Highlanders Football Club president and decorated soccer administrator, Ndumiso Gumede, died in Bulawayo Wednesday after a short illness, his family has since confirmed.
He was 76.
The former Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) vice president’s untimely departure comes barely a week after the football fraternity honoured him for his contribution to the development of soccer in the country
“He just complained of lower abdominal pains,” said a member of his family.
“Today (yesterday) he went into ICU, he had a mild stroke. They tried to resuscitate him to no avail. Yes, it’s true, he is no more.”
She added: “Five days ago we were celebrating, appreciating him, five days later, he has been called to rest. As a family we are still confused, we do not know what to do.”
Born to Sithelo Gumede and Elina Msimanga on 14 October 1945 in Bulawayo, Gumede grew up in Mzilikazi’s R square 62 and did his education at a number of schools in and around Bulawayo.
He got involved in the Highlanders structures in the early 1970s as the club’s representative in Harare, served as the club’s chairman and also as secretary- general.
Known as a football administrator par-excellence, Gumede once recalled his journey with Highlanders, describing 1986 as his most illustrious year when the club bagged all trophies except the league title. It was also the same year when Bosso bought its Robert Mugabe Way offices, camping house in Luveve known as “Hotel California” and the club also managed to take over Queens Bowling Club, which is now the Highlanders clubhouse.
