Recognise excellence

Sunday News

22 December 2012

ZIMBABWE should ensure that a system is put in place to give due recognition to those who excel in sport, a Cabinet minister said at a church service for the late soccer icon Adam Ndlovu.

Education, Sport and Culture minister David Coltart said it was sad the talented footballer was being laid to rest without being honoured.

Coltart was speaking before an appreciative crowd of thousands of mourners that had gathered to bid farewell to Adamski and challenged the Government to come up with a system to recognise sporting and cultural heroes in the country.

“The one good thing that has come out from Adam’s death is the raising of the issue of sporting heroes and I feel Zimbabweans should come up with a process to honour their sporting and cultural heroes and I believe this is the opportunity to start discussing how we can do it. I feel such a system should be created and Adam should be honoured posthumously, once the system has been put in place,” said Coltart.

He added that while it is important to honour soldiers and politicians, it was also critical to give due recognition to sporting and cultural heroes, especially when they were still alive.

“In America they have Hall of Fames of different sporting disciplines, where talented sports person are inducted into while they are still alive while in Britain they have the Order of the British Empire and knighthood, which is given to eminent sporting and cultural heroes also while they are still alive. We do not have to wait until someone dies to recognise their efforts when we can do so when they are still alive,” he said.

Coltart added that politicians failed to recognise the fact that sport was a greater unifying factor bigger than politics, saying sport had over the years played a bigger role in portraying a positive image of the country abroad than politics had done. And that while politics was full of bickering Adam’s funeral had shown that sport played a critical role in uniting the nation.

Thousands of people graced the burial of Adamski and there was a general consensus that he is a national hero.

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Politicians from across the political divide, sporting personalities from different sports disciplines, football lovers and ordinary people gathered to send a befitting farewell to Adam whose football-playing career was littered with sparkle.

Speaker after speaker praised the late Ndlovu not only for his talent on the pitch but also for his humility and discipline.

Ndlovu perished in an accident last Sunday morning together with a female passenger Nomqhele Tshili, while travelling to Victoria Falls with his brother, Peter.

Adamski was given a great send-off with Peter Ndlovu’s ex-wife, Sharon D performing the opening song for the ceremony.

Tristar Insurance Company made bottled water with an imprint of the face of Adam, with the words ‘”n Loving Memory of Adam Ndlovu” inscripted on the label.

Two huge posters of the star adorned the Amphitheatre buildings while there were several posters that were printed with photos of the late Chicken Inn coach, written “Rest In Peace Adam”.

Quelaton coach, Farai Sibanda, who is among the last few people who have spent time with Adamski was satisfied that the late soccer icon was given a befitting send-off.

Sibanda travelled with Adam and Peter from Harare last Saturday after attending the Soccer Stars Awards last Friday.

“I travelled with them and we went to Adam’s house and spent some time watching football videos. I parted with him just before 8pm and it was very painful to hear that he had passed away. I am happy however with the way people came here to give Adam their last respects and ensure that he is given a hero’s send-off,” he said.

Sibanda said he had developed a close friendship with Adamski and it was sad to lose him.

Meanwhile a local musician has recorded a single in honour of the football legend.

The track simple titled Adamski, was produced by Chamu Makombe, who is also the main vocalist.

The sombre song was played during a service held on Friday at Luveve Stadium and also yesterday at Amphitheatre and Lady Stanley Cemetery, where Adam was laid to rest.

Makombe said he was inspired by the exploits of Adamski and felt compelled to produce the track.

“It is the little that I could do to pay tribute to Adam. He was a great football hero and he touched many people’s hearts. It is a fitting honour to sing for him,” he said.

The single was on sale at the funeral service at Amphitheatre and Makombe said some of the funds would go to the Ndlovu family.

“I am yet to discuss with the Ndlovu family how I can remit the funds to them and how they would use them but I believe they should get a share from the sale of the single,” he said.

FC Platinum donated $3 000 to the Ndlovu and Tshili families yesterday.

FC Platinum”s vice president, George Mawere said  $1 000 will go towards Peter’s medical expenses, while another $1 000 will be dedicated to Adam’s funeral with the other $1 000 being given to the Tshili family.

“We believe we are one family and felt we should assist the Ndlovu family in whatever way we can. We worked with Adam in the Premier Soccer League and had a great relationship with him,” he said.