SA Premiership honours Chigova
A MINUTE of silence will be observed at this weekend’s DStv Diski Challenge matches in honour of former Zimbabwe, Dynamos and SuperSport United goalkeeper, George Chigova.
Chigova died in his sleep at his Gauteng home on Wednesday at the age of 32 and his death is being linked to heart complications.
He is survived by a wife, Nokuthula and two young daughters.
The South African Premier Soccer League has expressed shock at the demise of Chigova, who was unattached at the time of his death as the contract with SuperSport United ended in June, and will use the Diski Challenge fixtures to honour him.
Premiership matches are off due to the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers and will only resume next weekend.
“The (SA) Premier Soccer League is shocked and saddened by the untimely passing of former SuperSport United Football Club and Polokwane City Football Club goalkeeper, George Chigova.
“The League sends heartfelt condolences to the Chigova family and the football community at large.
“A moment of silence will be observed in his honour at this weekend’s DStv Diski Challenge fixtures.
“May his soul repose peacefully!,” read the South African PSL statement.
Meanwhile, SuperSport United goalkeeper coach Grant Johnson has described Chigova as a gentle giant.
“It’s a very sad day, George was an amazing guy with an amazing personality, larger than life, and a gentle soul, we called him a gentle giant.
“He was a fantastic goalkeeper believe could have made it anywhere. He proved to be one of the better goalkeepers in the country. He was just unlucky with injuries and players playing ahead of him. But other than that, he worked hard.
“It’s the first time I have had to deal with the death of one of my players, and I don’t know how to deal with it, I’m struggling to believe that he is no longer with us.
“I can only imagine what his family is going through. George was a family man with a wife and kids. My hugest condolences to them,” Johnson told Kick Off, a leading South African football news platform.
Johnson looked back at his history with Chigova adding he believed the former Gunners and Polokwane City goalie would still have been good enough for the Zimbabwe national soccer team, the Warriors.
“I worked with George since 2020, and we had such a close relationship. July, during pre-season he was at the medical centre, and they picked up a heart issue.
“But he went for all the medicals and treatment, and he was on the road to recovery and back in training.
“So to hear today of his passing, it’s a massive shock to be honest, I don’t even know how to deal with it. George, what he wanted, where he was going in terms of his football. He was in the process of looking for a new club as he wanted to get back to playing in the PSL.
“He was good enough to play for most clubs in the PSL. I think he would have been an asset to any club in the PSL. He is a top goalkeeper, he is a leader, it’s a massive loss to the football environment and the goalkeeping fraternity.
“I believe if he was playing regularly, he would have been a regular in the Zimbabwe team. He was very athletic and the biggest kicker I’ve ever seen in the game.”