LEGENDARY Warriors, Highlanders, AmaZulu and Zimbabwe Saints’ dribbling wizard Nqobizitha “Humpty” Maenzanise has died.
FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER
Maenzanise passed away at Mpilo Hospital on Sunday night at the age of 46 after a short illness and is expected to be buried at West Park Cemetery in Bulawayo tomorrow.
His sister Nonsizi Ndlovu yesterday confirmed the death of the football legend who was hospitalised two weeks ago until his passing away on Sunday.
“He (Maenzanise) passed away yesterday (Sunday) at 10:30pm at Mpilo Hospital where he has been receiving treatment for two weeks. He suffered a stroke while at work and was taken to hospital. He also had diabetes and blood pressure complications,” Ndlovu said.
Southern Eye Sport yesterday morning caught up with one of Maenzanise’s coaches during his early days, former Chikwata player Philemon Dangarembwa, who was at the funeral wake of the player at his home in Mzilikazi.
“Maenzanise always wanted to interact with everyone during his lifetime. We have lost a great player, who played for a number of clubs and his country. He had a positive attitude and never wanted to lose. We have lost a great player and an ambassador of football,” Dangarembwa said.
Another player, Nkosana “Santsho” Gumbo, who played with Maenzanise at Zimbabwe Saints and AmaZulu in the 1990s was at loss of words at the death of the legendary player.
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“Yesterday (Sunday) I was talking to Mkhuphali (Masuku) and we were organising to go and see him today (yesterday), but got a message this morning that he had passed away. I will miss him. We were very close and before he was hospitalised he would pass by my place and ask me to accompany him to his sister in Paddonhurst. He used to say he no longer goes to watch local football because the players today are not serious,” Gumbo said.
Former Warriors, Saints and AmaZulu goalkeeper, Muzondiwa Mugadza, now based in the UK said Maenzanise will be greatly missed.
“I played with the Jackal (Maenzanise) both at Zim Saints and AmaZulu. I had good times with him at Usuthu. Jackal — as we called him — had his way of doing things and most of the boys found it weird, but if you got to understand him you would love the man,” Mugadza said.
“He is a true Mzilikazi legend in my book and a brother who will be sadly missed and it’s unfortunate guys like him were never given an opportunity to give back their knowledge to the young footballers. I learnt with shock when I got the news this morning and the fact that I saw him the last time I visited home kind of hit me hard.
“He had this idea of Zim Saints legends playing against Highlanders legends and now that he is gone it would be nice if his dream can be realised and be honoured,” he said.
Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu who coached him at Highlanders and at AmaZulu had this to say: “He was a weird and funny character. I remember some time in 1989 when I was assistant to Barry Daka, we convened with the boys after training, selected the team that was going to play and when we wanted to announce the team, Maenzanise had disappeared and left for home.
“He was one character who had a lot of fighting spirit and never wanted to lose. I took him when I went to AmaZulu and we made him captain. It’s so sad, I never knew he was in hospital and only heard yesterday (Sunday) and intended to go and visit him today,” he said.
Tsano took Maenzanise and a host of other Bosso juniors to the Aberdeen Festival in Scotland in 1987 where he was top goal scorer and player of the tournament.
Luke Masomere, who also coached him briefly at AmaZulu, was touched.
“I am really sorry. I had a good working relationship with that boy. I know one way or the other he made a contribution to football although he was never a coach. He was level-headed, funny on and off the pitch,” Masomere said.
Maenzanise’s top football career spun from the late 1980s to late 1990s where he played for Highlanders, Zimbabwe Saints and AmaZulu and also the national team under Sunday Chidzambwa, Benedict Moyo, Marc Duvillard, Roy Barreto, Clemens Westerhof, Gibson Homela and Daka.
In its condolence message, Zifa said: “The National Football governing body, Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) has learnt with great shock and sorrow of the passing on of Nqobizitha Maenzanise, a talented and diligent Warrior during his time. It is undeniable that he served the Zimbabwe national team with distinction.
“He contributed immensely to the growth of football. The beautiful game has lost a true hero and he will be painfully missed.
“Zifa and the entire football family join the Maenzanise family during this difficult time. May his soul rest in eternal peace and may the family also find comfort in the Lord Almighty.”
Maenzanise was born on January 22 1969 and went to Mzilikazi Primary School and St Columba’s High School before he was employed by the then Ministry of Justice as a court interpreter where he worked for eight years.
He is survived by wife Kwanele and daughter Nozipho, who are based in South Africa.
