BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
Dynamos founding member Ernest Kamba has described the late former player and administrator Simon Sachiti as one of the most humble yet talented players he has played with after he passed away in Harare yesterday.
He was 75.
Sachiti, who served DeMbare with distinction both as player and administrator, passed away after a short illness.
The ex-football administrator’s firstborn son, Felix, told Standardsport: “It is true that our father, Simon, has passed on. He died after a short illness this morning, he was only admitted to hospital on Thursday and we got the devastating news today.”
His death comes at a time the Dynamos family is still in mourning following the recent deaths of their legends Misheck Chidzambwa and David Mandigora.
Kamba, who played alongside the left-back during his playing career, led the tributes for Sachiti, describing his former teammate as a fine player and a gentleman on and off the field.
“I feel very sad because only last week we buried Misheck Chidzambwa and a few weeks before that, we lost David Mandigora, so it has been a very difficult time for the club,” Kamba, the 1973 Soccer Star of the Year, told Standardsport in an interview yesterday.
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He added: “Obviously I’m deeply saddened by my collegue Sachiti’s death, but at the same time I’m happy that I get to celebrate his achievements.
“He was a focused individual, who worked very hard on his game. I rate him as one of the most technically-gifted players that I had the opportunity to play with because he was right-footed, but played as a left-back all his career and never used his left foot at all.
“He was so talented that even though he was right-footed and playing at left he was good enough to be named the runner-up to George Shaya for the 1972 Soccer Star of the Year Award.”
Harare giants Dynamos paid tribute to Sachiti, whom they credited for his contributions to the club both on the field of play and in the boardroom.
“The late Sachiti was a rare gem in the star-studded generation of the 70s, a generation that turned Dynamos into an indomitable football juggernaut. He was a pleasant character who gave his all to the Glamour Boys both as a player and administrator,” Dynamos said in a statement last night.
“What hurts the most is the fact that the club’s luminaries are being taken away from our midst at a time when the club is preparing to put up glitzy and memorable 60th anniversary celebrations in 2023.
“The club shall, however, see to it that the Roll of Honour for all who made Dynamos Football Club the flagship of Zimbabwean football since 1963, shall decorate our Hall of Fame.
“We say to Mdara Sachiti, Go well our Mdara. You ran your race very well. May his dear soul rest in eternal peace,” the club said.”
Sachiti is survived by his wife and six children.
Mourners are gathered at his home in New Marimba Park in Harare.
