HARARE – CAPS United legend Joe Mugabe has died aged 52.
The former midfield maestro died in Reading, England, on Saturday after battling cancer, according to friends.
It has been a particularly dark few weeks for CAPS United fans following the recent death of Steve Kwashi, who was the coach and Mugabe captain as United won their first top flight league title in 1996.
CAPS United president Farai Jere said: “Joe Mugabe is an undisputed club legend. He has a very enormous history with the club and has seen it all after graduating from the juniors all the way to be captain of the senior team.
“Mugabe came from the juniors and started off with cameo roles in the senior team as a young boy from Churchill High School.
“In 1996, he was captain when we won the league title which changed the whole narrative about this team being winners. We used to specialise in being ‘Cup Kings’. So this was the first league title since Independence and from then on CAPS United have gone on to win more league titles.
“When he (Mugabe) was appointed captain, he managed to bring order to the star-studded CAPS United changing room. It’s not an easy thing to do anywhere in the world but he managed that with ease.
“He had a big control in a changing room that had star players like the late Cheche Billiat, Alois Bunjira, Stewart Murisa, Farai Mbidzo, Mpumelelo Dzowa, Frank Nyamukuta, Morgan Nkhatazo, Charles Yohane, Edelbert Dinha and Dumisani Mpofu.
“He managed to bridge the gap between the generations after playing with the 1980s group that had the likes of Joel Shambo and Shacky Tauro with the one that had the likes of Bunjira, Lloyd Chitembwe and others.
“He had sound leadership qualities and this helped coach Steve Kwashi achieve the success in 1996. Many people knew him as ‘Kode’ but we used to call him ‘Mr CAPS United’. He was a leader on and off the pitch.”
At the time of his death, Mugabe was still involved in football development as chairman of the CAPS United Legends UK, a registered community organisation that is assisting in the growth of junior football in Zimbabwe.
He had partnered other former CAPS United players that includes Frank Nyamukuta, Timothy Chirozvani, Cannisius Tongesai, Liberty Masunda, Tichaona Nyenda, Leonard Chirozvani, Charles Chikeya and United States-based Mpumelelo Dzowa. They have donated football kits to a number of academies in Zimbabwe in the last few years.
Mugabe is survived by his wife, Jennifer and children Irene, Ashley and Alvin.
