Then ZIFA president, Wellington “Shumba” Nyatanga, promised that Shonhayi would be inducted into the Football Hall of Fame. Shonhayi made his name at Dynamos after joining the Harare giants following stints with Gaths Mine and Bata Power. Shara Taderera, a soccer fan responding to Karuru’s post said, “Rest in peace rock steady defender, one of the best defensive talents to come out of Masvingo alongside the late Francis Shonhayi , Misheck Major just to mention a few.” Ndarama Old Students Association (NOSA) where he went to school also sent its condolences. I loved him and I will always remember him. The message was from Tanaka Shonhayi and, his surname, says it all. And, on Monday, the family and close friends quietly remembered the day the ex-footballer died. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us. If you're ready to subscribe, please go directly to our secure server. During that time, he attracted interest from some top European clubs and was even invited for trials in Scotland and Belgium. But successive ZIFA leaders have failed to deliver on the promise to come up with a Hall of Fame. But of all the Zimbabwean players that I played with and against, the one that impressed me the most both on and off the field was the late Francis Shonhayi. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. That indomitable spirit, displayed in the rain in that Swiss city that day in 1954, has come to represent the never-say-die spirit of post-war Germans, in sport, as in their lives. I loved him and I will always remember him. Nine of the Dream Team heroes, who featured on that unforgettable day in Lyon, are still alive — Grobbelaar, Henry McKop, Norman Mapeza, Peter Ndlovu, Rahman Gumbo, Agent Sawu, Ephraim Chawanda, Max Lunga and Madinda Ndlovu. We hugged and the words were gushing out of me, trying to catch up nearly 10 years of life. “It shouldn’t have happened. The father figure, the one who always provided the calming influence, in those wild days and beautiful nights, when they made their country not only dream but also believe. AllAfrica publishes around 900 reports a day from more than 140 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. But this guy was class.’’. Join Facebook to connect with Princepieter Shonhayi and others you may know. After just eight minutes, of that World Cup final, the Hungarians were already 2-0 up, and another massacre was on the cards. They also made a movie about it — a German soldier who returned home, after spending 11 years in a Soviet Prison of War camp in Siberia, to find the country, and family he left behind, in turmoil. By George Dearnaley an ex teammate of Shonhayi. To write about that evening in Lyon, how it changed our football, to write about Shonhayi, about Gundani, about Nkonjera and about Rambo. Facebook gives people the power to share … Francis Shonhayi was a former Dynamos Football Club player and captain of the Zimbabwe Warriors. The message was from Tanaka Shonhayi and, his surname, says it all. He said Zimbabwean football had lost one of its most illustrious former players who would have contributed to football development in coaching or administration.Shonhayi was working as a personal driver to David Rodwell, his former boss at former South African premiership side Cape Town Spurs, after hanging up his boots due to injury five years ago.He had been staying with a “female friend” from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to Makonese. Tanaka is understood to be a medical doctor today. Superstition, Fuel Woes Stall Malaria Prevention Measures, High Court Rules On Row Over Surrogate Child, Urban Councils Cost Treasury U.S.$200 Million, Zanu-PF Conference Committee Happy With Preps, 'Use It or Lose It' Policy Test for Lupane Gas Miners, Coffee Could Be a Key Driver for Horticulture Growth, First Lady Launches Reusable Pads Project, Shortage of TB Drugs Poses Public Health Threat in Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Crafts Law to Punish 'Unpatriotic' Citizens, Power Struggle Further Weakens Zimbabwe's Opposition, Mnangagwa Questions Role of Foreign Observers In African Polls, Rugby Saving School Girls From Child Marriage in Rural Zimbabwe. About their trailblazing coach, Reinhard Fabisch, with a temper of a thunderstorm and the burning passion of … He was welcoming, sociable but stayed humble,” said Musekiwa. “I remember in 1992, before the Dream Team’s departure to Egypt for a World Cup qualifier, the Warriors passed through First Street to meet fans and the late Francis Shonhayi took his time to come and see me at Chicken Inn First Street, where I was working as a cashier. “Gerrard and company have rewritten football ‘possibilities’ throughout this campaign. Musekiwa said the late defender deserved national recognition. . We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Shonhayi died at the age of 39 on March 30 at Victoria Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa after suffering from meningitis. And, for the Prisoner of War, who lived to tell the story and returned to see his country, and family, in turmoil, that landmark triumph provided just the boost which, his nation, and his family needed to repair the cracks inflicted by war. He hasn't scored from a free kick in Europe in 428 games, Jamoliddinov in Uzbekistan will not leave. We can only talk about Russia. “He was defender of very high calibre, in a class of his own. I started training again in May 1996 — 13 months after my injury — and joined my new teammates in every session. Shonhayi captained the Warriors, AmaZulu and Cape Town Spurs in the South African league, and was among the highest paid footballers in that country’s league yet he had nothing to show for it. In more ways than one, it’s a result that came to define the never-die-spirit of Liverpool. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. No one was happy, Higuain's first goal for Inter Miami. But, the more they attacked, the more we repelled them, in a performance of such defensive purity, it also helped us discover our soul, when it comes to football. “I go on holiday to Egypt to see the pyramids and the sphinx with my family,’’ said Grobbelaar. Shonhayi died in South Africa under the care of a friend. I WAS fortunate in my football career to play with and against … “Coming into Egypt, I give them my passport they say ‘no, no, no, you’re not coming in. Lyon’s decision to use the grand stage of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final battle against Manchester City, to remind the grieving Tino Kadewere, that they were with him, as he mourned his late brother Prince, was as refreshing as it was beautiful. I played for AmaZulu between 1992 and 1995 and then moved to Hellenic in Cape Town in a 1997 loan deal after being out for nearly 19 months with a knee injury. Then, the plans were brought up again in 2017 but nothing materialised. And, they become a big part of the history, of either the countries, or the clubs, ONE EVENING IN LYON, THAT GAME, THAT CITY, THAT RESULT. Shara Taderera, a soccer fan responding to Karuru’s post said, “Rest in peace rock steady defender, one of the best defensive talents to come out of Masvingo alongside the late Francis Shonhayi , Misheck Major just to mention a few.”. But good players leave for free, Messi was close to joining Chelsea in 2004. FORMER Dynamos and Warriors captain Francis Shonhayi has died in South Africa, where he had been battling what was recently diagnosed as meningitis and tuberculosis. not sure it was a compliment! Princepieter Shonhayi is on Facebook. A country, which had been bombed into ruins during a great war, which had ended just nine years earlier, and had been humiliated in an eight-goal blitz by the same Hungarians in a group game, had become World Champions. Shonhayi is among some of the most celebrated footballers to have played for the Glamour Boys. Known as the “Magical Magyars”, the Hungarians had not lost a football match in four years, they had hammered England 7-1 in a friendly international at Wembley. That evening in Lyon, what a day it was, for Shonhayi,... Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), JUST IN: Former minister Goche arrested over stock theft, Queens Sports Club pick up first win in National Premier League, Roller meal scheme revised • Cash grants for vulnerable households, Dual pricing: Retailers body calls members to order, First Lady launches reusable pads project, VP Chiwenga speaks on public private partnerships, Loga to release Malawi tie squad: Zifa shortlist candidates for Warriors team manager post, Editorial Commen: Civil servants must be realistic over salaries, ‘Digital laggards will lose big on export business’. Twenty seven years later, we are still finding a way to qualify for the AFCON finals, without a playmaker. Ndarama Old Students Association (NOSA) where he went to school also sent its condolences. “I suggest one of the bays at Rufaro should be named after the late Francis Shonhayi.”. Goals to Rostov — the result of our common work, Ufa Director on Evseev's departure: he shed tears when he said goodbye. It saddens me that we keep losing players from the Dream Team after the likes of Benjamin Nkonjera and Mercedes Sibanda.”Gumbo also lamented the pitiable plight of most footballers after hanging up their boots, and called on the Zimbabwe Football Association to enforce the establishment of a players’ union that will assist players in time of need.“It’s sad that former players are dying paupers,” he commented. “Of course, from the other crop of players I have seen, I would put Sunday Chidzambwa ahead of him. AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa - aggregating, producing and distributing 900 news and information items daily from over 140 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. No one knows what really happens after people die. My teammates included all the South African stars, the likes of Shoes Mosheou, Fani Madida, Lucas Radebe, Chippa Masinga, Neil Tovey and Doctor Khumalo. Di Marzio on Leo's first attempt to leave Barca, Fedotov about Zabolotny's double: Well, we are working. He would stand firm in defence and upon the unveiling of the Hall of Fame, Shonhayi shall be knighted as a rare defender of all time.”. He was part of the Reinhard Fabisch coached Dream Team playing along the likes of Rahman Gumbo and Mercedes Sibanda.