ibasa no time for jokes. He didn’t want to be called an agent, hanzi I’m a manager. He helped a lot of players to make their names here in SA mostly with Zimbabweans.
We did transfers together and I learnt a lot from him. I miss you mudhara so much. Aiuya kumba kwangu around 8pm any day and put on volume to any song playing and dance to it neka dance kaisanzwisisika. Aisvika panzvimbo pari quiet and kana abva ipapo maisara muchimutaura chete. Very funny guy.
Thomas Sweswe:
He was a brother, manager and mentor. He was always there for me during bad and good times. He was a believer in hard work.
I remember when I started working with him he was very open and honest. He saw me playing at Dynamos and was happy with what he saw and he asked if I could work with him since he had connections in SA. He promised me that he would look for a club for me and see me playing there.
We started working together, next thing I was on the plane to Kaizer Chiefs.
He was a strict person who didn’t want me to waste money so he was always on my case. I thank him for that and all the developments I did I would always ask him first. He would make sure his players are happy all the time. He would inquire from a club why his player was not getting game time if you were not playing enough games at your club. As an administrator I think he was suspended when he had not done anything wrong with football development which was his mandate and he was so passionate about development starting from grassroots and was destined for greater things.
Zhaimu Jambo:
Working with Edzai was probably God’s plan for me if I can put it that way.
He came to me at the right time when I was ready for new challenges and he made it easy for me to understand his work ethic. He was calm, collected and straight forward person. What you agree on is what he does in terms of representing you as a player. He opened the door for most of the players because it was easy for him to work with different clubs because of his professionalism.
And he told me investment and saving as a player is the way to go and he would always come and monitor every time you had money to see if you were doing the right things.
I credit him for everything that I’ve achieved in terms of investments though my career was cut short by injury but we were in the right direction together.
Kenny Ndebele:
Edzai was a fine gentleman, a role model for football players. Instead of going into coaching like most of his colleagues, he ventured into football commercial business. Edzai did not only get into the sports apparel business, but became very astute and reliable. He assisted the League, clubs and sponsors with high quality material at times on short notice.
Willard Katsande:
It’s always good to remember an icon like Edzai and May His Soul Rest in Peace. For me working with him was great. He is the guy who put me when I am today.
If it wasn’t for him I would not be where I am. Yes some people might say it’s your talent but who made it possible? How much talent has been lost in the bush without being explored?
If you look at me, Khama, Evans Rusike, Blessing Moyo, Oscar Machapa, Gilbert Mapemba and many other players who came through him, we knew we had to work hard in order not to disappoint our mudhara. He was professional and would always get straight to the point and tell you baba what you are doing is not right. He would not gossip behind your back.
He made me believe in my abilities and when he told me that I could command the Kaizer Chiefs jersey after Tinashe Nengomasha, I looked myself in the mirror and thought maybe this guy is just flattering me but he kept on inspiring me and made me realise that I am good.
Losing him was like losing a parent and he is not going to be replaceable… a guy could cater for you in everything and would visit my mum. He was smart, clever, honest and always hardworking as a player, administrator or agent.
In Shona they say munhu akanaka hararame, I didn’t know what it means at first but now I know because I have lost some of the most important people in my life, my parents and Edzai.
Just check the number of players in South Africa he brought and how they have stamped their authority through hard work and compare now after his death how the numbers of those coming to South Africa have declined.
Twine Phiri:
I knew Edzai when he was at Gateway High School as a budding young footballer. I followed his sterling career, especially when he played for CAPS United. I remember how I once had a conversation with him, just before he left for South Africa. I encouraged him to continue pursuing his career and to give it the best he could. Whilst in South Africa, we kept in touch.
He used to call me often to seek advice on a number of issues concerning his career. When I was chairing PSL, he would offer invaluable advice on how football in Zimbabwe could be improved.
When he came back to Zimbabwe after retiring from football, he came with a guy called Ryan who was his business partner.
They both encouraged me to transform the League. We also discussed a number of business prospects, including setting up a player management agency. I gave him two players to manage; Oscar Machapa and Tafadzwa Rusike.
Edzai died when this country needed him most. He will remain part of the rich history of Zimbabwean football.
Stewart Murisa:
My relationship with Edzai went a long way back when still playing for juniors. We became closer when he joined Cape Town Spurs and I was at Seven Stars and when the two merged to form Ajax Cape Town we were together although that’s when I got injured and had two operations on my left knee. He was a hard working guy and very professional. He loved his football. He helped a lot of players when he became an agent. It’s a pity he didn’t get to see his dream to further develop football materialise.
