Football personalities in the Southern Region have described the death of veteran coach Lindile Dube as a great loss to the fraternity.
Dube (51), who had coached several teams from the top-flight league and Division One passed away on Sunday night at Nyamandlovu Clinic.
At the time of his death Dube was in charge of Zifa Buscod Southern Region Division One side ZPC Hwange.
By yesterday, the cause of the death was still to be ascertained as post-mortem results were yet to be released.
ZPC Hwange secretary-general Gaylord Madhunguza was at a loss of words.
“I am really shocked because he left Hwange last week and was well. It is a very big loss to the club because when he arrived during the mid-season, our team was at number eight, but we finished the season at position three. He won all the matches and only lost to Quelaton,” he said.
The league’s secretary-general, Brian Moyo, described Dube’s death as a shock.
“On a personal note, I am really shocked because I last saw Dube last Thursday and he was well. He spent close to three decades as a coach after he started off in his early 20s.
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“From a Zifa point of view, it is a sad loss as he was a good coach. He guided Zimbabwe Saints and Underhill to the Premiership,” he said.
Former Highlanders striker Amini Soma Phiri said the death of Dube had left a big void in the football fratenity.
“It is a very sad loss. He was like a brother to me. I am at a loss for words,” he said.
A distraught aunt to the late coach, Beatrice Mhlanga, said the death of Dube was a major loss to the family.,
“He left on Friday for Nyamandlovu. He slept there and spent the day with his brother in the fields. On Sunday he started vomiting and then told his wife he was not feeling well. He was taken to the clinic and was given a drip and said he felt better,” she said.
“While still at the hospital, he said he was feeling better, but he started vomiting again and it got serious. He then passed away at around 8pm. It is a shock to the whole family,” she said.
Dube’s coaching career dates back to when he coached Rufaro Rovers. He also coached Zesa Munyati and assisted Ashton Nyazika at Masvingo United in 2001.
He also coached Zimbabwe Saints and Underhill and guided them to the top-flight league in two consecutive seasons. Dube also coached Railstars and Motor Action.
Dube is survived by his wife and four children. Mourners are gathered at number 1152 in Old Luveve. He will be buried this morning at Luveve cemetery.
