The ManicaPost
Sports Correspondent
BARONS Junior Football Club owner and ex-soldier, Gilbert Chiukira, who passed away recently, was laid to rest at his rural area in Zaka, Masvingo.
He was 48. Chiukira who died in Harare at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals where he was recuperating after suffering a kidney failure was instrumental in the development and formation of Mutare Junior League.
Hundreds of Zimbabwe football fans, friends and relatives bid farewell to Chiukira who did a lot in trying to uplift the standards of junior football in Mutare as well as the livelihood of junior footballers.
Chiukira was given a befitting send-off in Dangamvura where he was popular with junior footballers.
Multitudes of former players and junior players who thronged his Dangamvura’s Area 16 home to pay their last respects were testimony of his good character.
He gave many youngsters a chance to showcase their skills including former Dongo Sawmill star, Steven Elliot who now turns out for Buffaloes FC.
Chiukira’s son, Baron, described his late father as a man who had football at heart. He said his father was so passionate about the sport.
Manicaland Junior League chairman, Themba Ngwenya, who worked with Chiukira at MJL, said he (Chiukira) was a man who knew football and had junior footballers at heart.
He also said Chiukira left a legacy, adding that such people were hard to come by.
“We lost a very good man. He is one of the founding members of Mutare Junior League. I worked with him so well and we will sadly miss him. He has left a legacy and void that is not easy to fill. He was so dedicated to junior football and his club was doing very well in the league,” he said.
Chiukira was described by many as a football person who had brought about valuable input in the development of the game. Chiukira was born in 1969 in Zaka, Masvingo.
He did his primary and secondary education at Rudhanda in Zaka. He founded Baron Junior Football Club in 2008 and named it after his only son, Baron.
He joined the Zimbabwe National Army in 1992.
He was also a player during his hey days. He had a short stint with an Angolan team between 1994 and 1995. He then retired from the army in 2008. Baron FC coach, Brian Mkundu, paid tribute to Chiukira and described him as a gentleman and father.
“I am at a loss of words. It is a very big loss to us as a club. It is a loss again to Manicaland as a whole. We have lost a father and mentor.
“Chiukira was so much into junior football. He helped a lot of less-privileged children to go to school. He lived his life for others. He was a helper and never discriminated people. He treated each person equal. To me he was a pillar of strength,” he said.
Baron Club was formed in 2008 and up to date the club has produced stars such as Elliot, Paul Kamunhukamwe who is also with Buffaloes, Ashok Mugai (The African Trust), Panashe Mahande and Baron Chiukira both at United Lions in Masvingo.
The club has teams which play in the Under-12, U-15, U-17 and U-18 leagues.
He is survived by his wife, Pechinobva and three children, Baron, Nash and Purity.
