The Sunday News
FORMER Zimbabwe Saints, AmaZulu, Dynamos and Warriors’ star midfielder Ronald “Gidiza” Sibanda has returned home, safe and sound after reports that he was missing for almost a week.
Gidiza had been missing since last Sunday, when he left his family home in New Lobengula for Barbourfields Stadium saying he was going to watch the Highlanders and How Mine encounter. He told Sunday News yesterday that he actually didn’t make it to the Highlanders and How Mine derby, as he had urgent matters to attend to.
“I was sorting out issues to do with my life. This whole thing was blown out of proportion. As you can see I am alive and well. I don’t know why you people (media) did that,” he said.
Gidiza said he was also celebrating his 40th birthday last Monday and had taken some time out to pamper himself.
“Besides this whole hullaballoo, it was my birthday on Monday and I had taken some time out to spoil myself. I’m still surprised at how this whole thing has been reported. I was in touch with my family this whole time. You can even check with Econet,” said Gidiza yesterday afternoon on his way to a soccer match in New Lobengula.
According to our sister paper Chronicle, Gidiza and his friend Mphathisi Ndlovu, who he was with, went AWOL last Sunday.
Gidiza’s mother Sithokozile Sibanda told the media that the lanky former midfielder and Ndlovu’s mobile phones were not reachable last Tuesday evening. Gidiza, however, declined to reveal where he had been and preferred to laugh the matter off as petty.
“I’m here now, that’s what matters; if I was dead you obviously would have been the first to know. Now if you could be kind enough to leave me to go about my business,” he said.
Twitter@peterkmatika
