Legend Tshuma laid to rest

FOOTBALL legend Max "Shaluza" Tshuma was laid to rest at West Park Cemetery in Bulawayo yesterday.

Tshuma died late on Friday afternoon at Mpilo Central Hospital where he had been taken in last Sunday complaining of sores in the mouth and throat.

Hordes of people that included Zimbabwe Saints administrators, former players and a Zifa official thronged West Park to pay their last respects to the former Chikwata midfielder who in his career in the '70s also crossed the borders to South Africa to play for Moroka Swallows.

Zimbabwe Saints chairman Gibson Homela, who played with Tshuma in the late '70s was moved by the death of the midfielder who died at the age of 62, splashing superlatives to describe the late football legend.

"I will miss him as a younger brother and a teammate. I still don't believe that he is gone, but as the case is, let him rest in peace. He was a rare breed of a football player. It is important to mention that," he said.

"Max was in the Saints developmental side and I used to coach him.

"In 1974 I ended up playing with him and I remember him in that year when we won the BAT Rosebowl in Harare beating Salisbury Callies 3-1 in the final.

"I remember an old man came to me before the match and said: ‘How can you bring these small boys here?' I told him to just watch and Max was one of them. Max was never happy with a defeat. He was versatile and a workaholic, someone who would work tirelessly. He was creative as well.

"Despite his stature, he had a way of working his way around big players and would go 50-50. I have lost a younger brother," Homela added.

Former Zimbabwe Saints administrator and Zifa vice-chairman Vincent Pamire said the late Tshuma was part of the foundation of Zimbabwean football.

"What has brought us here is the identity of football. Max was part of the foundation of football. He was a hard worker and man of few words. Had it not been for the politics of the world after he played in South Africa, he would have gone far. As a footballer he was a great man," he said.

Speaking on behalf of friends and former teammates, ex-Zimbabwe Saints goalkeeper Zebron Magorimbo said: "Max was a fighter. He did not want to lose. Even if he we were winning, he always wanted to raise the bar. He had a lot of determination and outside the football pitch he was a gentleman."

His younger brother Itai, who played for Black Aces and Fire Batteries, was at a loss of words.

"My brother's death came as a blow for me. Unfortunately he died at a time when he would have loved to see Zimbabwe Saints rise again," Itai said.

Former Chikwata administrators that attended the burial included Pamire, Martin Mabvira, Caleb Sengu and Felix Dzumbunu while former players who were in attendance were Homela, Ebson "Sugar" Muguyo, Cosmas "Tsano" Zulu, Philemon Dangarembwa, Magorimbo, Andrew "Mai Maria" Kadengu, John Nyumbu, Godfrey Paradza, Shaky Nyathi, Tapiwa Mudyambanje, Benard Mukaratirwa, Jimmy Phiri, Agent Sawu and Daniel Bingadadi, among others.

Douglas "British" Mloyi, the Highlanders legend, also attended and Zifa was represented by education officer Brian Moyo.
The late Tshuma was born on January 1 1952 and attended Lobengula Primary and Mzilikazi High schools. He played for Zimbabwe Saints juniors until he graduated to the senior team.

He wound up his career at Eagles.