Fungai Muderere
RICHO or Rykard was special!
As a young lad whether in Zimbabwe Saints colours or Milton High School colours, he would reportedly do things on the field that were years ahead of his time. A consummate gentleman, Richo was a beast in the middle of the park: always on the move, marking, passing and finding little pockets of space that would allow him that half chance to punt the ball out wide.
He was a natural competitor whose calm demeanor off the field often gave opponents the wrong impression that he was weak, his small stature reinforcing this misconception. The moment the man in black blew the whistle signaling the start of an encounter, Highlanders’ Richard Choruma was like a werewolf during a full moon: energetic, dangerous and in search of a kill!
A deep dig into our library archives points to the fact that this quietness about him, that seemed to go to sleep on the field, once saved him from a straight red card in what was a very brutal and competitive encounter against Charles Mhlauri’s Caps United, soon after the turn of the new millennium.
After a particularly brutal challenge on Ashley Rambanepasi with the score delicately poised at 3-2 in favour of Bosso, the referee got so confused that instead of expelling the baby faced Richo, he showed the red card to the late Adam “Adamski” Ndlovu instead and the expulsion stood.
The two sides would eventually play out a 3-3 draw on that Sunday afternoon.
On and off the field, Richo was much loved, respectful always, but he remained a fierce and determined player no one wanted to play against.
His death brings to a close three generations of a very combative football family: the two Chauya Chikwata legends Nhamo Chizunza (uncle) and Dumisani Dube (older brother).
The remains of Choruma, a midfield ace par excellence who had three championship medals with Bosso, will be interred at Bulawayo’s Lady Stanley Cemetery on Saturday.
He breathed his last on December 29 in South Africa after a short illness.
He was 42.
Choruma’s body will arrive at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport on Friday at 12PM then there will be a memorial service the same day at McDonald Hall from 1PM to 4PM.
The church service will be held on Saturday at St Patrick’s Church then the hearse will proceed via Barbourfields Stadium to his final resting place.
Alas Go Well Midfield General, Till We Meet the Express Again!
