The Sunday News
Lovemore Dube, Sports Correspondent
FORMER Mashonaland United and Rhodesia national team defender Elisha Moyo Ruzvidzo passed on in Mhondoro last Sunday.
He was 80. Ruzvidzo was buried at his rural home in Mhondoro last Tuesday. His eldest son, Garikai Rwodzi, a member of the 1988 championship winning Zimbabwe Saints side, confirmed that his father had died at St Michael’s Hospital in Mhondoro-Ngezi on Sunday morning last week. He said the former Rhodesia defence stalwart had not been well for a while until he succumbed to an undisclosed ailment.
Gibson Homela
“He was a loving father. We enjoyed our time with him and we learnt so much about life from him. He will be missed by his children and family. All four of his sons played football because of his influence, for someone who played for the national team and great Mashonaland United later to be called Zimbabwe saints, it was only natural that we followed suit,” said Garikai.
His younger brother, Zenzo played for Zimbabwe Saints juniors and Eagles, while the most decorated was Innocent who starred at left back for Zimbabwe Saints and the national teams with the youngest
Lucky having played under Benjamin Moyo at Highlanders juniors before moving to ZPC Hwange in the Zifa Southern Region Division One League.
Ruzvidzo was born in Mhondoro and attended Lozikeyi Primary School in Nguboyenja where he played alongside legends Mackenzie Sibanda and Edward Dzowa both of whom were key members of Highlanders in the 1960s. He joined Mashonaland United in the late 1950s and rose to be among the best players in Zimbabwe. He was so good that in 1964 he was part of the Rhodesia team that played against Zambia in that country’s Independence Celebrations. Ruzvidzo was part of the national team that missed playing at the 1970 World Cup finals by a whisker after a narrow loss to Australia in Maputo in 1969 in the final qualifier replayed twice after as many stalemates. Another legend Gibson Homela also spoke highly of Ruzvidzo.
“He was already a senior player when I arrived at Saints in 1963. He helped us settle at Saints, he was a good player who gave sterling service to the club and the game,” said Homela.
Ruzvidzo passed on at a time when things are not well at Saints, with the club having been relegated from Division One last season, and having their sponsorship deal with Idachi Disability Services not running its course with the club accusing the sponsor of not fulfilling all contractual obligations.
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