The Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League (PSL) will pay tribute to the late Norman Maroto, a former striker for Dynamos and Gunners, during the upcoming Matchday 17 fixtures this weekend.
In a statement issued by Kudzai Bare, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) Communications and Media Liaison Officer, it was announced that all PSL clubs will pay tribute to the late Maroto.
During the weekend matches, clubs will observe a moment of silence before kick-off and players will wear black armbands in honour of the football legend. Said Bare:
<blockquote>
This serves to advise that the Castle Lager Premier Soccer will be observing a moment of silence during matchday 17 fixtures scheduled for 29 to 30 June 2024 in honour of the late football legend, Norman Maroto.
PSL clubs are requested to participate in this tribute by wearing black armbands during their weekend matches.
</blockquote>
Maroto, who was 40 years old, tragically passed away in the early hours of Friday, June 28, at a local hospital.
According to reports, he had been complaining of flu the previous day before his untimely death.
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At the time of his demise, Maroto was serving as the Communications Officer for the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ).
Nicknamed “Lumumba”, Maroto is the last player to score more than 20 goals in a season in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League.
He scored 22 goals for the now-defunct Gunners Football Club in 2010 to clinch the Golden Boot.
Maroto was a member of the renowned Dynamos Kidznet team, which was guided by the legendary coach Moses Chunga.
The Kidznet initiative was aimed at infusing the Dynamos squad with a youthful injection of teenage talents, and Maroto was part of this exciting project.
Alongside him were other promising young players such as Samson Choruwa, Eddie Mashiri, Nyasha Chazika, and Leo Kurauzvione.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>
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Pindula News

Premier Soccer League To Honour Norman Maroto

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has expressed sorrow over the passing of former Dynamos and Gunners striker <a href="https://pindula.co.zw/Norman_Maroto">Norman Maroto</a>.
Maroto, who was 40 years old, tragically passed away in the early hours of Friday, June 28, at a local hospital.
According to reports, he had been complaining of flu the previous day before his untimely death.
At the time of his demise, Maroto was serving as the Communications Officer for the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ).
In a statement, ZIFA acknowledged Maroto’s immense and profound impact on Zimbabwean football.
His achievements and dedication as a player for clubs like Dynamos and Gunners cemented his legacy as a beloved figure within the national football community. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
It is with deep sorrow and heavy hearts that we extend our sincere condolences on the passing of Norman Maroto, a cherished member of the Zimbabwe football family.
Norman’s contribution to Zimbabwean football was immense and profound. As a player, he graced the pitch with exceptional talent, earning admiration and respect from fans and peers alike.
His transition into a football administrator further showcased his dedication to the sport, and his work with the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ) was marked by a steadfast commitment to the welfare of players and the growth of football in our nation.
</blockquote>
In a statement, the Football Ambassadors of Zimbabwe (FAZ) praised Maroto’s lasting impact on the sport, stating that he had been an inspiration to many young footballers, not only at the club level but also on the national stage. FAZ said:
<blockquote>
It is with heavy hearts and deep sorrow that the Football Ambassadors of Zimbabwe (FAOZ) is delivering this message of condolence on the untimely passing of former Dynamos Football Club, Gunners Football Club, Shabanie Mine Football Club, Buymore Football Club and Young Warriors U20 forward, Norman Maroto.
We pay our tribute to a Zimbabwean football legend and ambassador. On behalf of the football fraternity, we would like to offer our deepest condolences to the Maroto family, relatives and friends for the loss.
We would like to also extend our sympathies to the country at large. Norman passed away on 28 June 2024.
The country has suffered a great loss, and we will be eternally grateful for Norman’s immeasurable contributions to our football.
His death has taken from us a man who inspired a lot of footballers among the youth, not only at the club but also at the national level to take football as a career and a tool for the development of discipline and a sense of patriotism.
</blockquote>
Nicknamed “Lumumba”, Maroto is the last player to score more than 20 goals in a season in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League.
He scored 22 goals for the now-defunct Gunners Football Club in 2010 to clinch the Golden Boot.
Maroto was part of the famous Dynamos Kidznet team under the guidance of Moses Chunga. The Kidznet initiative aimed to infuse the team with teenage talents, including players like Samson Choruwa, Eddie Mashiri, Nyasha Chazika, and Leo Kurauzvione.
Chunga’s vision was to have at least a quarter of the team composed of teenagers, emphasizing the importance of nurturing junior talent.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZIFA Mourns The Death Of Legendary Striker Norman Maroto

Former Dynamos and Gunners striker <a href="https://pindula.co.zw/Norman_Maroto">Norman Maroto</a> has died at a local hospital after a short illness. He was 40.
Maroto’s death was confirmed by Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ) Secretary General Wonder Sithole on Friday morning. Sithole posted on X:
<blockquote>
You could have said goodbye @NormanMaroto. Panyika pano tiri kutandara 💔💔💔. May your soul rest in peace, my friend.
</blockquote>
He was the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe Communications Officer at the time of his death. A statement released by FUZ reads:
<blockquote>
Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ) would like to notify friends and all football stakeholders on the untimely passing of our Communications Officer, Norman Maroto.
</blockquote>
A family representative told Soccer24 that Maroto complained of flu on Thursday afternoon and passed away this morning (Friday). Said the family representative:
<blockquote>
He started complaining of flu yesterday afternoon and was admitted (at a hospital) yesterday. Shockingly, at around 1 AM this morning, he was gone.
</blockquote>
Mourners are gathered at number 2360 Tynwald South, Harare.
Born on 11 July 1983, Maroto did his secondary education at Churchill High School in Harare.
Nicknamed “Lumumba”, Maroto is the last player to score more than 20 goals in a season in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League.
He scored 22 goals for the now-defunct Gunners Football Club in 2010 to clinch the Golden Boot.
Maroto started his playing career at Dynamos Football Club where he played for the club’s junior teams before breaking into the senior team in 2001.
In 2002 he was part of the famous Kidznet team under the guidance of Moses Chunga. He established himself as a trusted gunman for the club until an emotional departure from the club in 2005 mid-season when he joined Buymore and left Dynamos fighting relegation.
He would later rejoin Dynamos but the coaches then overlooked him and he joined Moses Chunga at Gunners Football Club where he managed to lead them to a league title at the expense of Dynamos and scored one of the goals against Dynamos in a title decider match in 2009.
Maroto later played for Motor Action, FC Platinum, and Chiredzi Football Club.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Norman Maroto Has Died

Former Dynamos striker <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Norman_Maroto" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Norman Maroto</a> says the Warriors team should be built around France-based forward <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Tino_Kadewere" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tino Kadewere</a>.
Posting on Twitter, Maroto opined that Kadewere is a natural number 9 and will do amazing things if he gets the right support. He wrote:
<blockquote>Some players make an instant impact while for some it takes a few more games to start firing. In Tino, we have our number 9 and if it’s about building a team for the future, we have to start building our hopes on him and play him more. With the right support system, players do amazing stuff.</blockquote>
Kadewere was criticised by Warriors fans for his profligacy in front of goal during the AFCON 2019 qualifiers.
He was overlooked for major games at the AFCON finals in Egypt by the then <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/index.php?title=Zimbabwe_National_Soccer_Team&amp;redirect=no" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Warriors</a> coach Sunday Chidzambga.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.soccer24.co.zw/2020/02/03/maroto-explains-why-kadewere-should-lead-the-warriors-attack/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Soccer24</a></h4>

Maroto Backs Kadewere To Lead Warriors Attack

There is concern among football followers and pundits over the impotence of Zimbabwean strikers in front of goal.
In the 2010 soccer season, Dynamos strike Norman Maroto scored 20 goals and since then, no striker has breached that mark.
ZIFA technical director Wilson Mtekede, who is also an accredited CAF coaches’ instructor is of the view that the death of the traditional centre-forward is a contributing factor among others. He said:
<blockquote>It’s a tricky situation in that there are a host of factors that could be contributing to that. In the yesteryear, players could easily bang in more goals in a season, but the system of play has changed.
The traditional number nine, who is an out-and-out striker, is no longer being used these days.
But again, that kind of striker, with the natural instinct to kill off a game at any given moment, does not come cheap. There is a genuine shortage from the conveyor belt, which is the junior development.
In the heyday, there used to be the likes of Moses Chunga, Gift Mpariwa, Maronga Nyangela, Shackman Tauro and many others. But that crop of self-driven players, who would put in extra training, was different from the succeeding generations.</blockquote>
Zimbabwean champions FC Platinum have been exposed in this year’s Total CAF Champions League. They have yet to hit the target in three matches up to date.
<h4>Related:</h4>
<ul>
<li class="entry-title">
<h4><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2019/02/06/moses-bambo-chunga-warns-fc-platinum-that-they-will-find-it-tougher-beyond-caf-group-stages/">Moses ‘Bambo’ Chunga Warns FC Platinum That They Will Find It Tougher Beyond CAF Group Stages</a></h4>
</li>
</ul>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/impotency-takes-toll-on-zim-strikers/">The Herald</a></h4>

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