Mninginisi Gezani United dedicates its prize to the founder of the team

A statue honouring him was also unveiled on Saturday in Mninginisi. Macheke used to play for Mninginisi Mighty Bulls, a team that dominated football in his village in the seventies and eighties. When he retired from playing soccer, he continued his love for the sport and supported all efforts to rejuvenate it in his village.

“The old man had a passion for football and used to buy soccer balls for kids practicing in the streets just so he could watch them play,” explained his son, Beucas Macheke, a team manager at Gezani United FC. He later established his own club in 2005 and named it Gezani United. “The team played at various levels including the SABC and Castle leagues where many players were promoted to play in the professional leagues through his connections with club owners,” his son added.

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“No matter what event there was in the family, if it coincided with a football game he would not attend before the game was over. “ He was a die-hard fan, who played in the number 8 jersey during his time as a football star,” he said. Prior to his death in 2022, Macheke told his family that when he dies, football players should sing at his funeral. This was because as their full-time coach aspiring to win the Mayor’s Cup one day, he spent more time with them than with his family.

When Gezani United won the tourney in July this year, they dedicated the victory to him. They were the first team from the ward to qualify for the finals of a Mayor’s Cup. “Although he didn’t win it when he was still alive, his heart was always in the tournament hence we decided to honour him with the Mayor’s Cup medals and his favourite jersey during the unveiling on Saturday,” continued his son. According to him, the team intends to continue his legacy by ensuring the promotion of players to professional leagues.