THE late football enthusiast Douglas Tanyanyiwa, who founded former Premiership Douglas Warriors and employed hundreds of footballers across the country, has been described as a pillar of the local game.

Tanyanyiwa died in Harare on Monday at the age of 64.

The former Dynamos sponsor, who had been unwell for some time, is set to be buried at his rural home in Chivhu on Wednesday.

Former Dynamos chairman Simon Makaza said football had lost one of its pillars.

“He (Tanyanyiwa) invested a lot of resources to develop the game,” said Makaza.

“Needless to mention that he produced a number of players who went on to play for the national team. Besides, he was also a Dynamos supporter through and through,” he added.

Tanyanyiwa bailed DeMbare on a number of occasions in the late 1990s.

In 2000, he formed his own club Douglas Warriors, a team that gave a springboard to a number of players such as former Soccer Star of the Year Tawanda Muparati, Ronald Chitiyo, Evans Gwekwerere, Raphael Manuvire, Guthrie Zhokinyu and keeper Tendai Tanyanyiwa.

The football mother body Zifa has described Tanyanyiwa as a champion of development.

“Tanyanyiwa’s passion for football development was inspirational, not many individuals can channel their hard-earned cash towards sponsorship of football clubs, but he did, that is how special he was,” Zifa spkoseman, Xolisani Gwesela said.

Former Zimbabwe Saints keeper Alban Mafemba labelled Tanyanyiwa a football stalwart while Black Rhinos striker and a Douglas Warriors product Lot Chiunga has also joined thousands of those paying their tribute to Tanyanyiwa.

“You took us under your wings and made us what we are today. Douglas Warriors was my home for life,” said Chiunga.