The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
ON February 21, 2014, the nation woke up to the sad news that former Warriors and Dynamos midfielder, Leo Kurauzvione had fallen on hard times and was failing to pay US$200 maintenance.
In October last year, former Orlando Pirates, Mpumalanga Black Aces and Ajax Cape Town forward, Tendai “Fire” Ndoro was reportedly in bad shape and training with Northern Region Division One side, Simba Bhora.
The ex-Warriors forward fell on hard times to the extent that he was given a cash injection by his close football associates, Marvelous Nakamba and Kudakwashe Mahachi, among others.
Only early this week, Cuthbert Malajila, former Dynamos and Highlanders player, was is reported to have hit hard times.
The once high earning soccer star has no club at the moment and is reported to be living from hand to mouth as he has been stranded at home for the past eight months and this has taken its toll on his finances.
This followed after his two-year contract with Black Leopards was terminated barely six months after it was signed.
As if fate had it, Malajila has been struggling to secure any deals with clubs in South Africa where he is holed.
At the peak of his career, Malajila played for Tunisian clubs, Al-Akhadah and Al-African where his transfer fees were reportedly over US$200 000. His transfer at Maritzburg United and Sundowns were also reportedly over US$400 000.
The list of players who have fallen on hard times after their playing days are over requires acres of space to exhaust.
This has happened over and over again irrespective of driving top-notch automobiles and living in mock-Georgian monstrosities during their playing days.
On numerous occasions, clubs that they have played for during their careers have needlessly been blamed for not taking good care of their own.
But since when did sports employers did take care of their former employees well after services rendered?
This is the fearful reality that Manica Diamonds midfielder, Timire Mamvura has put into consideration and decided to invest in a timber retail business, thanks to the lengthy Covid-19 layoff that forced many athletes to look for alternative sources of livelihood.
Many clubs, in different sporting genres, could not afford to meet their players’ welfare needs during the two-year hiatus when sporting activities were put on ice owing to the pandemic.
Mamvura said: “Covid-19 taught us something special. We really need to think seriously about the time we will not be able to roam in sports fields because of age or injury.
“Personally, I started thinking about it way back and when I came to Mutare the idea was strengthened by the advent of Covid-19. With or without football my family needs to eat. So I am happy to have started this business and it is rewarding.”
Mamvura, who won the most disciplined player award during Manica Diamonds’ previous end of season awards ceremony, uses the time before and after training sessions to market his merchandise.
He engaged a partner who takes care of the business when he is away on football related commitments.
“The other thing that made me invest in this business is that I have seen the kind of lives footballers lead after their playing days are over. By virtue of being a footballer, you become a celebrity and people want to be around you.
“It is not the same when your playing days are over, when you no longer have any income. Therefore, these thoughts also inspired me to start a family business,” said Mamvura.
The former Dynamos star said athletes should leverage on their popularity to start and market their businesses.
“It was easy for me to start and market my business because of the rapport I had created with several stakeholders of the game of football.
“I turned that into my social capital and it worked out well for me. I have a partner, Divine Maeka who also takes care of the business when I am away on football related duties,” said Mamvura.
But who Timire Mamvura?
Mamvura grew up in Budiriro in Harare where he attended Budiriro Two Primary and Mufakose High schools.
He later finished his secondary school studies at Mutondo High in Mt Darwin after his father had passed on and his mother had to move him to an affordable school.
He was soon back in Harare where he joined Dynamos Juniors in 2006.
The following year, he joined the once glamourous Glamour Boys and won his first top-flight league championship while still an Under-17 player.
He was part of the Dynamos squad that settled for the bridesmaid position in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
The soft spoken midfielder then played his part in the Calisto Pasuwa-coached trailblazing DeMbare squad that clinched the Castle Lager Premiership title during 2011 and 2012 seasons before he switched to Triple B.
“One of the highlights of my career came when I was at Triple B where I scored one of my best gaols, if not the best in my career. It was at Mandava Stadium.
“The goal became an advert on SuperSport TV channel since during those days the league was being covered by the pay per view channel,” said Mamvura.
In 2014, he joined Harare City and played for two seasons under Bigboy Mawiwi and Masimba Dinyero before moving to ZPC Kariba the following season.
Mamvura then joined the star-studded and ambitious Eastern Region Division One outfit, Manica Diamonds where he played 27 of the 30 matches of the season.
The utility player became one of Manica Diamonds founding players who took the club into the Premiership.
He is a happily married father of two – Wayne and Lee-anne.
