Sports / Local
Former Railstars defender dies
20 Mar 2013 at 05:13hrs | Views
FORMER Railstars defender Johnson Shambarume has died.
He was 35.
Shambarume died yesterday morning at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) where he had been admitted after complaining of severe pain in the legs.
A product of the Highlanders juniors where he started his football career, Shambarume later made his name at Railstars where he was a rock steady defender. It is this Railstars team which campaigned strongly in the Premier Soccer League until they were relegated from the top flight league.
He played for the railway men from 1998 until 2008 and at one time was captain of the team. He was part of the Railstars team which had the likes of the Masiku brothers Master and Mtewa and Njabulo Ncube.
When he hung up his football boots he tried his hand at coaching. Last year he briefly coached Falakhe Football Club, a funeral parlour team.
Shambarume who was single at the time of his death, was described by his cousin Norman Shambarume as a big loss to the family.
"We have not only lost a brother but a friend and pillar in the family. Johnson was a friendly person and this gap he has left will never be filled. I am at a loss of words to describe the pain the family is going through right now because his death was just sudden when we thought he was about to recover. Of course he has been ill for a while but we never suspected that he would succumb to the pain he was experiencing in his legs,'' said Norman.
Funeral arrangements are still in progress and mourners are gathered at house number 7660 Pumula North.
He was 35.
Shambarume died yesterday morning at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) where he had been admitted after complaining of severe pain in the legs.
A product of the Highlanders juniors where he started his football career, Shambarume later made his name at Railstars where he was a rock steady defender. It is this Railstars team which campaigned strongly in the Premier Soccer League until they were relegated from the top flight league.
He played for the railway men from 1998 until 2008 and at one time was captain of the team. He was part of the Railstars team which had the likes of the Masiku brothers Master and Mtewa and Njabulo Ncube.
When he hung up his football boots he tried his hand at coaching. Last year he briefly coached Falakhe Football Club, a funeral parlour team.
Shambarume who was single at the time of his death, was described by his cousin Norman Shambarume as a big loss to the family.
"We have not only lost a brother but a friend and pillar in the family. Johnson was a friendly person and this gap he has left will never be filled. I am at a loss of words to describe the pain the family is going through right now because his death was just sudden when we thought he was about to recover. Of course he has been ill for a while but we never suspected that he would succumb to the pain he was experiencing in his legs,'' said Norman.
Funeral arrangements are still in progress and mourners are gathered at house number 7660 Pumula North.
Source - TC
