ECCO's history-making coach dies
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday March 13, 2020 12:41
It is important that I give time to my family because I have been in the game for a very long time. It is not possible that someone works for their entire life.
You come to a stage where you want to relax,” the late Barry Daka was quoted by Mmegi Sport on March 2010, in one of his last interviews with the local media.
At the time the veteran coach was leaving Premiership side, Police XI, marking an end of a very successful career in Botswana.
The Zimbabwean coach passed away in his homeland yesterday, triggering outpouring tributes.
Daka had a successful six-year spell in Botswana’s top flight from 2004 to 2010, with the highlight being guiding ECCO City Greens (now Francistown City Greens) to their first and only league championship in 2007.
Over a decade later, he remains the only coach to take the coveted prize to the north of the country. The master tactician oversaw the first steps of illustrious careers of amongst others, Tebogo Sembowa, Mandlenkosi Sibanda and former Zebras striker Malepa Bolelang.
Daka also coached four-time league champions, Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Notwane, Happy Hearts and Police XI. The Zimbabwean legend passed away in the early hours of Thursday (yesterday) aged 71 at his Barbourfields home in Bulawayo after a short illness.
“Coach Daka has certainly contributed to our football development, nurturing and developing a number of local players over the many years he has spent with several clubs in Botswana,” Botswana Football Association said in a statement.
“His untimely death is certainly a great loss to the region and in particular to many aspiring coaches who were inspired by his tactical acumen and technical ability to guide players and lead teams,” it added.
City Greens also sent their condolences to the family on their Facebook page. “We have learnt with profound sadness, the passing of legendary Barry Daka. He coached ECCO City Greens (and was the) first to bring the title to the northern side in 2007,” the statement reads.
Tributes have since poured from local and Zimbabwean shores. In his days, Daka led Zimbabwean giants Highlanders and the national Under-23 side among others.