Paul Gundani, secretary-general of the Footballers’ Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ), sadly passed away on Wednesday November 4 at the age of 49.
FIFPro
He had established a reputation as one of the most active and influential members of FIFPro Division Africa.
Paul was a rock, a man with strong ties with his home continent of Africa. He was a person capable of inspiring strength and a sense of justice in others.
During times of turbulence, he was someone to whom others looked for security and protection.
As a player, he was known for his broad shoulders, muscular build and strength — perfectly formed to handle life’s challenges and no more so than the battles he faced on the pitch as a defender for Ziscosteel, Lancashire Steel and, of course, the Zimbabwean national team.
He brought these very same qualities to his work off the pitch in the years following the end of his playing career — a role he never sought to undertake, but one that came naturally to him many years after hanging up his boots.
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Despite his physical presence, he was rarely an angry man — except, of course, when it came to the negligence and confusion of the national federation, which, as is often the case in Zimbabwe, seems to play everything by ear and rides roughshod over its players.
Such was his consternation with this situation that Paul decided to follow in the footsteps of his friend and compatriot Desmond Maringwa and play a more active role in FUZ (the union that the two men had set up together), FIFPro and Division Africa.
He quickly established himself as a highly active and influential member.
However, as Paul himself once revealed, this anger was little more than a front: “What is the use of shouting, stamping your feet and resorting to violence? We are defending a just cause, and time is our friend. Things move slowly. You just have to be patient . . . but not too patient, of course.
“As long as justice is on our side, and as long as we can protect the rights and interests of footballers in Zimbabwe, across Africa and worldwide using the resources at our disposal, then we will make progress. Much has already been achieved. In the future, once the tide of opinion has turned in our favour, we will undoubtedly achieve the goals that we set ourselves when we began this struggle to earn respect for footballers and recognition of their status here in Zimbabwe many years ago.”
As a quiet man, Paul chose his words carefully for maximum impact.
“Paul may well have been a man of few words,” recalls Stéphane Burchkalter, secretary-general of the Division Africa, “but he was no less passionate about his calling. He was a man of duty and conviction who believed that he had justice, and the interests of all professional footballers in Zimbabwe, on his side. Paul and Desmond settled quickly into our family — the former as the secretary-general of FUZ and the latter as its President.
“He was a punctual, detail-oriented man. He understood that, in some circumstances, he had to use the strength of his personality to move things forward and he quickly learned the art of public speaking.
“I cannot describe the pain and sorrow we now feel at his loss. Our thoughts are with his family and friends, as well as with the wider membership of FUZ and, in particular, Desmond Maringwa, who has lost a very close personal friend and partner. We know that Desmond, with the full support of our division, will make every effort to continue the good work that he, Paul and others have done to earn footballers the respect they deserve, and to secure proper recognition for their status both in Zimbabwe and elsewhere.”
Paul firmly believed that time was on the side of footballers. What’s more, he believed he had time for them.
Unfortunately, this time has been cruelly taken away from him by malaria. It is now our duty, within FIFPro and especially within the Division Africa, to use our time wisely, to honour Paul’s memory, and to continue his good work in the future.
We must do everything in our power to support FUZ and, of course, Desmond Maringwa.
