Tributes pour for Gumbo
Wanderers, his second sacking in that country inside 11 months.
Gumbo was the Warriors coach when Zimbabwe beat Rwanda 2-0 in Kigali in the last Word Cup qualifying meeting between the two teams.
His death ironically comes just days before the Warriors and the Amavubi square off again in a 2026 World Cup Group C qualifier at Huye Stadium in Rwanda.
Football envoy
Premier Soccer League chairperson Farai Jere described Gumbo’s death as a huge loss for the domestic game.
He chronicled the impact the former Zimbabwe international had in the late Reinhard Fabisch’s famed Warriors “Dream Team”.
“A dark cloud hovers over Zimbabwe following the death of football legend Rahman Gumbo, ”Jere said.
“As humble as he was talented, Gumbo left it all on the pitch in defence of the national flag during his days in the engine room of the famous Dream Team and later from the Warriors technical bench.
“He also imparted football nuggets at club level as coach at his boyhood club Highlanders, as well as at clubs such as FC Platinum, Chicken Inn and CAPS United, among others.
“Rush, as Gumbo was fondly known, also had successful stints beyond Zimbabwe’s borders.
“Rahman always put football first, spreading the gospel of the game wherever he went and served the game well until his untimely death.
“It won’t be misplaced to describe him as a football envoy, an ambassador of the beautiful game and, above, all a very good man.
“Well played, Rahman Gumbo!” As mark of honour to Gumbo, the Botswana Football League directed that a minute of silence be observed at their matches.
“Botswana Football League has learnt about the untimely death of coach Rahman Gumbo, who was employed by our member club Morupule Wanderers FC,” it said.
“The board and shareholders stand with Gumbo’s family and the rest of the football family in mourning the loss of the gaffer, who previously coached Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Gaborone United, Township Rollers and Sua Flamingoes.
“On the basis of the above, the BFL administrators humbly requests that all member clubs observe a moment of silence in all our scheduled games for Week 7.”
Gumbo played in the then-Super League for the now-defunct Eagles, where he was a striker in an exciting side that had a dribbling wing wizard called Boy Ndlovu, the gritty Tito Paketh and a fine midfielder called Elvis “Chuchu” Chiweshe.
He later featured in one of the greatest Highlanders teams of all time, which had the likes of Madinda and Adam Ndlovu, Benjamin Nkonjera, Mercedes Sibanda, Peter Nkomo and Willard Mashinkila-Khumalo. His Warriors teammates included Peter Ndlovu, Henry McKop, Bruce Grobbelaar, Francis Shonhayi, Ephraim Chawanda, Vitalis Takawira, Brenna Msiska, Paul Gundani, Agent Sawu and John Phiri.
Shock
United States-based coach Charles Mhlauri expressed shock at Gumbo’s death. Mhlauri worked with Gumbo at CAPS United and later succeeded him as Warriors coach in 2005.
“This is a sad development for the game. I can’t believe it.
“My thoughts and prayers go to his family. May his soul rest in peace.
“He fought a good fight. My story with Rush dates long back and we later coached CAPS United together, before I left for Germany in 2003. I am devastated. RIP Dr Rush,” Mhlauri said.
Founding vice president of the Zimbabwe Soccer Supporters Association Eddie Nyatanga saluted Gumbo for his contribution to the local game.
“What a sad loss . . . Rahman was called up to the Dream Team just a year after we had formed the Soccer Supporters Association, and we travelled with him for many years as national team player, when he was Sunday Chidzambwa’s assistant and later when he was the head coach,” he said.
“We bonded very well with him. Ngaazorore murugare. We also recall his famous match-up with Moses Chunga at Rufaro Stadium in a match between the Dream Team and the PSL Select.”
A refined man
George Manyaya was chairperson of the ZIFA fundraising committee dubbed Mzansi 90 when Gumbo’s Warriors came within 90 minutes of qualifying for a place at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals in South Africa.
He recalls how the Warriors then blew a 2-1 first-leg win to fall 3-1 to Angola in Luanda.
“I remember the Mzansi 90 committee that made history by mobilising for the Warriors qualification to the Africa Cup of Nations in SA,” said Manyaya.
“We did everything for them and we were left with 90 minutes to qualify against Angola . . . We chartered a plane for the Warriors and supporters to Luanda. We unfortunately lost the game and it was tense back home.
“He came to me and said, ‘Young Joji, this is football . . . we played our best game, did all we could and we thank you for all the support and being our chairman’ … This calmed my nerves, as I had made the whole nation believe. He started puffing his cigarette as we went to the changing room. What a fine and refined man he was.”
FIFA and CAF referees’ development manager for Eastern and Southern Africa Felix Tangawarima said he had been shocked to hear about Gumbo’s death.
“I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing on of Mr Rahman Gumbo, an extraordinarily gifted footballer who transcended our stadiums and inspired many footballers throughout his remarkable career,” Tangawarima said. “He was not only a wonderful and brilliant footballer, but also a true gentleman on and off the pitch.
“A legend, a great ambassador of football and a Hall of Famer.
“I express my sincere condolences to the entire football families of Zimbabwe and Botswana, and to his family.
“May God give the family strength to go through this very difficult period.” Gumbo is also being remembered in Zambia.
“On behalf of Zambian coaches, it is a sad moment, my condolences to the family and all football families and Zimbabweans,” said ex-Hwange coach Tenant Chilumba.
“I am really heartbroken. He was my colleague and we used to exchange notes. I still remember us making a WhatsApp group for coaches (Rahman, Pasuwa, Chitembwe, Chunga and myself ) when I won the Coach of the Year for the Castle Premier League.
“The day he left FC Platinum, we were together and two day later, I was appointed as his replacement.”
Harare giants Dynamos also offered their condolences.
“Dynamos Football Club join the Gumbo family and the rest of the Zimbabwean football fraternity in mourning the sudden passing on of the former Warriors star of the Dream Team era and former Warriors coach, Rahma n ‘Rush’ Gumbo,” the club said in a statement.