BULAWAYO – The body of the late Dream Team and Highlanders football legend, Rahman Gumbo, arrived in Zimbabwe on Wednesday, marking a sombre moment for the country’s football community. Gumbo, who passed away at the age of 59 in Botswana, was received amidst emotional scenes by family, friends, and admirers at the Plumtree border post.
Family members, including Gumbo’s widow Virginia and his brothers, were present to receive his remains. The scene at the border post was a poignant reminder of Gumbo’s significant contribution to Zimbabwean football. Rahman Gumbo was a renowned figure in Zimbabwean football, both as a player and coach. He was a central figure in the iconic Dream Team, led by the late German coach Reinhard Fabisch, and played a pivotal role in establishing Highlanders FC as a dominant force in Zimbabwe’s domestic football arena.
The Zimbabwean government has recognized Gumbo’s contributions by providing a state-assisted funeral. His burial is scheduled for Saturday in Bulawayo, his home city, where he is expected to be laid to rest with honors befitting a national sports hero. The arrival of Gumbo’s body has brought forth a wave of tributes from across the football fraternity, reflecting on his remarkable career and the lasting impact he made on the sport in Zimbabwe.
Photographs and scenes from the arrival of Gumbo’s body show the profound respect and deep sorrow felt by those who gathered to pay their last respects. These images capture a nation in mourning, united in its grief over the loss of a beloved sports figure. Rahman Gumbo’s death is not just a loss to his family and friends but to the entire nation that admired him for his skills on the field and his leadership off it. As Zimbabwe prepares to bid farewell to this football legend, his legacy in the nation’s sporting history remains indelible.
