ZIMBABWEAN football was plunged into mourning yesterday following the sudden death of Warriors legend and Footballers’ Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ) secretary-general Paul Gundani.
BY Blessed Mhlanga
Gundani passed away yesterday afternoon at a private clinic in Kwekwe hours after being admitted. He left behind a wife and five children.
Latter Day Saints Bishop Maclean Nyandoro confirmed the death of the former Lancashire Steel and Ziscosteel defender.
Gundani, who was a trade unionist at the time of his death, also served at the church as Nyandoro’s deputy.
“This all happened as I was running around to get medication for him after the doctor had carried out some tests and was still in the process of establishing what was wrong,” he said.
Nyandoro said the doctor suspected Gundani could have been suffering from either cerebral malaria or meningitis, but was yet to confirm, before he was pronounced dead at exactly 1pm yesterday.
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His death has left his family, the Kwekwe community and the football family in a state of shock.
Mourners are gathered at 3 Taunton Road in Fitchlea, Kwekwe. Burial arrangements will be announced in due course. Close friend Owen Matava, who had spent the better part of Monday with Gundani, said he was still in a state of shock, adding Gundani didn’t seem to be ill.
Family members said he complained of a headache on Tuesday evening and his condition deteriorated yesterday before being taken to hospital.
FUZ president Desmond Maringwa said Zimbabwean football had been robbed of one of the finest players to emerge in this country.
He said they fought together as FUZ members to improve the welfare of footballers.
Gundani was a regular member of the popular Reinhard Fabisch-coached Dream Team of the 1990s that at one time went on an unbeaten run of 13 games flooring powerhouses like Egypt, Cameroon and Guinea, among others.
He played alongside the likes former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar, former Coventry City forward Peter Ndlovu, John Phiri, Ephraim Chawanda, the late Willard Khumalo, Adam Ndlovu, Mercedes Sibanda and Francis Shonhayi, among others.
That team is widely regarded as the finest generation of stars ever assembled in this country.
However, their dreams were unfulfilled in the long run, as they faltered in the late stages of their qualifying competitions and failed to make it to either the Africa Cup of Nations or World Cup finals.
The Zimbabwe Football Association, in their condolence message yesterday, said they were saddened by the passing-on of Gundani.
“It is saddening that we continue to lose these football heroes at a time when the beautiful game desperately needs their services,” the statement read.
“Gundani was a diligent player representative, a vibrant trade unionist and also served football with distinction.
As an association, we will ensure that Gundani is accorded a befitting send-off.
“Zifa is in mourning with his family, friends and the local football family as everyone grapples with the shocking loss. Rest in peace, true football hero.”
