Tobias Mandoreba Hwange Sports Correspondent
HWANGE Football Club’s number one supporter Estelle Zulu Jele, who died at the Colliery Hospital on Saturday night after a short illness, was buried at Lwendulu Village yesterday afternoon.
Jele, who was 53, is largely credited with forming the popular drum-beaters for the coalminers’ outfit in 1996, three years after the official formation of the Hwange Supporters’ Club.
Hundreds of people, including Hwange supporters, coaches, players, former players and the club’s executive headed by Joseph Zulu, attended the burial.
Jele’s brother Peter Zulu, who was also instrumental in forming the drum-beaters, described his sister’s death as a sad loss to the coalminers.
“Hwange town as a whole is in deep mourning after the sudden death of my sister, who supported this team from a very early age. She worked tirelessly and sacrificed even her family’s time to form the popular drum-beaters for Chipangano,” said Zulu.
“At times she bought the drums with her own money and played the drums herself all for the love of this club. When most fans were silent whenever Hwange was trailing, Estelle would dance and cheer the team alone. Her passion can’t be measured and I doubt there’ll be anyone to fill that void,” he said.
Hwange Supporters’ Club chairman Maybin Dizomba described Jele as an ambassador for the club.
“She was our football ambassador in life and even in her death she’ll continue to be one as she did a lot as far as supporting the team was concerned,” said Dizomba.
“She was good at protocol within the supporters’ rank and file and I hope everyone will respect her legacy by continuing with her good work.”
She is survived by her husband Oliver and three daughters, Chazi, Cynthia and Tryphine.