The Standard

By Sukoluhle Mtwetha

23 December 2012

THOUSANDS of people from all walks of life thronged Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo to pay their last respects to former Warriors, Highlanders striker and Chicken Inn coach Adam Ndlovu yesterday.

Ndlovu died on his way to hospital after being involved in an accident while travelling with his younger brother Peter to Victoria Falls for a football legends match last Sunday.

Relatives, family, current and former footballers, politicians, friends and football fans paid their last respects to the late player who donned the famous jersey number 13 for the Warriors.

Former Warriors coach Rahman Gumbo, Willard Khumalo, Netsai Moyo, Douglas Mloyi, Tobias Mudyambanje, Zenzo Moyo, Methembe Ndlovu and Thabani Masawi are some of the former Highlanders former players who turned up for the burial.

Part of the crowd that attended the burial were former Warriors captain Benjani Mwaruwari, Harlington Shereni, Agent Sawu, Joel Luphahla, Nesbert Saruchera, Lloyd Mutasa, Ronald Gidiza Sibanda, Misheck Chidzambwa and Stanford “Stix” Mutizwa.

Foreign-based Musa Mguni and the South African duo of Esrom Nyandoro and Thomas Svesve were also present. Premier Soccer League coaches Kalisto Pasuwa, Lloyd Chitembwe and newly-appointed Warriors assistant coaches Lloyd Mutasa and Ian Gorowa also attended. Zifa, PSL and Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC) officials and the Sables national coach Brendan Dawson were also at the burial. The funeral was also graced by politicians who included Minister of Mines and Mining Development Obert Mpofu, Zanu PF national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo, Minister of Education, Arts, Sports and Culture David Coltart as well as MDC president Welshman Ncube.

Bulawayo Metropolitan Province governor Cain Mathema, Matabeleland North and South Governors, Thokozile Mathuthu and Angeline Masuku also attended the funeral as well as Zanu PF politburo members Sikhanyiso Ndlovu and Abigail Damasane.

Insiza North MP Andrew Langa and Bulawayo Central MP Dorcas Sibanda also attended the funeral.

Peter’s ex-wife, South African music icon Sharon Dee turned up for the funeral and staged an emotional performance in honour of the late Adam.

New Zimbabwe

23 December 2012

MDC senator David Coltart has differed sharply with his boss, Welshman Ncube, over the need for an electoral pact with Morgan Tsvangirai, declaring that an alliance is “absolutely necessary” ahead of elections next year.

Ncube, leader of the MDC, dismissed chances of any such coalition with the MDC-T recently saying the two parties stood for diametrically different causes.

“We are MDC and we won’t have pacts. We stand alone because what we stand for is different from what other parties stand for,” Ncube said.

But Education Minister Coltart on Sunday differed with Ncube saying while he agreed that reuniting the splintered party would not be easy, he believed a coalition to unseat President Robert Mugabe was not only possible but necessary.

“Reunification is desirable but very difficult,” Coltart said on the micro-blogging site, Twitter. “So an election pact is more feasible and necessary.”

At a recent rally, Tsvangirai dismissed Ncube as a petty “village politician” unsuitable for national office.

Ncube took umbrage at the characterisation, and when asked if he would consider coalescing with Tsvangirai, he retorted: “How can villagers unite with royalty?”

Those close to the two men say they had a longstanding mutual contempt for each other that snowballed into outright hatred following the MDC split in 2005.

The idea of a broad democratic coalition is currently being thrown around, with some people urging both Tsvangirai and Ncube to bury the hatchet and forge an alliance.

MDC-T secretary-general Tendai Biti – one of the officials who vainly pushed for the reunification of the party ahead of the 2008 polls – says while he has given up on the prospects of a reunification, he still hopes a pact is achievable.

“I pray that there will be maturity at the relevant time not for the reunification of the parties, I think that will never happen, but for some kind of electoral pact,” Biti told NewZimbabwe.com recently.

“I hope the leaders of all the democracy loving political parties in Zimbabwe – Simba Makoni, Dumiso Dabengwa, Welshman Ncube, Morgan Tsvangirai and others – will come together for some kind of pact.”

Had the two MDC formations contested the last election as a united force, Tsvangirai would have won decisively.

But a split opposition vote, coupled with violence and intimidation by Zanu PF functionaries, laid the ground for Mugabe, 88, to remain in office.

The Standard

By Fortune Mbele

23 December 2012

Soccer legend Adam “Adamski” Ndlovu got an emotional send-off as thousands of people from across the country gathered at the Lady Stanley Cemetery to bid farewell to the football icon who died in an accident near Victoria falls last Sunday.

Mourners included former and current players, fans, politicians from different parties and thousands of residents from Bulawayo.

Zanu PF national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo said through football Adam united the country and described the Ndlovu brothers as household names not only in Zimbabwe but abroad.

Khaya Moyo said he received the news of Adam’s untimely death while attending the ANC elective conference in Mangaung, Bloemfontein in South Africa. The meeting observed a minute of silence for the former Warriors striker before President Jacob Zuma conveyed his condolences to the Ndlovu family.

“We are here for a very solemn occasion. I came yesterday from Bloemfontein. When the message came that Adam had died, the whole conference went into some form of paralysis because we were alarmed at how he had departed. We observed a minute of silence because the Ndlovu family does not only belong to us but to South Africa and other countries.

Adam, Madinda and Peter are household names not only in Zimbabwe but across the continent. Zimbabweans in South Africa are mourning and President Zuma himself asked me to convey their condolences. They mourn with us; they grieve with us,” Khaya Moyo said.

“Through soccer, the great son has brought us together. We must not betray the efforts of this boy lying in front of us. We must pray for the family to gather that strength and staying power. A person like Adam can never die; he passes on; he has been called for greater responsibility. He was a man who was simple but gifted with enviable humility. We have lost a jewel,” he said.

Zifa vice-president Ndumiso Gumede also showered praises on the late Chicken Inn head coach, whom he also said had united the nation.

“The man we gathered about here came, played and conquered. We have lost so much in Zimbabwe football. Adam stood tall both as a player and as a mentor. We pray for Peter’s speedy recovery to carry forward what has been left by his brother. Adam united the entire nation in language, colour, creed and race,” Gumede said.

Education, Sports, Arts and Culture minister, David Coltart said he was shocked to hear the news of Adam’s death and said the country was not doing enough to honour its sports persons. “While it is important to honour our soldiers, we do not do adequately to honour sports people and artistes in Zimbabwe. Adam projected Zimbabwe as a talented and multi-cultural sportsman. In other countries sporting personalities are recognised during their lifetime,” Coltart said.

The Herald

By Sikhumbuzo Moyo

23 December 2012

MINES and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu has said they will not allow Highlanders to sink into oblivion because of lack of fund­ing. The news will come as a relief as the team tries to beef up its squad for 2013 in which they are aiming at win­ning the championship after coming so close this year only to lose on goal dif­ference.

Mpofu made these assurances when giving a vote of thanks as a family friend at the end of a church service for the late former Chicken Inn head coach and ex-Bosso striker — the leg­endary Adam Ndlovu — at a packed Amphitheatre on Saturday morning.

Ndlovu was laid to rest at Lady Stanley Cemetery on Saturday after­noon with thousands of mourners from all walks of life in attendance. “Some of our colleagues in govern­ment and the party in Harare have long been boasting that Dynamos will never collapse as long as they are there. I want them to know here and now that as long as people like us are there, Highlanders will never col­lapse.

“I will make sure that does not hap­pen,” said Mpofu to a thunderous applause from the mourners who included football legends from across the country. Highlanders have been battling for finances for a long time now and have debts that are over $400 000. Mpofu has previously helped High­landers settle some of their bills.

The Minister also challenged his colleagues in government to come out with a system that will honour sport­ing heroes and heroines instead of waiting for a committee made up of few people to decide who should be a hero or heroine.

“We have been reading in the press about people saying whatever they want about Ndlovu’s hero status, peo­ple talking about things and people they totally have no idea of.

“Let it be known that this man lying lifeless in front of us was a true unifier and your presence today has actually made him a true hero. As politicians, Adam has brought us together and if he was to wake up now, I am sure we as politicians we would leave this place with unity cards,” said Mpofu.

Among the mourners were leaders of the three political parties in the inclusive government, Zanu-PF which was represented by the national chair­man, Simon

Khaya Moyo while the opposition MDC-N was represented by its president, pro­fessor Welshman Ncube.
On Friday, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai visited mourners at Adam’s house in Selbourne Park and on Satur­day several of his MDC-T members of Parliament were in attendance.

Mpofu has in the past came in handy for the usually financially trou­bled Bulawayo giants. The Mguza constituency Member of Par­liament last year bailed out High­landers when their team bus was attached by the messenger of court after the club failed to pay their for­mer coach, Egyptian Mohammed Fathi his out­standing salary arrears.

Speaking earlier at the same service the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart said Adam should be honoured posthu­mously because of his enormous con­tribution to the development of foot­ball in the country.“Sports is increasingly becoming a business and it is through sport like football that Adam played that can bring about a positive image of the country.“It is such people that project the image of our country in a positive way and again its sports people like Adam that boost the nation’s morale even during difficult times,” said Coltart.

Coltart challenged his colleagues in government to come up with poli­cies that will pave way for sporting heroes to be honoured even during their life­time. Ndlovu passed on at the age of 42 years in a horrific car accident near Victoria Falls in the early hours of last Sunday. The accident also claimed the life of a female compan­ion Nomqhele Tshili and left Adam’s younger brother Peter with serious injuries.

The Ndlovu brothers were on their way to Victoria Falls for a social soc­cer match between Highlanders and Vic­toria Falls players which was subse­quently called off after the dis­aster. Peter, who miraculously sur­vived the accident which took his brother’s life and is still recovering in hospital was brought in a wheelchair for the church service and observed his brother being laid to his final rest­ing place. Politicians from across the political divide, football administrators, for­mer national team and Highlanders play­ers, national team, Highlanders and Chicken Inn players and fans of differ­ent soccer teams some of whom trav­elled from Harare witnessed the burial of one of the finest footballers the country has ever produced.

The Amphitheatre, was filled to capacity as Zimbabweans came to pay their last respects to the man regarded as the most prolific War­riors striker with 34 goals from 79 appearances, four goals shy of his brother Peter. Thousands jostled to catch a glimpse of proceedings at Lady Stan­ley Cemetery with the event eventu­ally coming to an end at 4pm with security personnel having a hard time trying to control the crowd at the cemetery.

Madinda Ndlovu, the oldest of the famous Ndlovu brothers said as a fam­ily they were really grateful to Zim­babweans who came out in full sup­port after the tragic event. He explained that they had delayed informing Peter of Adam’s death because they were not sure of the seri­ousness of the injuries ’’Nsuku­zonke’’ had suffered and they had to protect him.

Sunday News

22 December 2012

Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart, has described the year 2012 as the best year for the country’s education sector in recent years.

Speaking to Sunday News on the sidelines of the official opening of a Conservation School at Antelope Park in Gweru recently where he was guest of honour, Senator Coltart said 2012 was the first year in recent years that the teaching calendar was not disturbed by teachers’ strikes.

He said such a development, among many other positives that can be drawn from the year, places 2012 as the best year for the education sector since the formation of the Unity Government in 2009.

“This year we did not lose a single teaching day owing to strikes and other disturbances of that kind to other years from 2007 when there were a lot of disturbances. This year is the first year that we did not have any strikes since the formation of the Unity Government and that reflects well on the sector,” he said.

Senator Coltart added that 2012 had also witnessed a significant increase in the number of O-level and A-level candidates, which he said was yet another positive that can be drawn from this year.

Although he was not in a position to give statistics to back his assertion, Senator Coltart also expressed concern at the continued decline in pass rates for Grade Seven examinations which he attributed that to the chaos that characterized the sector in the past years.

“This year we have also recorded a significant increase in the number of O and A-level candidates which is yet another positive to be drawn from the year.

However, we are worried that the Grade Seven examinations pass rate has continued to decline. The decline is rooted on the chaos we witnessed four to five years ago but we hope to see an upturn in the following years,” he said.

Senator Coltart said this year Government had also managed to achieve the one-student one-textbook ratio in both primary and secondary schools, with a total of 23 million text books having been distributed.

He said the books distributed in schools across the country so far catered for core subjects and the ministry was working on providing ancillary textbooks to enhance children’s knowledge in given subjects.

“So far we have distributed 23 million text books which have helped us achieve the one-child to one textbook ratio in both primary and secondary schools. We have also realized that there is need for the provision of other ancillary textbooks like readers in primary schools to enhance the child’s knowledge. Thus we have come up with a programme which will be rolled out next year to provide children with such ancillary textbooks especially in language subjects,” said Senator Coltart.

The education minister also lauded communities across the country who have helped improve the standards of education in the country through various activities.

“Communities have also responded well to the improvements. A number of communities have assisted us through rehabilitation and construction of classrooms, fencing of schools and drilling of boreholes. That is work we should commend and urge communities to continue with such work,” he said.

Senator Coltart also predicted that 2013 would be an even better year for the education sector with plans underway for Government to introduce a new environment education curriculum in schools.

He said the current curriculum that is used in schools was outdated and is being reviewed to incorporate new concepts such as conservation agriculture which is less hostile to the environment.

“2013 will be n even better year because we have a number of programmes lined up. Work is underway to review the current environment education curriculum which is out of date. The idea is to incorporate new concepts such as conservation farming which are believed to be friendly to the environment,” he said.

Meanwhile, Antelope Park in Gweru has launched a conservation school which is aimed at imparting environmental conservation knowledge to children.

Antelope Park Projects Manager Karen Armand told Sunday News that the school will cater for children aged between 11 and 12 years old who will attend the school during conventional school holidays.

She said the school, the first of its kind in the Midlands Province, will help children have appreciation of environmental conservation issues at a young age, with the aim of creating responsible generations.

Senator Coltart officially opened the school.

Speech given by Senator David Coltart on the occasion of Adam ‘Adamski’ Ndlovu’s Funeral

22^nd December 2012

Amphitheater, Bulawayo

I am honoured to be asked by the family to speak today. Although I did not know Adam personally I have marveled at his football skills for many years and have a deep rooted appreciation for the contribution this magnificent footballing family have made to Zimbabwe. I was deeply shocked to hear the news of Adam’s passing away on my way last Sunday to Lusaka to close the Zone 6 Games.

This is the second funeral I have spoken at in just a few months mourning the tragic passing away of a talented Zimbabwean as the result of a road accident. It is always difficult to understand the Lord’s purpose in taking such talent from us. It does not serve any useful purpose to try and understand. However, I do take great comfort from hearing that Adam had a personal faith in the Lord Jesus and that he  had a profound influence on an entire football team. That knowledge gives me comfort that he is now with the Lord and safe. My prayer is that that knowledge will comfort you all and especially Adam’s family and his loved ones.

Others have spoken about Adam’s brilliance on the football field (such as 79 Caps for Zimbabwe) and I cannot better what they have said. What I want to speak about it the importance of those skills to our nation. Sport in general and football in particular is far more important than we appreciate. Whilst a fantastic goal thrills us, sport can go much further than just thrill – it can and should play a major role in improving a country’s economy and image.

The Olympics in Britain this year was a revelation to me – more than the sport perhaps it struck me that it was a unique opportunity for Britain to boost its economy and project itself more positively.

Sport is indeed business. And so too is Art and Culture. We need to grasp that understanding better in Zimbabwe and realize it can boost an economy, boost tourism, and transform Zimbabwe’s image.  It is in that context that I need to say a few words about the need for us as a nation to create better policies and laws to adequately  honour our sporting, artistic, and cultural icons in Zimbabwe.

Whilst it is important that we honour politicians and soldiers who have made huge sacrifices and done wonderful things for Zimbabwe, I believe that we do not adequately recognize and honour our sporting and artistic heroes who sometimes do far more than politicians to project Zimbabwe in a positive light.  Sportsmen like Adam Ndlovu play a massive role not just in boosting our spirits, but in projecting our nation in a positive, constructive and favourable light. They project Zimbabwe as a vibrant, talented, exciting nation and because of that we owe them a great debt.

In other countries sporting and artistic icons are recognized during their lifetimes. In the USA, for example, they have Halls of Fame and great sportsmen are inducted into them. In the UK awards such as the OBE and Knighthoods are given to sportsmen during their lifetime.

Having been given that recognition, those sportsmen and women often then become ambassadors for their country and sport.

We do not do that in Zimbabwe. We have amazing icons like Oliver Mtukudzi, Thomas Mapfumo, Kirsty Coventary, Peter Ndlovu, and indeed Adam Ndlovu who project our nation in a wonderful light and who deserve to be recognized, not just in death but during their lifetime. There is no doubt in my mind that Adam Ndlovu is one of Zimbabwe’s national sporting heroes. Had we had a system of giving the equivalent of knighthoods or halls of fame, he would already have been recognized, not just because of caps or goals, but the way he played and conducted himself. We need something like an “Order of Zimbabwe”.

If there is any purpose in this tragic loss let us use this occasion to resolve that we will implement such a policy and commit ourselves to honouring Adam posthumously.

Until then, I thank you all for turning out in such great numbers to honour Adam. My prayer is that your presence will comfort Adam’s family. On behalf of the government, our deepest sympathies are extended to his family, his friends and teammates and indeed all who loved this psorting genius.

Rest in Peace Adam

Sunday News

By Ngqwele Dube, Mehluli Sibanda, Bruce Chimani

22 December 2012

ZIMBABWEANS from all walks of life came out in huge numbers to bid farewell to football legend, former Zimbabwe Warriors and Highlanders striker Adam Ndlovu who was laid to rest at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo yesterday afternoon.

Ndlovu, who was head coach of Castle Lager Premier Soccer League side Chicken Inn at the time of his death, passed away at the age of 42 years in a horrific car accident near Victoria Falls in the early hours of last Sunday. The accident also claimed the life of a female passenger Nomqhele Tshili and left Adam’s younger brother Peter with serious injuries. The Ndlovu brothers were on their way to Victoria Falls for a social soccer match between Highlanders legends and a Victoria Falls soccer league select which was subsequently called off after the disaster.

Peter, who miraculously survived the mishap which took his brother’s life and is still recovering at Mater Dei Hospital, was brought in a wheelchair for the church service at the Bulawayo Amphitheatre and he witnessed his brother being laid to his final resting place.

The former Warriors captain, with a visible scar on his forehead, was heavily guarded but that did not deter journalists from taking pictures of him. He could be seen trying to hold back tears during the church service and when his brother was being laid to rest.

Politicians from across the political divide, football administrators, former national team and Highlanders players, current national team, Highlanders and Chicken Inn players and fans of different soccer teams, some of whom travelled from Harare, witnessed the burial of one of the finest players to emerge from this football crazy nation.

Amphitheatre, the venue for the church service which lasted for more than three hours, was filled to capacity as Zimbabweans came to pay their last respects to the man regarded as the second most prolific Warriors striker with 34 goals from 79 appearances, four goals shy of his brother Peter.

Thousands jostled to catch a glimpse of proceedings at Lady Stanley with the event eventually coming to an end at 4pm. Security personnel had a hard time trying to control the crowd at the cemetery.

Prominent Warriors fan Chris “Romario” Musekiwa led Warriors fans in song and dance after Ndlovu’s coffin was lowered into the grave. Highlanders’ fans were not to be outdone as they also chanted their club slogans.

Madinda Ndlovu, the oldest of the famous Ndlovu brothers, said as a family they were really grateful to Zimbabweans who came out in full support after the tragic event, adding that they had delayed informing Peter of Adam’s death because they were not sure of the seriousness of the injuries “Nsukuzonke” had suffered and they had to protect him.

Speakers at the morning church service included Minister of Mines and Mining Development Obert Mpofu, Minister of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture David Coltart, Zanu-PF national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo and Zimbabwe Football Association vice-president Ndumiso Gumede.

Former Highlanders chairman Gumede described Ndlovu’s death as a great loss to Zimbabwean football. Gumede said it was rare that three members of the same family could be blessed with such immense talent as the Ndlovu brothers did.

Khaya Moyo informed the gathering that even South African president Jacob Zuma had sent him a condolence message, a gesture that showed that the Ndlovu brothers had made an impact beyond the country’s borders. According to Moyo, a moment of silence was observed during the recently ended African National Congress 53rd Conference in Mangaung.

Mpofu said the huge attendance showed that Adam was truly a hero and did not need politicians to accord him that status, drawing a huge applause from the crowd.

Former Highlanders players included Thulani Ncube, Douglas Mloyi, Boy Ndlovu, Zenzo Moyo, Netsai Moyo, Ernest Sibanda, Tobias Mudyambanje, Tito Paketh, Marko Dube, Amini Soma Phiri, Mkhuphali Masuku, Willard Khumalo, Colsen Mabeza, Thabani Masawi, Jerry Sibanda and Peter Nkomo.

Ex-Zimbabwe Warriors in attendance were Paul Gundani, Joel Luphahla, Ian Gorowa, Ronald Sibanda, Callisto Pasuwa, Norman Mapeza, Harlington Shereni, Benjani Mwaruwari, Nelson Bandura, Melody Wafawanaka, Brenna Msiska, Friday Phiri, Stanford Mutizwa, Nesbert Saruchera, Kennedy Nagoli, Dumisani Mpofu, Masimba Dinyero, Misheck Chidzambwa, Gilbert Mushangazhike, Gift Muzadzi, Lloyd Mutasa, Lloyd Chitembwe and Agent Sawu.

Esrom Nyandoro and Musa Mguni were some of the Zimbabwe Warriors players who attended the funeral. Zimbabwe Sables coach Brendon Dawson also attended the burial.

Three daughters survive Adam.

BBC

By Steve Vickers

22 December 2012

Thousands of fans, players, politicians and sports administrators attended the funeral of Zimbabwe legend Adam Ndlovu in Bulawayo on Saturday.

Adam, 42, died in a car accident last Sunday which left his younger brother Peter in a critical condition.

Peter, who is now in a stable condition, was released from hospital for the funeral and attended in a wheelchair with nurses by his side.

Adam played in Switzerland for seven seasons and scored 34 goals for Zimbabwe.

A host of Zimbabwean football legends, including former Warriors captain Benjani Mwaruwari, were at the funeral, along with senior figures from all three main political parties.

“Adam was a legend and he united the country through football,” said Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who attended the wake on Friday.

Many others paid tribute to Adam, who had just completed his first full season as a coach, taking Bulawayo side Chicken Inn to a third-place finish in the Premier League.

“He was like a brother to me, it’s big loss for me and it pains me to be here,” said former Zimbabwe defender Harlington Shereni, who played alongside Adam at Delemont in Switzerland.

“He introduced me to European football, he was the star of the team at Delemont and he was always there to help me.”

There had been calls from some quarters for Adam to be declared a national hero, although government insisted that hero status is only for those with a liberation war history.

Sports minister David Coltart said that more should be done to mark the achievements of distinguished sports stars.

“I believe that we do not adequately honour our sporting and cultural heroes in Zimbabwe,” said Mr Coltart.

“They often do more than politicians to boost our spirits and image of the country.”

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.

z To Page 11

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.

News Day

By Fortune Mbele

22 December 2012

THOUSANDS of Zimbabweans, including Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, are expected to throng Bulawayo today to pay their final respects to soccer legend Adam “Adamski” Ndlovu who died in a car accident last Sunday in Victoria Falls.

Yesterday, thousands attended a service that was held at Luveve Stadium, Chicken Inn’s home ground.

Among them were former Warriors captain Benjani Mwaruwari, Peter’s ex-wife Sharon Dee, MP Tabitha Khumalo, as well as several former Highlanders players, some of whom played with Adam.

Adam’s body was taken to MAP (Madinda, Adam&Peter) offices and then to Chicken Inn headquarters before conveyance to Luveve.
Fans from most residential suburbs in Bulawayo came to bid the Bosso and Warriors legend farewell.

Many more lined up along Luveve Road to salute the procession as it made its way to the stadium.

The former Warriors, Highlanders striker and Chicken Inn head coach will be laid to rest at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo.

Adam died after the BMW X5 vehicle driven by his brother Peter burst a tyre 20km from the Victoria Falls Airport, veered off the road and rammed into a tree.

A female passenger Nomqhele Tshili was killed on the spot

According to the police, Adam died on his way to hospital while Peter was seriously injured and taken to Victoria Falls Hospital before being transferred to Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo. He was operated on both legs.

Peter is expected to attend his brother’s funeral. Zanu PF national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo, Sports minister David Coltart and Mines and Mining Development minister Obert Mpofu are also expected to attend.

“The Office of the Prime Minister has confirmed that he is coming while the Zanu PF national party chairperson (Khaya Moyo) and minister Coltart have confirmed that they will be attending the burial. Mpofu (Mines and Mining Development), who is already here is not coming in his capacity as minister, but as the main speaker for the family,” Madinda said.

Senior government officials, politicians, senior Zifa officials, club officials, former teammates from the Dream Team era, current Warriors, Highlanders, Chicken Inn and players from various clubs, are expected to make part of mourners to bid farewell to Adamski today.

A church service will be held at 8am at the Amphitheatre where high-ranking officials will deliver speeches before the body, which lay in state at his home in Selborne Park, will make its way to his boyhood suburb of Makokoba.

It will pass through his parent’s house before it is taken to Barbourfields Stadium, the home of Highlanders, where Adamski cut his teeth. From Emagumeni, the body will be taken to its final resting place at Lady Stanley Cemetery, where only family members will deliver speeches.

Meanwhile, Coventry City boss Mark Robins has relayed his best wishes and condolences to the family of Peter Ndlovu following the car accident on Saturday.

Robins hoped Peter could rebuild his life after the horrific crash.

“It was terrible to hear about Peter, his brother and the other passenger and we, as a club, want to pass on our best wishes and condolences,” Robins said. “Hopefully, Peter will make a recovery that will enable him to rebuild his life because we all want that for him,” he added.