‘Workaholic’ Jamanda buried at Warren Hills
FORMER Blackpool and Motor Action board member Simeon “Buju” Jamanda, who was laid to rest at Warren Hills cemetery in Harare yesterday, has been described by close colleagues as a workaholic who always went the extra mile to get things done.
The veteran administrator died last Thursday at West End Clinic after a long battle with diabetes.
A funeral service was held at Motor Action Sports Club yesterday morning with hundreds of people in attendance. It was a fitting honour as Jamanda grew to prominence in local football circles at Motor Action, who were crowned the league champions in 2010.
From Motor Action Sports Club, the funeral procession headed for Warren Hills cemetery for the final burial rites.
Among those that came to pay their last respects for Jamanda were several sports personalities including the ZIFA Normalisation Committee chairman Lincoln Mutasa, former ZIFA administrator Lazarus Mhurushomana, ex-football administrator Joe George, former Motor Action captains Salim Milanzi and Prince Matore, Tendai Samanja, ex-Blackpool director Ginger Chinguwa and former Motor Action co-director Liz Rosen.
They all spoke highly of the late Jamanda.
Rosen, who worked with Jamanda at Motor Action from its formation in 2000 together with her late husband Eric Rosen, said she had lost a friend and a loyal colleague.
“We started working together since the formation of Motor Action at the turn of the millennium and we managed to travel a long journey.
“It is difficult to digest that he is no more. I last talked to him during the Christmas holidays when we exchanged some messages.
“Jamanda was a leader, who would go all out to make sure that our dreams are fulfilled. He was by our side when our daughter died some 23-years ago, as well as when my husband Eric passed on,” said Rosen.
Jamanda, who for over three decades was actively involved in several sports codes, was eight days short of his 60th birthday.
Ginger Chinguwa, who worked with Jamanda during their time at the now defunct Blackpool, said they have lost a football-loving man who went out of his way to make sure that the game wins at all costs.
“I was privileged to work with Jamanda since the time we formed Blackpool and he was very active as he was always on the forefront.
“When we started Blackpool, I decided to rope in Jamanda as we were neighbours in Mbare. I was a very close friend of Simeon’s elder brother, Emmanuel, who is now based in the United Kingdom.
“When I joined Blackpool, I took Jamanda on board and every time we would play an away game he was the first to go and prepare the ground for us,” said Chinguwa.
George, younger brother to late Dynamos legend, David, said Jamanda’s death had robbed him of a childhood friend.
“I grew up with him in Mbare and he had become more of a brother to me. It is a great loss to the football fraternity as Jamanda was good at organising events and would make sure that there is a positive result in whatever that needs to be done.
“I last saw him at David’s funeral where he told me he was not in good health and I told him to be strong but unfortunately he lost his battle,” said George.