Former Zimbabwe Saints Board of Trustees secretary, lawyer and Bulawayo businessman, Sakhiwe Ndlovu has died. He was 48.
Ndlovu, a well known socialite once married to former Studio 263 actress Tinopona Katsande, died at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo yesterday morning.
Saints secretary Jabulani Chinyangarara confirmed the development to NewsDay Sport yesterday.
“Sakhiwe Ndlovu is late. He has not been feeling well. He passed away at midnight (yesterday) at Mater Dei Hospital. He had been carrying on with his daily activities, but he has not been well.”
“He left Zimbabwe Saints in 2010 after he joined the Zifa Southern Region Disciplinary Committee. Despite leaving Zimbabwe Saints, he continued to advise and assist us whenever we had problems. It is a very sad loss for us because he was willing to assist even when times were hard,” Chinyangarara said.
Several football administrators in the region expressed shock at the death of Ndlovu, who at the time of his death was working for Broadacom. Acting Zifa Southern Region chairman Morgan Dube conveyed his condolences to the Ndlovu family and said the region has lost big brains in football that could not be replaced.
“I have known Sakhi for a very long time in football. He was a loyal servant to football with a very intelligent head between his shoulders. He was very articulate on football matters. His death is a great loss to the football fraternity and I would like to encourage his family to stick together in this time of sadness,” Dube said.
Speaking on behalf of Chicken Inn Football Club, secretary Tavengwa Hara also said Ndlovu will be sadly missed in football.
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“He was a very interesting character for the short period of time that we worked together when he was a member of the Zifa Southern Region Disciplinary Committee. The football fraternity will miss him a lot,” Hara said.
Bulawayo businessman and former Njube Sundowns boss Gift Banda was at a loss for words over the death of Ndlovu.
“It is sad. He was such a jolly good person,” Banda said.
Former Saints chairman Elliot Manduna had this to say: “We have lost a dedicated member of Zimbabwe Saints. He was instrumental in the transition of the club from a people’s team to a company. The void that he has left cannot be filled. He was always there to give us advice and his death is a sad loss.”
Zifa Southern Region treasurer Tawanda Ruzive said: “I have known Ndlovu for years. It is a sad loss to the football fraternity and a loss to Zimbabwe Saints as well. It is also a loss as he was part of the Zifa Southern Region Disciplinary Committee,” he said.
Saints patron Felix Dzumbunu described the death as a big loss for the football fraternity.
“It is a big loss to Zimbabwe Saints. Ndlovu had a passion for football and was interested in the affairs of the clubs. He is one of the individuals I know who would take up any challenge and voluntarily assist and contribute meaningfully to the club. He was a very sociable and outgoing person as well. I would like to extend my condolences to his family and the football fraternity,” Dzumbunu said.
Mourners are gathered at Number 58 Airport Road, Kingsdale, and burial arrangements will be announced in due course.
