Football legend Shacky Tauro dies

By Tichaona Sibanda

Former football star Shacky Tauro has died in hospital in Harare after a short illness. He was 49 years old.

Tauro had traveled to South Africa last week to pick up his nephew, but was admitted to hospital over the weekend after feeling unwell during his return journey from Johannesburg. He is to be buried in Harare on Saturday.

Former Zimbabwe Under-23 team manager Charles Dzvairo told us that Tauro fell ill just as he crossed the border into Zimbabwe at Beitbridge.

‘His family told us that although he managed to travel all the way to Harare, he was immediately admitted to hospital when his condition deteriorated. Doctors were still in the process of carrying out more tests when he suddenly died on Wednesday,’ Dzvairo said.

The ex-Caps United and Zimbabwe star is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to have graced local football. Former Caps United captain Joe Mugabe led tributes to the man he called ‘probably the most naturally gifted goal scorer of his generation,’ and one of the greatest footballers the country has ever produced.

Mugabe said Tauro was a unique and talented person who made a lot of people very happy. The diminutive former midfielder played alongside Tauro during his early years in the first team at Caps United.

‘I played alongside him briefly, and we actually won a cup that season. It was also the same period he was struggling with his knee injury that eventually forced him to retire from the game,’ according to Mugabe.

‘I grew up wanting to be like Tauro and Joel Shambo. Anyone who has seen him as a football fan will never forget it. Tauro should be remembered as the very best at what he did. He was quite simply a football genius,’ Mugabe added.

Former Dynamos captain Memory Mucherahowa said he was shocked by the untimely death of Tauro. Mucherahowa said he still considers Tauro as the best ever striker to emerge from Zimbabwe.

‘If there was a heroes’ acre for footballers, Shacky Tauro will be buried there without question. Football has lost one of its greats, and we have lost someone who still had a lot more to offer to the younger generation. He was a marvellous person,’ Mucherahowa added.

Tauro is survived by his wife Viola and six grown up children.- SW Radio Africa.