Veteran photo-journalist Ashokbhai Kara dies
RENOWNED soccer photojournalist Ashokbhai Kara, better known to many as KC, died in his beloved city of Bulawayo last Wednesday. He was 72. Kara had not been in good health for over a decade and had retired from photography as his health could no longer allow him to continue with his lifelong passion. He was cremated on Friday afternoon following a service attended by family, friends, Hindu Society members and Highlanders FC. Kara spent over 30 years as Highlanders sports photo and videographer. He travelled around the country with the club taking photographs.
His passion was photography and sport and he invested a lot into his chosen trade and was among the first people in Bulawayo to introduce video recording. Kara loved Highlanders FC and in his final days he scribbled a note that former club chairman and secretary Peter Dube should inform Amahlolanyama that he has passed on.
He is by all standards a Yesteryear Great as many publications used his images because he knew what soccer action was.
When he was still in good health he used to speak about the great players he had covered at Highlanders from Josiah Nxumalo, James Nxumalo, Boet Van Ays, Cavin Duberley, Tommy Masuku, Tennyson Mloyi, Zenzo Dabengwa, Lawrence Phiri and Billy Sibanda in the early 1970s when the club established itself as a force to reckon with.
His face would brighten up when he spoke about the team that won the Chibuku Trophy in 1973 and the national league play off in 1974. He was with the club when a decision was made to leave the Rhodesia National Football League to form the South Zone Soccer League.
Kara’s attachment to the club saw him opt not to regularly cover Olympics, Meikles and
Zimbabwe Saints who were in the elite league. He was happy watching his Highlanders at Pelandaba, Dingumuzi, Portuguese Ground and White City.
Images of some of the stars of that league who included Danny Mahaso, Thomas Chipembere, Tymon Mabaleka, Lawrence Phiri, Doughty Sithole, Majuta Mpofu and Alfred Ngedla Phiri were often displayed at his Fourth Avenue and Lobengula Street shop.
When the emerging talents of Madinda Ndlovu, Nhamo Shambira, Themba Lunga, Stanford Ntini, Phana Mthimkhulu and Augustine Lunga came to the fore in the 197980 era, Kara was there to capture them and would go through a colourful decade of cup success with the club.
At the end of 1977 and 1978 Kara through concurrence with South Zone Soccer League general manager Silas Ndlovu, released the Soccer Star of the Year calendars featuring some of the league’s most outstanding stars who included Greg Faasen, Onias Musana, Alfred Ngedla Phiri, Harry Chitsa and Majuta Mpofu.
“At last we have done it,” was how he summed it up at the Harare International Airport on 5 November 1990 when Highlanders beat Dynamos 3-1 to lift the Zifa Cup in a year they won their first league title in independent Zimbabwe.
We would later meet at his studio that week where he spoke about his journey with Highlanders, the highs and lows with the 1976 incidents that led to Bosso leaving the John Madzima structures to play in the South Zone Soccer League.
He loved the Madinda, Alexander Maseko, Douglas Mloyi, Mercedes Sibanda, Willard Khumalo, Netsai Moyo and Tito Paketh generation. Three years ago when I went to North End to interview him, we spent some time talking about the 1980s Highlanders team and members of the vibrant executives.
In an interview after the Friday service, Highlanders FC chairman Johnfat Sibanda said the club had lost a loyal servant and member who had served the club well. Sibanda said he was disappointed in the institutional memory they had lost through Kara’s death.
“Towards Bosso Centennial celebrations we were looking forward to engaging him on the club’s history. He was an asset we would have gotten a lot from on the history and some great moments he captured,” said Sibanda.
Former Bosso chairman and now board member, Peter Dube also described Kara as a great fan of Highlanders and the game.
“He loved the club, he was a sincere man, if you debated an issue at times he would bring a video of the match that was at the centre of the discussion.
“He served the club well and I feel honoured to have known and worked with a photojournalist like him,” said Dube.
Three former Highlanders FC players, Lawrence Phiri, Billy Sibanda and Sikhumbuzo Ndebele, chief executive officer Ronald Moyo and board member Dumisani Sandi attended the traditional Hindi service. Like many Yesteryear Greats, Kara was forgotten by Highlanders, the media and football the day he retired on ill-health.