Artificial leg gets Brian Njobvu back on his feet

Fungai Muderere
A WELL-wisher based in South Africa who has decided to remain anonymous and United Kingdom-based Gugulethu Msimanga, will always remain close to the heart of Hwange football legend Brian Njobvu after they remembered that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Their generosity now reflects on grateful Njobvu after they ensured that the Hwange football hero, who has been struggling to make ends meet, got a new artificial leg at a cost of US$310, a figure too high for an ordinary Zimbabwean.

This was the third time that Njobvu was changing the artificial leg, 19 years after falling victim to a freak accident that left him with an amputated leg.

Brian Njobvu

On 15 September 2001, while trying to stop a fight between Hwange and Victoria Falls football fans, Njobvu’s leg was run over by the Hwange FC team bus.

He was amputated two years later and has served as club assistant coach to several coaches in the last 15 years.

“It has been a challenging experience but I’m happy to say well wishers came to my rescue. I spent an indifferent four months, figuring around on what I was supposed to do to replace the worn-out artificial leg. Courtesy of one of my friends based in South Africa who decided to remain unidentified and United Kingdom-based Gugulethu Msimanga, I’m back on ‘my feet’,” said a beholden for Chipangano sturdy defender.

He added: “I had kept improvising to move from one place to another. As I’m not employed, I am also indebted to Hwange Football Club for seeing the need to assist me here and there. I also look forward to bouncing back to the club’s coaching structures, the hope being I will be fitted into the junior technical teams.”

His wife Priscillar Munkuli said: “As a family we are thankful to this silent but fruitful initiative. The compassion that was shown towards my husband should always serve as an inspiration to all of us. We all know how stressful it can be for people who find themselves in need, little words and actions of the well-wishers will go a long way to helping us keep our family dignity.”

Njobvu last sat on the technical bench as an assistant coach at Hwange FC before he was axed by the club executive as the team sank deeper into the relegation zone of the Premier Soccer League.

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