Gentle giant sleeps now

“THE measure of a man comes down to moments spread out like dots of pain on the canvas of life. Everything you were, everything you’ll someday be, resides in the small, seemingly ordinary choices of everyday life.”

The above quote is taken from the book “Angel Falls”, by American author Kristin Hannah, and aptly describes the life and times of Zimbabwe football and basketball guru Linus Mushonga (pictured).

Affectionately known as “Ninja”, partly owing to his huge frame and also due to his martial arts background, the ex-ZRP Tomlinson goalkeeper, basketball coach and club owner, breathed his last on January 8.

He succumbed to Covid-19 at Parktown Hospital in Harare after a long battle with diabetes.

Mushonga was buried at Chishawasha Cemetery, just outside Harare, the following day.

Despite being a former club owner, Pfumo FC, Mushonga is best remembered for his time with then Northern Region Division One side, ZRP Tomlinson, a team he played for with his twin brother Robert and alongside such greats as Claudius Zviripayi and Boniface Kabwe.

During those days he was known as a no-nonsense goalkeeper who believed in the mantra “if you miss the ball, take the man” as James Mudzivare, his founding captain at Pfumo FC, put it.

“He was an aggressive goalkeeper and most strikers were afraid of him,” said Mudzivare.

“He would punch the ball together with your head, if you dare challenge him. He was scary in those one-on-one situations, and he was one character who believed in ‘if you miss the ball take the man’”, he said.

When he stepped away from mainstream football, Mushonga moved onto basketball, where he founded Waterfalls Trailblazers Basketball Club and had stints with Stormers and later on became Basketball Union of Zimbabwe vice president.

Among those that credit their careers to Mushonga are seasoned basketball players and coaches — Stephen Mudawarima, Emmanuel Mukandi, Tendai Mkuruva and Laddie Munetsi.

As they paid their tributes to Ninja, they spoke fondly of Mushonga’s “big heart and penchant for going far and wide beyond the call of duty to help those in need”.

“I started playing basketball at school (Harare High), and that is where I first met Linus

Mush- said close friend Mkuruva.

“He was just a keen follower of the game, back then, and only became involved when he formed Waterfalls Trailblazers in 1993.

“When I hear the name Linus Mushonga, I picture the short-tempered man I first met back in the day, but remember fondly the kind-hearted man with a big heart and who would help his fellow men.

“He supported a lot of boys in Waterfalls with school fees, meal hampers and family counsel.

“He played a big role in many families, and a true friend has been lost,” he said.

Mkuruva’s sentiments were echoed by many with Mudzivare adding: “We used to call him ‘Ninja’ as he used to have a onga,” dark side.

“He was a street fighter and had his roots in Mbare where he grew up, but that was not who he truly was.

“He was a generous man who loved his community in Waterfalls, and never forgot where he came from (Mbare).

“He loved sport, he was also a daredevil, had interest in politics and, above all, he was a Christian and a very successful businessman,” said Mudzivare.

Other contemporaries of his found it hard to hold back the tears as they spoke of the immense contributions Mushonga made in their lives, careers and everyone around him.

“When I hear the name Linus Mushonga, I think of the love, passion and sometimes aggression he had for basketball,” said Munetsi, who was with him at Waterfalls Trailblazers.

“I am yet to come to terms with his passing, and find it hard to think of a world without him.

“To give you an illustration of the man he was, I remember each and every time we would come across a stranded person when we were driving, he would stop regardless of the time.

“The times I asked him why he did that, he always said that it is our responsibility to help those in need.

“He would say if they are thieves, or robbers, then we would beat them up,” he said.

“Linus could never leave a person stranded,” Munetsi said.

He also spoke of the many people he helped, players he helped with transport and needy families he fed.

Mukandi chronicled how Mushonga would help referees.

He could even help clean up the basketball courts and at times stepped in as an official during games.

This was when he was either no longer involved with basketball, or was an official.

At the time of his death Mushonga had become a man of cloth, starting his own church, and was contemplating a return to basketball.