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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter

ZIFA have approached the Government requesting hero status for departed former Dynamos and national team player and coach David “Yogi” Mandigora who died in Harare at the weekend.

The football legend passed away on Saturday morning aged 64 years.

He had a long battle with peripheral vascular disease – a circulatory condition which narrows blood vessels and reducing blood flow to the limbs.

ZIFA spokesperson, Xolisani Gwesela, said they have since written to the Spots Commission, to approach the Government on their behalf, with their request to have the former national team player and assistant coach declared a national hero in honour of his contributions to the development of the game in Zimbabwe.

“The Zimbabwe Football Association has written to the Sports and Recreation Commission requesting Government to confer hero status on the late football legend David ’Yogi’ Mandigora.

“Mandigora had a huge impact on the face of local football, from the colonial days when the sport was used to challenge colonial rule. It was fitting that he was crowned as the Soccer Star of the Year in 1980 when the country attained its Independence.

“Yogi equally became a success story as a coach, leading his boyhood club Dynamos to league glory in 2007 and the Africa Champions League semi-finals in 2008. He also played for the national team on various occasions and put the country on the world football map.

“Mandigora’s transition from a devoted player into a successful coach epitomises the life story of a true hero for many young footballers and the generality of Zimbabweans.

“David served the sporting fraternity and the nation at large with distinction and it is our humble request that he be bestowed with the greatest honour of being declared a national hero,” said Gwesela.

Mandigora had a successful career with Dynamos winning seven league titles as a player. He was crowned the first Soccer Star at Independence in 1980.

He also won a league title with Dynamos as coach in 2007. However, he had one of his legs amputated in 2017 after he was diagnosed with the disease. He was due to lose the other leg at the recommendations of the physicians who had been treating him.