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YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE . . . CAPS United team manager Shakespeare Chinogwenya (left) leads pallbearers as they carry the casket bearing the body of former Green Machine coach Gishon Ntini in Harare yesterday

Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER Premier Soccer League boss Twine Phiri has urged coaches to insert clauses in their contracts, especially when they take on posts in foreign lands, so that they are protected when the going gets tough.

Speaking on the sidelines of a church service for Gishon Ntini, which was held at a Nyaradzo Funeral Parlour in the Willowvale Industrial Area of Harare yesterday, before his burial in Mhondoro Ngezi, Phiri said coaches should be safeguarded in their line of duty.

This follows reports that Ntini, who died on Sunday evening at Karanda Mission Hospital, was reportedly dumped at Plumtree Border Post by officials of his Botswana club, Santos, after he had been taken ill in the neighbouring country.

An ailing Ntini, who had been admitted for two weeks in a Botswana hospital, is said to have struggled to cope with the journey home.

He was on Sunday rushed to Karanda Mission Hospital where he was diagnosed of cancer before his death on the same day.

Phiri, who was Ntini’s first boss when he was the juniors’ coach at CAPS United in 2001, saved the situation when he organised with Nyaradzo to give the former coach a decent burial.

“Yesterday when I heard the news I rushed to his place and they were about to go to Mhondoro Ngezi, I felt sad and I had to rush to Nyaradzo to speak to my colleagues so that he could have a decent burial today.

“Before I did that I had to speak to the family and they allowed me to participate.

“We have lost a brave character in football, a strong guy and to the coaches they must keep on working hard so that we get another Gizha,” said Phiri.

Players who played under Ntini said they have lost a good mentor.

Former CAPS United skipper Limited Chikafa could not hide his tears.

“To me he was not a coach, but more like a brother. He came to CAPS United as a nobody and rose through the ranks when Charles (Mhlauri) took him as his assistant and I was the captain.

“He brought me to Triangle and we worked together and had a personal relationship and would go to his rural area in Mhondoro.

“He was just a nice person full of humour and life. I have lost someone close to me and even when he was in Botswana we would talk three times a week,” said Chikafa.

Former Triangle forward Micheck Mburayi also wept openly during the entire church service.

“He was like a brother to me,” said Mburayi.

Former Shootings Stars chairman Lewis Matindife said Ntini was a gentleman.

“We worked with Gizha for about four years and worked very well. We had a new project and ended fourth in the Premiership.

“He was a good guy and would understand our financial challenges and would just motivate the players by visiting them at their homes,” said Matindife.

CAPS United board members Modercai Sachikonye and Abraham Kawadza, team manager Shakespeare Chinogwenya and coach David George were some of football personalities at the church service.