David Yogi Mandigora
By Pamenus Tuso
Whenever the name David “Yogi” Mandigora is mentioned, what quickly comes into the minds of yester year soccer followers is a midfield genius and gentleman of the game”.
In his playing days Yogi was never known to brag about his talents letting his legs do the talking on the field of play instead.
To yester-year soccer fans, players like Mandigora represented quality football which was on display every weekend in the 1980s and 1990s, a feat that many of today’s crop of young footballers are struggling to attain.
Those were the days when soccer players played football with passion for pride, not money.
“Today’s youngsters are playing football for the love of money. During our hay days, soccer was not as rewarding as today but the standards were very high. Those days most players did not have good training kits and facilities as is the case today,” once said the late Mandigora in an interview with the now defunct Parade Magazine.
Born on May 2, 1957 in Kadoma in a family of ten , Yogi spent most of his childhood in Highfield where he attended Chipembere Primary and St Peters Mission School.
Mandigora launched his industrious football career at a very young age in Fiyo as the suburb is popularly known in local lingo. The suburb is often seen as a symbol of resilience as it is one of the bedrocks of the liberation struggle.
While at school, Mandigora played soccer for the under 10, 12, and 14 age groups with other teams before joining Dynamos Football Club at the age of 16 in 1973.
In 1977, Yogi was elevated into the first team and was part of the all-star Dynamos Football Club that included the likes of Sunday Marimo, Moses “Razor “ Chunga, Oliver Kateya, Simon Sachiti, Isaac Nhema and Cremio Mapfumo.
Mandigora was popular for his dribbling wizardry, exquisite ball passing skill and clinical finish in front of goal which saw him being crowned independent Zimbabwe’s first soccer star of the year in 1980.
He was also part of the first national team to represent Zimbabwe at independence.
“When I became Soccer Star of the Year in 1980, it was all because of the astute direction that came from these guys and I will forever be grateful to all of them and the club’s administrators and many more for what I achieved later in my life,” said Yogi in one television interview which he had with veteran sports journalist, Charles Mabika.
Mandigora would star for Dembare and the national team for another decade and according to the interview with Mabika, his most memorable match was the inaugural Zimbabwe Independence Cup final in 1980 when the national squad beat arch rivals Zambia 2-1. He scored the hosts equaliser after Chipolopolo had taken the lead.
Shacky Tauro then grabbed the winner to send a fully packed stadium into frenzy.
Mandigora hanged up his football boots in 1987 and joined Darryn Textiles as a coach. He was also employed the textile company as a purchasing officer for four years.
Among his other notable achievements in his illustrious career as coach, Mandigora helped the now defunct Midlands side, Lancashire Steel FC win the then Northern Region division one championship and gain promotion into the then super league in 1993.
He also helped save the Glamour boys from possible collapse after the then coach, Moses Chunga, left with the majority of the first team players to join new boys, Shooting Stars.
“It was tough putting together a team because there were no players at all. I got a lot of help from Sunday Chidzambwa assembling a team bringing in the likes of Edward Sadomba, Justice Majabvi and Sam Mutenheri who I personally got from Kwekwe,” Mandigora told The Standard Sports.
The following year , Dynamos under his tutelage won the league title thereby ensuring the club’s qualification to the lucrative African Champions League where the team shocked everyone by progressing as far as the semi-finals. The Glamour Boys were eventually booted out of the tournament by Cotton Sport of Cameroon.
After the continental setback, Mandigora stepped down as Dynamos gaffer. He went on to have coaching stints in Mozambique and Eswatini.
Yogi was, however, to bounce back at the popular Harare side in 2014 replacing Callisto Pasuwa who had been sacked following a string of poor results.
Halfway through the season, Mandigora was also shown the door after failing to restore the team to its glory days.
His then assistant, another Dembare son, Tonderai Ndiraya, was appointed interim coach. Yogi also coached Triangle FC before his death at the age of 64 on 12 June 2021.
Mandigora’s significant other love life is a secret. The late coach was said to have been a heavy smoker who also loved his beer.
My his soul continue to rest in eternal peace
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