Friday, March 29, 2024

Boniface Simutowe is dead

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Former Zambian footballer Boniface Simutowe during the FAZ-KCM awards in Lusaka
Former Zambian footballer Boniface Simutowe during the FAZ-KCM awards in Lusaka

Ex-Zambia coach and midfielder Boniface Simutowe has died at the age of 65.

His younger brother Levy Simutowe said “Chitapo Chimo” died on Tuesday morning at Levy Mwanawasa General Hospital in Lusaka after an illness.

“It is true, he died in the early hours of Tuesday morning. He has been in and out of hospital because of illness,” Levy said.

Simutowe won a silver medal with the famous 1974 Zambia squad at that year’s Africa Cup in Egypt.

He played for Roan United, Broken Hill Warriors now Kabwe Warriors and Red Arrows between 1966 and 1979.

Simutowe coached Kabwe Warriors, Red Arrows and Profound Warriors now called Napsa Stars.

His long involvement with the national team began in 1982 when he was named assistant to coach Brightwell Banda.

Simutowe was made Zambia caretaker coach in 1992 following the resignation of his boss Samuel”Zoom”Ndhlovu.

Meanwhile, Simutowe is survived by a wife Grace Daka and six children.

23 COMMENTS

    • Sad indeed.
      I hope Miles Sampa & FAZ will step up and honor the football legend. I doubt the PF government will remember him.

    • Ba Simutowe kwati bufi, bakalamba mwa tusha? A sweet soccer soul of a legend among the smart people of the Zambian Enterprise has departed this earth!

      Boniface Simutoweeeeeeee, Simutowe, Simutoweeeeeeee …. Simutowe, Red Arrows and Zambiaaaaa has scored, Zambia in the lead … I can still hear those words by Dennis Liwewe (MHSRIEP) echoed in memory today.

      A sweet soul of a soccer legend has departed the earth. My prayers go to the bereaved family.

      What talent we lost today! May His Soul Rest In Enternal Peace ….

  1. May he rest in Peace and may the Lord’s Grace be upon his wife, children and entire family. We remember him as Simutowe Chitapo Chimo.

  2. Sad at the death of “Ba Bonnie”. The year when Godfrey Chitalu scored 107 goals, he was followed closely by “Ba Bonnie” who scored about 86 goals during a season which saw Kabwe Warriors sweep all silver ware.

  3. we have lost a legend in the Zambian game, I remember him as one who would go an extra mile to win the game hence called to “Chitapo Chimo” my deepest sympathy go to the family and MHSRIP.

  4. Simutowe would attract huge crowds each time his team Red Arrows played against Mighty Mufulira Wanderers at Shinde Studium. He was easily identified by a big visible scar on the back of his head. He had apparently been assaulted by a missile (rock) in Madagascar where the Zambia National Team had gone to play that countries national team. I enjoyed watching “Chipato Chimo” in my youth days…..RIP champ!!!!

  5. Ba Simutowe – sadly missed by all soccer loving fans around the world! I am previlliged to have watched you play whilst growing up. Names that come to mind…Jan Simulambo, Borniface Simutowe, kaodi Kaushi, Kaiser Kalambo, Dick Makwaza, Dickson Chama to name but just a few.

  6. Goodbye my good friend and mulamu. I shall forever remember you as my long time friend, school and indeed age mate in those good years gone-by in Luanshya home of Roan United.

    You are the one who made Ucah Chitalu score 107 goals because of your precision passes. I still recall when you briefly married my cousin Valerie who unfortunately you separated from and sadly, passed on years later.

    May the good lord welcome you in heaven as a humble human and God fearing mortal. Brethren…

  7. MHSRIP
    .We called him Fu Manchu
    He would step hard on the feet of a goalkeeper when Zambia was taking a corner kick thus making it difficult for the goalie to jump.That would end in a goal for us.Go well my friend.

  8. We wish God’s comfort upon the family and we cherish the memories this side of eternity.

    @ Nine

    1. The stoning in Madagascar was not the national team. It was Kabwe Warriors who were stoned.

    @Mwape you are spot on. One cannot talk about Ucar without talking about Simutowe.

    • Iye, Ba Bonnie Fumanchu! During the stoning of Kabwe Warriors in Madagascar, I still recall the picture from the Times of zambia of Godfrey Ucar Chitalu shielding himself from the missiles by wearing a bucket of water on his head. Ala chabipa ba mudala ba Bonnie. Every time I saw him walking to the sports complexes behind Arcades or on a minibus it made me feel sad how we had as a country let down the soccer stars of yesteryear. It was always a delight to see Boniface Simutowe play his midfield role. Rest in Peace, ba mudala.

  9. Rest In Peace Ba Simutowe. Talent like yours comes only once in a lifetime. I feel privileged to have witnessed such outstanding talent on a soccer pitch. Condolences to the bereaved family.

  10. The legend is gone.We need to recognise and honour our stars when they are still alive.Simutowe(Shimutowe) would always be remembered with all the legends.He was a star and each time i met him i always looked at the scar gotten in Madagascar when Kabwe Warriors thrashed a team from there 7-2 in Antananarivo.Fans ran amok due to the walloping they got from a seven star Zambian champion club.Ucar was the main star and target and escaped with an empty water bucket on his head.Shimutowe and others were not so lucky.Lets honour this man and many others.Rest in peace bra Simutowe.We will never forget you.MHSRIP.

  11. It is sad to see how capable HIV can be if patients don’t take medication. Sad indeed! I am told in Africa, people who are infected with HIV take drugs that are not on the market in developed nations, that is the reason why they die like flies. Rest In Peace Daddy wandi. If i may ask what was the illness? Was it Sepsis, COPD, or Aplastic anemia?

    • Get a life! Where does it say he died of HIV related illness? And if so why do you want to know if was Sepsis or whatever? What purpose will that serve to you?

  12. @ Potatoe.Whatever you do and are you are just a piece of dung for your insensivity to a serious issue.Type wisely.Why discuss HIV here?Did he tell you that he had HIV?

    • Now now I see why Africans are dead scared to talk about HIV! Man! AIDS is nolonger a disease but a human rights issue. Don’t be scared to gents kikikiki

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