Bulawayo Bureau
FORMER Zimbabwe international midfielder Nqobizitha Maenzanise, who played for Highlanders and Amazulu, has died. Maenzanise, undoubtedly one of the best football talents to emerge in Zimbabwe, was 44 and died on Sunday evening at about 10:30pm at Mpilo Hospital.

His sister, Nonsizi Ndlovu, confirmed yesterday that Maenzanise died after losing a two-week battle with diabetes and tuberculosis.
She said the former Warriors star collapsed at work.

“He was working at Baptist Church. He had been saved and baptised. He collapsed at work and was rushed to hospital where he spent exactly two weeks.

“It was discovered that he had stroked on the left hand side and was diabetic. They later found out that he was suffering from tuberculosis,” said Ndlovu.

He is survived by a daughter.
A gem in his days, Maenzanise however, did not reach expected heights of the promise he showed while he was a teenager at Highlanders and Merlin Husky or as a midfielder for Mzilikazi Primary School and St Columbas High School.

He was among the stand-out players in a class of Highlanders juniors who included Ronnie Jowa, Nkululeko Dlodlo, the late Adam Ndlovu, Ernest Ncube, the late Makheyi Nyathi, the late Thulani Nxumalo, Thulani Gumede, the late Henry Nyandoro, Abraham Mbambo, the late Nhlanhla Sithole, Dampion Ngwenya, Sydney Zimunya, Mbonisi Mthombeni, Sijabuliso Ndiweni and Vusa Nkomazana who played in the Aberdeeen Festival in 1987.

At the festival he was adjudged Player of the Tournament, top goal-scorer and the second most skilful.
Maenzanise earned his first cap at the age of 28 against Angola in Luanda coming in for Lloyd Chitembwe and, at one stage, captained the Warriors.

For a young player who battled for a starting place in the 1985-1989 Highlanders team that had the late Titus Majola, Willard Khumalo, Tito Paketh, the late David Phiri, Thoko Sithole, the late Tutani Moyo and the late Ronnie Jowa, his talents should have taken him places.

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