By Chiti Chitundu
Derby Makinka was not only a gifted footballer; he was a devoted family man who cherished his wife and daughters deeply.
Whenever he was away from club or national-team camp, he treasured the opportunity to be at home and spend precious time with his family.
Two days before his tragic death, Derby had to seek permission to leave camp and visit his wife, Doreen, at the University Teaching Hospital, where she had just given birth to a baby boy.
He was ecstatic and eagerly looked forward to meeting his newborn son after the team’s Senegal outing. It was a moment of great happiness and anticipation for a father who loved his family dearly. Sadly, fate had other plans.
On the night of April 28, 1993, the cold hand of death touched Derby Makinka as he travelled en route to Senegal with the national team.
In this photograph, we see Derby Makinka with Tunisian scout Zarrouk Lofti, who played a role in taking him to Saudi Arabia, and Derby’s young daughter, Debbie.
Beyond the footballer remembered by a nation, this photograph captures Derby the father , a man whose greatest joy was his family. @ Chiti Chitundu 🇿🇲
