Obituary: Mathew Mbundire ‘preferred the authentic pulse of the people’
- enockmuchinjo
- May 7
- 3 min read
BY CRISPEN MHIKE
HARARE – Mathew Mbundire, who passed away suddenly in Harare on Tuesday just seven days shy of his 60th birthday, had a career that stood firmly as testament to his passion for developing young people.
Mukoma Mathew began his journey as the Sports Director at St John’s Preparatory School in Harare, where he shaped the character of countless young athletes across generations.
His natural leadership skills and dedication eventually led him to the role of Senior Master, serving as a pillar of strength to staff and pupils alike.
Whether it was the roar of a rugby scrum, the strategic patience of cricket, the finesse of tennis, or the high-stakes energy of football, Mukoma Mathew was an avid fan of it all.
He didn't just understand the rules of the game – he understood the spirit of the athlete.
To know Mukoma Mathew was to know the sound of laughter.
Wherever he stood to watch a match, a crowd inevitably gathered. He possessed a rare magnetism, fueled by a sharp wit and a humble soul that made everyone feel seen and heard.
Nowhere was his character more evident than at Rufaro Stadium.
A die-hard Dynamos FC supporter, Mathew was a man who could easily have occupied the comfort of the VIP stands at Rufaro.
Instead, he chose to stand in "Vietnam"—among the most passionate, vocal, and everyday fans of the Glamour Boys.
He preferred the authentic pulse of the people over the prestige of a cushioned seat, proving time and again that he was, above all else, a man of the people.
I also happen to be a huge Dynamos fan.
Every time we bumped into each other at Rufaro before a DeMbare game, after warm greetings and the kind of intimate conversation you can only have with genuine folks like Mukoma Mathew, he would tease me, with his usual playful banter: “Iwewe chienda kwenyu uko ku VIP, isusu tiri weku Vietnam (you now go to your VIP section, us guys belong to the Vietnam stand).”
And he’ll let out his customary and contagious laughter that seemed to come from the depths of his heart.
Mathew Vimbai Chaucer Mbundire – affectionately nicknamed Professor in recognition of his intellect, consummate leadership and natural ability to impart knowledge – was born on 12 May 1967.
He was raised in Marondera, his beloved hometown, attending the local Marondera High School in the early 1980s during the school’s heydays when some of Zimbabwe’s finest sportspeople and other prominent figures were produced there.
Later on, he would obtain a Master’s Degree in Physical Culture (Education & Sports) and Sports Administration at the University of Havana in Cuba.
Mathew’s deep knowledge of a variety of sporting disciplines was nurtured back at Marondera High, which was in those days a multi-racial government boarding and day school that encouraged students to take part in as much codes as possible until they eventually found their niche.
In school he was himself an all-round sportsman of repute, particularly excelling in athletics and breaking records in the 400m race.
To me, Mathew was like a big brother and a mentor.
My last encounter with him was only last week when we were watching rugby at the St John’s College Mukuru Derby Day Festival. He asked me to help close the zip of his track jacket. How symbolic, closing our encounter on this earth before he would leave us days later.
Mukoma Mathew’s departure leaves a void in the rudimentary settings of the "Vietnam" terraces of Rufaro, the posh corridors of upmarket St John’s, as well as in the hearts of sports lovers across the country. We find comfort in the memory of his humour and the example of his humility.
He taught us that true greatness is not found in titles or VIP sections, but in the joy we bring to others and the passion we pour into the things we love.
*Crispen Mhike is an educationist, rugby coach, sports enthusiast and Dynamos fan. He is currently the Headmaster of Heritage School in Borrowdale Brooke, Harare.
Comments