Ex Zim Saints player Jimmy Phiri now a bishop

By Fungai Muderere

Have you ever wondered about the whereabouts of Zimbabwe Saints yesteryear star midfielder Jimmy Phiri?

A recent visit by a B-Metro news crew to his place of residence in one of Bulawayo’s high-density suburbs, Sizinda, revealed that Phiri has successfully traded his football boots for the Bible.

Simply put, the former Chauya Chikwata player is now a man of God who leads the church Holy Faith Apostolic as a bishop with the help of his God-fearing wife of 34 years, Jane.

“My wife greatly inspired me to consider being a man of God. She was so much into church during my playing days and she was helping people repent before I joined her in the ministry. I could see that she needed my support,” said Phiri with his better half nodding her head in approval.

The church was a community initiative that his wife Jane Phiri said saw the couple leading from the front.

“After a lengthy period of trials and tribulations, with the help of our children and a number of people from in and around Sizinda we established a church Holy Faith Apostolic four years ago. We were recommended to lead the church by fellow congregates. My husband assumed the role of bishop and I’m his assistant. But this not our thing, we are working for the Lord.”

To conduct their church services, Holy Faith Apostolic members previously met under a tree which is a stone’s throw away from the Phiris’ house.

The couple is blessed with five children and six grandchildren. With the church growing they now hire a classroom from a nearby school.

Jane, who used to skip church to watch her husband in action for Saints, said they were making frantic efforts to buy a stand and build their place of worship. She revealed their church has a register of about 300 people although about 150 congregates meet every Sunday.

“We are using a classroom which we hire from Intunta Primary School to hold our services. We used to meet under a tree but we have now abandoned it. We are seriously considering buying a stand. Our church is growing and we are looking forward to work with more people from Sizinda, Tshabalala, Nkulumane and other surrounding areas,” she said appealing to donors to consider helping them in their quest to purchase a stand.

In 2012, Jimmy, a former National Railways of Zimbabwe employee, sustained a horrific injury while at work which saw his right hand being amputated.

“His injury made me a more prayerful woman. I’m glad he did not worry much about it saying we should pray more about it. It didn’t take long for his wound to heal although people created unfounded stories about my husband’s injury. We never looked back, we told ourselves let’s work for God and I’m glad we are still working for the Almighty,” said Jane, adding that they were working at establishing branches in Hwange and Gokwe.

Jimmy was part of a talented Chauya Chikwata side that included the likes of Ephraim “The Rock of Gibraltar” Chawanda, Misheck “Roadblock” Sibanda, Jethro “Chemmy” Hunidzarira, Josephat “Mazhambe” Humbasha, Obey Sova, Pernell and Henry “Bully” McKop, George Ayibu, the late Melusi Nkiwane and Joseph Machingura.

Chauya Chikwata, one of Zimbabwe’s traditional football giants, were relegated from the Premiership in the 2011 season. B Metro