Tributes pour in for football legend Norman Maroto...

Tributes pour in for football legend Norman Maroto

Oscar J Jeke

Colleagues and fans of former Dynamos FC legend, Norman Maroto, have started pouring in their tributes following the news of the former striker’s passing early Friday morning at a local hospital.

Friends of the footballer revealed that Maroto had been admitted to Harare Hospital after experiencing flu-like symptoms following his attendance at a funeral over the weekend.

The striker passed on at the urge of 40, while serving as the communications officer for the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe.

The Footballers Union of Zimbabwe broke the news in a statement, expressing their grief over the passing of the footballer.

“Footballers Union of Zimbabwe would like to notify friends and all football stakeholders on the untimely passing of our Communications Officer, Norman Maroto,” reads the statement.

Former Dynamos skipper, Murape Murape also conveyed his condolences, while expressing shock over the news.

“I am lost for words. Warwadzisa Top Striker. Go well my brother. Rest in peace Normara,” Murape wrote.

Posting on Facebook, Cephas Chimedza, “TRIBUTE TO A LEGEND.

"It was in 1996 when we became friends. I was in grade 6 and he was in grade 7. We had played against each other in the U13s, i was at Support Unit and he was at Dynamos.

“I was selected to be part of the uniformed schools in the Harare region qualifiers. Our teacher/coach on the day of the tournament came excited telling us we will win the tournament because he has a special surprise for us. As kids we thought a new kit because that was always something motivational. It turned out he was bringing Norman Maroto to be part of team.

"We won the tournament with Norman scoring for fun, and we got a chance to represent Harare, a few weeks later.

“Norman did not come for the 1st day of the tournament and missed out on the vetting process, we were knocked out in the semis and had to play the 3rd/4th place match the next day. Our chief striker arrived and was in the team. 7 mins in he had scored a brace ,one official found it odd to see a team with such a prolific striker not playing in the final, he asked for the match to be stopped and have Norman checked to see if he had the nail polish that was used during vetting the previous day and unfortunately he didn't so he was ejected from the match but we kept our goals but one man down.

“Fast forward to 2001, Norman was scoring for fun for the reserves. He got his chance in the 1st team and on his debut scored a brace vs Circle United as an 18-year-old. He never looked back; he became a regular player.

After that match i also got into the team and i owe it to Normans performance vs Circle, he opened the doors for me, the coach, the teammates and the fans got excited to now see what the next young boy would do, Norman made everyone believe in us.

“In our Churchill/Dynamos WhatsApp group for every birthday Norman would post a photo with the birthday boy.

"My friend I'm still waiting for your call so that you can tell me that all the messages that i have been receiving are not true. July11 is your birthday, how will we celebrate, I'm heartbroken. REST WELL MUDHARA CHIMBO," Chimedza wrote.

“Rest in peace Norman Maroto, you were deadly in front of goal, but a gentleman of the highest order of it, Zorora murugare mwana wanai,” wrote an emotional Bryan Muyengwa on Facebook.

Mourners are gathered at 2360 Tynwald South, to pay their last respects.