News / Local
Kirsty Coventry's George Shaya state funeral promise unfulfilled
01 Jun 2025 at 15:36hrs | Views
The widow of the late football legend George "The Mastermind" Shaya has broken her silence, revealing that a government promise of a state-assisted funeral - allegedly made by then Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry - was never honoured.
In an emotional interview on The Sportlight with Yvonne, hosted by journalist Yvonne Mangunda, Agnes Shaya - affectionately known as Amai Shaya - recounted the series of events following her husband's death on August 24, 2021, at the age of 77.
She said Coventry visited their home soon after Shaya's passing and made two assurances: that the government would provide a state-assisted funeral and that she was awaiting President Emmerson Mnangagwa's decision on whether Shaya would be declared a national hero.
"Pakauya Minister Kirsty Coventry kuzobata maoko, vakataura zvinhu zviviri. Chekutanga, vakati vakamirira kunzwa kubva kuna President kuti George angaenda kuHeroes Acre here, pamwe chete ne state-assisted funeral," Amai Shaya recalled.
("When Minister Kirsty Coventry came to pay her respects, she mentioned two things. First, that the government would provide a state-assisted funeral and also that she was waiting for the President's response on whether George would be laid to rest at the National Heroes Acre.")
She added with quiet resignation: "Asi nanhasi hapana zvakazoitwa, ndikangonyararawo hangu." ("But to this day, nothing was done, and I just kept quiet.")
George Shaya, affectionately nicknamed The Mastermind, remains one of the most decorated figures in Zimbabwean football history, winning the prestigious Soccer Star of the Year award five times - a record that still stands.
While tributes poured in after his death and he was widely celebrated for his football legacy, Amai Shaya revealed that the honour came too late. She lamented how her husband, despite his status as a Dynamos and national football icon, had been neglected in his later years.
One of the few acts of recognition came posthumously, when Sakunda Holdings, owned by businessman Kuda Tagwirei, donated a fully furnished house in Madokero Estates to the Shaya family. While grateful, Amai Shaya shared her heartache that her husband never got to sleep a single night in the home.
Breaking down in the interview, she also expressed disappointment in Dynamos Football Club, which she said had largely abandoned the former star during his final years.
"The most painful thing," she said, "is knowing that his funeral could have been handled with more dignity if promises had been kept."
Despite the government's silence on the matter, Shaya's name continues to be revered in Zimbabwean football circles - but for his widow, the unfulfilled promise of a state-assisted send-off remains an open wound.
As Zimbabwe grapples with how it honours its sporting legends, Amai Shaya's revelation has reignited debate around how the nation treats its heroes - not only in death, but more importantly, in life.
In an emotional interview on The Sportlight with Yvonne, hosted by journalist Yvonne Mangunda, Agnes Shaya - affectionately known as Amai Shaya - recounted the series of events following her husband's death on August 24, 2021, at the age of 77.
She said Coventry visited their home soon after Shaya's passing and made two assurances: that the government would provide a state-assisted funeral and that she was awaiting President Emmerson Mnangagwa's decision on whether Shaya would be declared a national hero.
"Pakauya Minister Kirsty Coventry kuzobata maoko, vakataura zvinhu zviviri. Chekutanga, vakati vakamirira kunzwa kubva kuna President kuti George angaenda kuHeroes Acre here, pamwe chete ne state-assisted funeral," Amai Shaya recalled.
("When Minister Kirsty Coventry came to pay her respects, she mentioned two things. First, that the government would provide a state-assisted funeral and also that she was waiting for the President's response on whether George would be laid to rest at the National Heroes Acre.")
She added with quiet resignation: "Asi nanhasi hapana zvakazoitwa, ndikangonyararawo hangu." ("But to this day, nothing was done, and I just kept quiet.")
While tributes poured in after his death and he was widely celebrated for his football legacy, Amai Shaya revealed that the honour came too late. She lamented how her husband, despite his status as a Dynamos and national football icon, had been neglected in his later years.
One of the few acts of recognition came posthumously, when Sakunda Holdings, owned by businessman Kuda Tagwirei, donated a fully furnished house in Madokero Estates to the Shaya family. While grateful, Amai Shaya shared her heartache that her husband never got to sleep a single night in the home.
Breaking down in the interview, she also expressed disappointment in Dynamos Football Club, which she said had largely abandoned the former star during his final years.
"The most painful thing," she said, "is knowing that his funeral could have been handled with more dignity if promises had been kept."
Despite the government's silence on the matter, Shaya's name continues to be revered in Zimbabwean football circles - but for his widow, the unfulfilled promise of a state-assisted send-off remains an open wound.
As Zimbabwe grapples with how it honours its sporting legends, Amai Shaya's revelation has reignited debate around how the nation treats its heroes - not only in death, but more importantly, in life.
Source - nehanda
