The ManicaPost
Ray Bande : Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER Dynamos and Motor Action defence lynchpin, Lovemore ‘Thula’ Mapuya lost his sibling, but still found reason in answering the call to serve the province in the just-ended Zimbabwe National Youth Games in Chinhoyi. Mapuya, who was in Chinhoyi as assistant coach to Brian Mkundu for the Manicaland boys’ soccer team, received the news of the death of his young brother, Lucky just when Team Manicaland was about to leave Mutare for the Chinhoyi Games.
Lucky Mapuya (35), died in the neighbouring South Africa after a short illness and paperwork to have his body taken to his hometown of Chipinge for burial was expected to drag for the greater part of last week.
“It was so painful to learn of my young brother’s death. He was a quite young and we were looking forward to have him for a long time to come, but such is the life we live.
“I thought I should take up the chance to travel with Team Manicaland to Chinhoyi because this is something that I value. I know and understand that this can also be a stepping stone in my newly found career as a coach.
“The good thing is that it will take about a week to have his body ready for burial and I think I will be home in time for his burial,” said Mapuya in an interview during the Youth Games in Chinhoyi last week.
Such is the importance and respect that the former national Under-17 team player attached to the Zimbabwe National Youth Games.
Sadly, the dream to take Team Manicaland to at least the finals of the 2016 National Youth Games was shattered when the team was bundled out of competition in the early stages after settling for three draws.
Mapuya has had coaching stints at various clubs in Chipinge that include the now defunct Eastern Region Division One side, Gaza Gunners.
Arguably one of the most successful soccer players ever to emerge from Chipinge, his budding coaching career is yet to reach its climax.
