Blessing Makunike

Blessing Makunike (24 January 1977 – 13 March 2004) was a Zimbabwean international footballer.

Blessing Makunike

Personal information
Full name	Blessing Makunike
Date of birth	(1977-01-24)24 January 1977
Place of birth	Salisbury, Rhodesia
Date of death	13 March 2004(2004-03-13) (aged 27)
Place of death	Harare, Zimbabwe
Position(s)	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Kadoma Wildcats
1997–2002	CAPS United
2003	Javor Ivanjica
2003–2004	CAPS United
International career
1998–2001	Zimbabwe	8	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Makunike started his career in 1997 with Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League club CAPS United F.C., where he played until the end of the 2002 season. Together with his teammate, Leonard Tsipa, he then spent half a season with Serbian club FK Javor Ivanjica, where international Zimbabwean footballer Mike Temwanjera, together with other African players, helped them incorporate into the squad. However, he and Leonard went back to CAPS in the next summer, playing in the second semester of the 2003 Zimbabwean football season.

International career

From 1998 to 2001 he played eight matches for the Zimbabwe national football team having scored one goal.

Car accident

On 13 March 2004, Makunike, together with two other players, Shingirai Alron and Gary Mashoko, and two supporters, burned to death when their car hit the pillar of the bridge and caught fire, the greatest loss of lives in a single incident in Zimbabwean football.^[1]

Honours

CAPS United

• Zimbabwe Premier League: 2004
• Zimbabwe Cup: 1997, 1998, 2004
• Independence Trophy: 1997