THE local football fraternity has been plunged into mourning once again, following the death of former Dynamos player and coach David “Broom Boy” George.
Described by many in the game as smart, elegant and classy on and off the pitch, George passed away at his home in Glen Norah yesterday afternoon.
He was 71.
The legendary George’s death comes a few weeks after the national game lost former Warriors players Rahman Gumbo and George Chigova.
Veteran coach Sunday Chidzambwa, who played alongside George in one of the greatest Dynamos teams before they reunited as the club’s coaches, bemoaned the loss of the game’s greats. He feels local football will be “poorer without the wisdom of men like David George’’.
“I will run out of words to describe what a gentleman David was, but all I can say for now is that this is a huge loss and we will definitely miss him,” Chidzambwa said.
George was one of Chidzambwa’s trusted lieutenants during the ex-Warriors coach’s stints as Dynamos mentor at different intervals.
“We played together for six years after I had joined Dynamos in 1977 and he was already at the club.
“I was to retire early in 1983 after my injury, but we continued to work together very closely on and off, as you know at Dynamos, one moment you would be the coach there, then you leave and we would come back again,” Chidzambwa said.
A fine winger of his generation, George is best remembered as a dribbling master, who terrorised defenders in the 1970s, hence the nickname “Broom Boy’’.
He was one of the younger players in the Dynamos outfit of the 1970s — along with Kuda Muchemeyi, David Mandigora, Edward Katsvere and Chidzambwa.
Katsvere would later come more into prominence after Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, with Mandigora being crowned soccer star in that year.
Following his retirement, George pursued a career in coaching. He worked alongside the late Muchemeyi as an assistant to Chidzambwa during Dynamos’ 1998 run to the CAF Champions League final.
Ten years later, George was back in the trenches and stood on the threshold of another Champions League final appearance as Mandigora’s deputy, but DeMbare were eliminated at the semi-final stage by Cotonsport Garoua of Cameroon.
One of his proteges, Edward Sadomba, expressed shock and sorrow at the demise of his former coach.
“He was a father figure to me, both Bla Yogi (Mandigora) and he helped me a lot during the time I spent at Dynamos.
“What a sad moment to lose Bla D! We thank God for the time we spent together.
“The sad thing is that we don’t honour and value our legends when they are still alive for the contribution they put into the game . . . MHSRIP,” Sadomba said.
Sadomba’s former teammate at Dynamos under George, Zondai Nyaungwa, was also saddened by the coach’s death.
“David George was something else, one in a million, a fine gentleman for whom I find no adequate word to describe . . . just an angel from God.
“I just cannot believe that he is no more.
“I will not forget the encouragement and the guidance he gave me when we played ASEC Mimosas at Rufaro in 2008. He assured everyone at Dynamos that I could do a good job in goal and we went on to win that match. I was one of the star performers,” Nyaungwa recalled.
George, in Nyaungwa’s words, was patient.
“He was very patient with players and a real father figure to everyone.
“He was a joy to associate with, both as a footballer and a person.”
Ex-Dynamos goalkeeper Laban Kandi, who played in the same generation with George, was also left a devastated man.
Kandi and George had over the years grown to be close friends.
“I am devastated.
“He took whatever task was at hand seriously. “He was very particular about time keeping.
“Whenever we had appointments, if it was 2pm, it was that, not ‘kuma2pm’, like some of us are fond of saying.
“He would say show me ‘kuma2’ on your watch. “What’s paining me most now is that just yesterday (Friday), he congratulated me on my wedding anniversary,” Kandi said.
The Northern Region Soccer League (NRSL) management also paid tribute to George.
“So sad. Our deepest condolences. He was a voice of reason and always very calm in an otherwise crazy football environment.
“His contribution as a player and coach will forever be cherished. Many young players passed through his capable hands.
“May the dear Lord comfort the bereaved family and friends,” NSRL said in a statement.
Nyasa Big Bullets coach Kalisto Pasuwa was a Dynamos player during some of George’s coaching stints at the club — including the club’s Champions League excursions in 1998 and 1999. “He was always inspirational, a strict disciplinarian and one of the most loving coaches I ever worked with.
“I learnt a lot from him, especially the physical conditioning aspect,” Pasuwa said.
