Charles Yohane, a former Zimbabwe footballer, has been killed in South Africa in a reported incident of car-jacking. According to his brother Lewis; “He was hijacked, they took his car and shot him in the head.” Yohane made his debut in 1996 and played as a left-back, represented Zimbabwe 23 times in international football and scored one goal. He had been working in Johannesburg as a soccer coach and then a taxi driver after his retirement. His body was found in Soweto on Monday, although it is believed he died on Saturday night.
Tragic news that former Zimbabwe, CAPS and Wits left-back Charles Yohane has been hijacked and killed in South Africa at the age of 48. He was in the Warriors squad for 2004 AFCON. Was coaching the Wits developmental side in SA. pic.twitter.com/XZxGb4L0qv
— Steve Vickers (@SteveVickers5) February 15, 2022
“We tried to call him from Saturday to Monday and we couldn’t reach him. Then I went to the police station,” his former national team mate Edelbert Dinha said.
“Charles was a quiet person, always smiling, he never argued with anyone. He was coaching Leruma United FC in the ABC Motsepe League.” Dinha continued.
Charles Yohane was also in the Warriors’ squad for their debut appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2004. He moved from Zimbabwe to South Africa in 1996 and played for top-flight side Wits; becoming captain and making a club record 268 appearances from 1997 to 2006.
He became coach of the Wits’ developmental side but was released from his job when the club sold its franchise to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila in 2020.
Yohane played for Zimbabwe 23 times, quickly establishing himself as his country’s first-choice left-back in 1996 when he was playing for Harare side CAPS United.
His friend Innocent Chikoya who played with him at Fire Batteries FC said; “He wasn’t a friend, he was a brother, and we have lost him in bad circumstances,” Chikoya told BBC.
“He was clever, an intelligent footballer, he had ways of getting things done, he was a leader, disciplined and dedicated.
“I will be collecting his body from the funeral parlour on Thursday and will be taking him home.”
