Sakunda Holdings, Tagwirei change Zim football

Philemon Jambaya

Zim Now Editor

Like him or hate him, businessman Kuda Tagwirei has been to football what an impact player is to a team.

The Sakunda Holdings boss has been a game changer in Zimbabwean football, with his passion for the game that began when he was a raw teenager in school driving him to make a difference in the country’s biggest sport.

From clubs, individuals, the national teams and now the country’s infrastructure, the man has also extended his helping hand to other sporting disciplines like the national Under-20 rugby – the Junior Sables.

Yet Tagwirei has quietly gone about his support for sport, letting his work do the talking.

Through the Sakunda/BGF (foundation) his contribution to nation building has also been beyond just sports with the Arundel hospital playing a key role in the health sector while the company has also donated Agricultural equipment to tertiary institutions and schools across the country as a way of promoting entrepreneurship.

But somehow, it is through the people’s sport football that Sakunda’s name has often been on many a lips.

For former Zimbabwe captain and the country’s first post-Independence export player - Moses Chunga - September 14, 2021, started off as one of those ordinary Tuesdays.

But when the day ended, the football legend was a proud owner of a UDS$90 000 house.

The turnaround in Chunga’s fortunes was announced by Kuda Tagwirei, on a massive and yet memorable night that breathed life into the Zimbabwe’s two biggest football institutions – Dynamos and Highlanders.

Tagwirei, through Sakunda Holdings, unveiled an historic three-year sponsorship deal for DeMbare and Bosso, worth a combined US$5.3 million.

And the man used the opportunity of the glittering reception to reveal the inspiration behind his decision to secure houses for local football’s legends, Madinda Ndlovu, the late George Shaya, Chunga and Mabika.

“Growing up I used to admire mukoma Moses’ (Chunga’s)talent and skills,” Tagwirei told the gathering.

The business tycoon also unveiled a package that saw a US$120 000 being given to the late Shaya’s wife and another US$90 000 house for Warriors and Bosso legend Madinda Ndlovu.

The announcement torched emotions with Ndlovu struggling to hold back tears of joy.

Never had a group of local footballers been rewarded for dazzling our soccer fields with such a life-time gift like a house.

However, what was also important was that Tagwirei did not forget the current generation of players as his involvement was timely at a time when Dynamos and Highlanders were on the brink, struggling for sponsorship and reeling from the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic which had forced health authorities across the globe to bar football fans from stadiums.

Yet Dynamos and Highlanders had until Tagwirei’s arrival on the scene, had been relying on the revenue they generate from the turnstiles to pay their players.

Until then Bosso and DeMbare had been pushed into the shade even on the transfer market with mineral-backed clubs FC Platinum, Ngezi Platinum Stars and Manica Diamonds dominated.

It was a legacy move.

In 2022, Sakunda Holdings bankrolled a tour of Europe by officials from Highlanders and Dynamos.

And in October of that year, a four-man delegation from Highlanders embarked on a 10-day tour of Europe aimed at equipping them with the required expertise of running a modern-day football club.

Then Bosso chairman Johnfat Sibanda, secretary-general Morgan Dube, board chairman Luke Mkandla and treasurer Busani Mthombeni even had the privilege to watch the UEFA Champions League tie between Paris Saint Germain and Benfica at the Parc Dec Princes in the French capital.

Former Highlanders chief executive officer, Ronald Moyo, was also sent to Orlando Pirates in South Africa, on a familiarisation stint.

In March 2023, Sakunda Holdings went a gear up.

They signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Harare City Council, in a pact that would have seen Sakunda Holdings undertake a major facelift of Rufaro Stadium and turn into a world class facility.

Sakunda Holdings pledged to invest millions of dollars into the project and the development was greeted with applause from football stakeholders.

Sadly, the deal collapsed after Harare City reneged on the MOU and instead threw away a genuine football deal and politicised the agreement.

A great chance for the municipality to partner with one of its key corporate residents had been lost.

Sakunda wrote to Harare City Council: “Following our numerous unsuccessful requests to present to your office our feasibility study report and proposed designs for the refurbishment of Rufaro Stadium, we write to express our gravest misgivings on the unfortunate events and communications emanating from your office.”

The company then moved away from the Rufaro deal, but did not let the frustration hound them away from football.

They shifted their focus to an even bigger cause, the National Sports Stadium refurbishment.

The 60 000-seater stadium, was condemned by inspectors from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and suspended from hosting international matches.

In July 2023, Sakunda Holdings partnered government to speed up renovations of the giant facility.

A delegation comprising officials from the Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Local Government, a legal practitioner and engineers was sent to Europe on a benchmarking exercise.

A year later, Sakunda Holdings procured 55 000 bucket seats from a Chinese company called Avant Sports.

For the doubting Thomases, the questions they had were put to bed on Friday November 29 when the first batch of the 55 000 bucket seats, which are central to renovations at the facility were unveiled at the National Sports Stadium.

Thanks to Tagwirei, Zimbabwean football now has renewed hopes again that the game will be back home at the National Sports Stadium in 2025.