mbulelo smpofu
Zimpapers Sports Hub
FORMER Highlanders chairman Josiah Dube, who died on Friday morning, will be laid to rest at his Inyathi home this morning. He was 87.
A memorial service was held at a city parlour yesterday and was attended by members of the Highlanders board and executive, including chairman Kenneth Mhlophe, his deputy Fiso Siziba, committee member Kindman Ndlovu, and chief executive officer Brian Moyo.
The board was represented by Cosmas Sikhosana, Peter Dube and Matthew Sibindi.
Dube, passed on at his Inyathi Centre home.
He was described by family spokesperson Elkanah Dube as an educationist and humble person.
“It is an honour to speak on behalf of the club, usually there are others who are more representative who speak. As a club, this is a sad moment. This is one person who made it into the Highlanders leadership because he made sacrifices. He is one person who, by the time he got into leadership, had demonstrated the passion they had not only for the club but for sport in general. He was a well-known figure in business as well,” said Elkanah Dube.
Highlanders board member Peter Dube, who spoke on behalf of the club, described the late Dube as a nice person, soft-spoken, and humble.
“He believed so much in education, and I am one person who is a product of his push to get educated. He was humble and never wanted to see anyone suffering. He would mix and mingle with everyone,” said Peter Dube.
The late Dube served as chairman of Highlanders from 1988 to 1989, a challenging period for the club. In 1989, the team struggled in the then Super League, but under the guidance of coach Roy Barreto, they managed to reach the Castle (FA) Cup final, where they were beaten 4-2 by Dynamos.
Dube engaged Barreto who went on to win two league championships with Highlanders in 1990 and 1993.
But he had a very colourful 1988, winning several pieces of silverware with only the Chibuku Trophy and league title going to Zimbabwe Saints with the rest won by Highlanders.
Dube’s leadership coincided with a period of significant change at the club, with several key players leaving, including Alexander Maseko, Simon Ncube, Tito Paketh, Madinda Ndlovu, and the late Willard Khumalo.
Despite these challenges, the team, comprising younger players like Thulani Gumede, Peter Ndlovu, Makwinji Soma-Phiri, Nkosana Sibanda, and Cleopas Dlodlo, managed to survive relegation. The body of the late Dube left Bulawayo yesterday for Inyathi.
A church service will be held at Inyathi Mission this morning, followed by burial at the institution’s Emhlangeni Cemetery.
Siphakeme .Mnindwa
