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Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE football legend Max Shaluza Tshuma, 62, who died on Friday evening will be buried at West Park Cemetery this morning.
Tshuma died at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo.According to his family he had been admitted to the hospital for some days and his condition deteriorated and by Thursday he was no longer talking. The football legend had sores in the mouth and throat.

Family spokesman Francis Jaison said the service will start at 9AM at house number 8466 Glenkara section, Nkulumane.

“Everything is set for the burial and Tshuma will be laid to rest at West Park Cemetery at 11AM. Before that, we will have a service here at home and we are looking forward to leaving for the cemetery at 10.45AM,” Jaison said.

Tshuma was born on January 1, 1952 in Guruve, Mashonaland Central Province.

He attended Lobengula Primary School before proceeding to Mzilikazi High School. His talents shone at an early age as he played football at both primary and secondary school.

The late Tshuma’s football peers include Zebron Magorimbo, Barry Daka, Victor Dliwayo, Ephraim Moloi and Douglas Maneto.

He played for Zimbabwe Saints juniors and by the mid 1970s he was already a regular at Chikwata.

In 1977 he moved to Moroka Swallows and alternated between Chikwata and South Africa. In 1980 after Zimbabwe’s Independence, Tshuma returned home fearing a worldwide ban. He was among the Warriors pioneers who won a four-team tournament held to mark the country’s freedom.

In South Africa he played alongside the great Andreas “SixMabone’’ Maseko, Joel “Ace“ Mnini, Maneto and Shadreck Ngwenya and rubbed shoulders with other legends like Jomo Sono, Ryder Mofokeng, Shakes Mashaba, Patson Banda and Ace Ntsoelongoe.

Between 1980 and 1983 he was in and out of the squad at a time competition for places was stiff as a result of stars who included the late Joel Shambo, Stanley Ndunduma, Ernest Sibanda, Hamid Dhana and Stanford Stix M’tizwa.

Tshuma wound up his career at Eagles where he played alongside Rahman Gumbo, Elvis Chiweshe, Boy Ndlovu, Ebson Sugar Muguyo and the late Asani Karigeni.

He is survived by wife Otilia Maparura and four children.