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GONE TOO SOON . . . The late Anesu Mangongo (with black cap) with his brother Martin

Ray Bande Mutare Bureau
INACTIVITY in the Intercity Rugby League during the weekend gave high-riding Mutare Sports Club ample time to mourn the late scrum half Anesu Mangongo.

Mangongo breathed his last upon arriving from Namibia last week the same week that Mutare Sports Club’s league encounter against Old Miltonians at home was abruptly called off, rendering the Shumbas inactive for the weekend.

MSC players and coaches were forced to shift their focus from their impressive performance so far in the league and take time to pay their last respects to their deceased player. The 23-year-old talented scrum half, who succumbed to an intestines related ailment, has since been laid to rest at Yeovil Cemetery in Mutare. The former Hillcrest College boy was pursuing a tourism degree at a university in Namibia at the time of his death.

His coach Brandon Chombo said none will ever play the role that Anesu played in the development of rugby in Mutare.

“It is sad that we have lost such a talented, versatile young man who was dedicated to the success of Mutare Sports Club and rugby in Mutare in general. He played his part in developing the game he dearly loved and played. His discipline and vision will be sorely missed by all at Mutare Sports Club,” he said.

In his epitaph, Mangongo’s father, Gibson wrote: “We laid to rest a gallant soldier, pacifist, sportsman, a prayer warrior, Anesu Mangongo.

He was a young visionary who lived a very short purposeful life. His funeral joined all people from all walks of life. He befitted a three gun salute.

“There must be a very big heavenly part of angels celebrating his coming home. If all our young men and women were as humble as he was, this earth would have been heaven. May his dear soul rest in eternal peace.”

Meanwhile, MSC match against Old Miltonians was cancelled late last week amid unconfirmed reports that the eastern border city side had played more matches than most of their counterparts in the league.