By Tapiwa Chawagarira
Scottland FC owner, businessman and legislator Scot Sakupwanya has stepped in to assist former Dynamos star and coach Elvis “Chuchu” Chiweshe, clearing his outstanding rent arrears and pledging continued support towards his family’s welfare.
Sakupwanya has also committed to paying school fees for Chiweshe’s children while extending medical and general welfare assistance to the former footballer, whose difficult circumstances have recently brought renewed attention to the plight of retired football personalities in Zimbabwe.
Chiweshe, a former Dynamos midfielder and coach, has been facing financial difficulties, with his struggles becoming a subject of public discussion in recent days. His situation has also prompted calls for football authorities, clubs and other stakeholders to develop sustainable mechanisms to support former players and coaches who dedicated their careers to the game.
However, Sakupwanya said his intervention was not meant to turn Chiweshe’s situation into a major public spectacle, but rather to assist him as an individual who has contributed significantly to Zimbabwean football.
According to Chiweshe, Sakupwanya emphasised that he was coming in to help him as a legend, coach and father, rather than allowing the situation to escalate further.
Chiweshe expressed his gratitude to Sakupwanya for the assistance already rendered and for the commitments made towards his family’s future.
He said the intervention had provided much-needed relief at a difficult time and thanked Sakupwanya for recognising the contribution he had made to Zimbabwean football.
“I would like to thank Hon Sakupwanya for the support he has rendered to me and for what he has said he will continue doing,” Chiweshe said.
Chiweshe added that Sakupwanya had made it clear that his intervention was about helping him personally and restoring dignity to a football legend who had fallen on hard times.
Sakupwanya’s gesture comes at a time when the welfare of retired footballers is again under scrutiny, with Chiweshe’s circumstances highlighting the financial vulnerability that some former stars face after their playing and coaching careers.
Chiweshe was part of the celebrated Dynamos setup and later served as the club’s head coach. Historical records list him as Dynamos coach from 2008 to 2010.
His playing career also earned him recognition among a generation of prominent Dynamos personalities, with his name featuring among the club’s notable former players.
