Ngoni Dapira

THE late Mutare born and bred Zimbabwean international football sensation, Blessing ‘Yogo Yogo’ Makunike uptodate remains in the hearts of many of his followers as he was fondly remembered on Wednesday, marking 15-years now since his untimely passing along with two CAPS United teammates and two fans.

The late Makunike, Gary Mashoko and Shingirai Arlon perished in a horrific car crash on March 13, 2004 when they were coming from a league match against Njube Sundowns played in Bulawayo. They opted to return to Harare in a supporter’s vehicle but tragically the car crashed into a pillar and burst into flames along the Harare-Bulawayo road on a bridge near Norton. The two supporters who were in car also died on the spot.

The B. Makunike Yogo Yogo Drive road sign post.

At the time of the accident, the late three were at the peak of their careers but 15-years after his death, Makunike remains the darling of Manicaland’s hall of fame in the football circles. Makunike who also carved his own history as the first famed person from Manicaland in the post independence (1980) era, who is not a politician or liberation war hero, to have a street named after him, was on Wednesday remembered by fans and local footballers who posted on social media commemorating his 15th anniversary since his death.

A message on the Dangamvura United FC Facebook page read, “Gone but not forgotten. Today marks 15th anniversary of Dangamvura Mutare Legend and Caps United FC player Blessing Yogo Yogo Makunike.” Comments on the post spoke glowingly about the late Warriors (Zimbabwe senior national team) player and CAPS United star that passed on in his prime at the age of 27. Some fans on the post called him Zimbabwe’s Pele in his own right, as they remembered the Dangamvura born and bred soccer star that grew up in Area P, in the high density suburb.

Belgium based former CAPS United player Cephas Chimedza also posted something on his Facebook page. “It’s now 15 years but I still remember that fateful day like yesterday, how we have recovered mentally from such a horrific scene I don’t know. RIP Yogo, Gary and Shingi. Forever in our hearts,” wrote Chimedza on his Facebook page.

Even at his former high school Mutare Boys’ High where he horned his football skills, from 1990 to 1993 (from Form One to Four), his sporting achievements are still to be paralleled to-date.

The late Blessing Makunike wearing his CAPS United jersey.

To bear out this, in an interview last year with Eastern TimesZim, Mutare Boys’ High alumni Gabriel Marewangepo who was one of his teammates in the soccer team of 1993 that hosted the Coca-Cola Schools national finals, said he would never forget how Makunike’s brilliance on the field made him appear as a star striker. He said everyone always said he would become something special of which he did, but sadly Yogo Yogo died at his prime.

“When he was in Form one in 1990, Makunike became captain of the Under-16 team and by the time he was in Form two, Nelson Bandura who was our player coach for the first team would use him sparingly in the first team because of his age. But Makunike, the next year in Form three went on to become a regular in the first team.  He made me look like a star striker because of his goal assists. I would rate him (high) up there with the likes of Ronald Sibanda then…In 1993 he was part of the Coca Cola Schools team that hosted the national games and he was a phenomenal player to play with,” said Marewangepo.

When he was in Form two, Makunike was already playing for ZUPCO FC and moved on to play for Kadoma Wild Cats then ultimately CAPS United after completing his Ordinary Level. Earlier in 2004 before his tragic accident he had reportedly underwent trials for the English Premier League side Arsenal as he was pursuing professional contracts in clubs in the premier leagues in the United Kingdom and in Europe.

Makunike’s funeral is known for its historic convoy of cars which to-date is yet to be surpassed by funerals of many local socialites that have passed on. A street in Dangamvura where he grew up has since been named in his honour. Named ‘B. Makunike Yogo Yogo Drive’, as an epitome of his immensity to the province as an elite sportsman that did not only Manicaland proud but the nation as well. The B. Makunike Yogo Yogo Drive project which is being undertaken by Mutare City Council includes upgrading  2.5 kilometres from earth road to tar road, 3.8 kilometres of Jeff Road and 1.5km of Magamba Drive.

Makunike started his career in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League at CAPS United in 1997, where he played until the end of the 2002 season. Together with his teammate, Leonard Tsipa, they left in 2002 and spent half a season in 2003 with Serbian club FK Javor. However, he and Tsipa came back to CAPS United in the next summer, playing in the second semester of the 2003 Zimbabwean football season.

Between 1998 to 2001 he played eight matches for the Warriors, where his nickname Yogo Yogo became a household name and years later paved way for others that came from Manicaland, the likes of Webster Kurwaisimba, Blessing Gumiso, Willard Katsande, Washington Arubi to mention a few.