DYNAMOS founder member and board of directors chairman Richard Chiminya has died.
REPORT BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
He was 76.
Chiminya, who was one of the Dynamos players who laid the first brick for the formation of Dynamos in 1963, passed away on Sunday night after losing the battle against tonsillitis.
Mourners are gathered at No 13 Plew Crescent, Mabelreign, Harare. He is survived by wife and four children; two boys and two girls.
According to Dynamos chief executive Casper Muzenda, Chiminya complained of swollen tonsils last week and had to take a day off on Wednesday to visit a doctor.
“He had been well until last week when he started complaining of tonsillitis. He visited the doctor on Wednesday after taking a day off, but the condition worsened and he was admitted at Parirenyatwa Hospital later on Wednesday and passed away on on Sunday night,” said Muzenda.
Dynamos board secretary Bernard Marriott said Dynamos has lost a father figure.
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“We have been robbed of a father figure. Chiminya was one of those players who laid the first brick for the foundation of Dynamos in 1963.
“His stay at Dynamos after its formation was five months as he joined City Wanderers, formed by Alan Hlatshwayo. But I had to call him back to the club in 1993, 30 years after he left because we needed people like him for guidance. We formed the company (Dynamos Pvt Ltd) together in 1999. He was very instrumental in its formation,” said Marriott.
When Dynamos was registered as a company there were six directors who included Chiminya, Marriott, Owen Chandamale, the late Morrison Sifelani, Josiah Akende and Alois Mesikano.
Dynamos board of directors vice-chairman Freddy Mkwesha said they were pained by the sudden death of Chiminya.
“We have lost a leader. We are pained by his death. It’s not easy to accept it,” said Mkwesha.
Dynamos executive chairman Keni Mubaiwa said they have been robbed of a leader of the club at a time when they are on course to win the league title and the Mbada Diamonds Cup. He called upon the Dynamos family and all football stakeholders to come together and console the Chiminya family.
“It’s sad for Dynamos and the whole football family. Chiminya was a father to us and his death has come at a time when we thought we would win the league title and the Mbada Diamonds Cup and present to him the trophies. We thought we would have the opportunity to say to him ‘this is what we have done for the club’. But we have been denied that opportunity. We appeal to the Dynamos family and the entire football family to unite on this sad day,” said Mubaiwa.
Premier Soccer League (PSL) chairman Twine Phiri also said last night: “It’s a big loss to Dynamos and PSL as a whole. Chiminya was hardworking and a level headed man. We hope whoever is going to take over will try to continue to carry the Dynamos flag high.”
Zifa chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze added: “We are saddened by his death and we say to the Dynamos family and the entire football family, we are with you in this sad moment. Chiminya worked tirelessly to turn around the fortunes of Dynamos and we hope those who remain will be inspired by him.”
The current board of directors includes Mkwesha, Marriott, Robson Rundaba, Chandamale, Charles Gwatidzo, Shake Chitibe, Nathan Maziti and Freddy Muza.
