By Trevor Makonyonga
Kariba based coach, Oliver “Olaya” Mataba has passed on.
He was 42.
Speaking to Bustop TV News, His uncle, Godfrey Mhoshiwa confirmed the death of the coach.
“He fell sick a week or so ago. Today (Tuesday) is when he passed on. He took COVID 19 tests but results had not yet been revealed.
We are in pain,” he said.
Former Black Aces goalkeeper and former Lake Harvest goalies’ coach, Paddington “Tafie” Tafireyi gave this reporter a brief background of the coach.
“Coach Olaya; I came to know about him in 2005 at Lake Crocodile FC as a coach in Division 2. He was a humble guy who was willing to learn. He even continued pursuing coaching with gaining experience working under different coaches such as Jostein Mathuthu, Paul Chimalizeni, Sunday Chidzambwa, Saul Chaminuka, Godfrey Tamirepi and Clifton Kadurira. He had been appointed ZPC Kariba head coach numerous times in Division 1. His major success came in 2013 when ZPC Kariba was promoted to PSL whilst working under Jostein Mathuthu as his assistant as well as the 2014 PSL season when Zpc Kariba almost took the title in their maiden season. They finished second with coach Chaminuka and Godfrey Tamirepi at the helm and regarded as the best season for ZPC Kariba. In 2018 he led Kariba Waves gain promotion into NRSL after winning the Mashwest Division 2 title,” described Tafireyi.
Causes of his death were not yet established by the time of publishing.
Olaya becomes the second former ZPC Kariba coach to depart after Partson Ndabambi who died aged 41 in October 2019.
