Dynamos Legend, Tawanda Mparati, Battles Stroke
Former Soccer Star of the Year and former Dynamos midfielder Tawanda Mparati had a stroke that left him incapacitated early this year and is yet to fully regain mobility.
Mparati (37), suffered a cerebrovascular accident on April 19 and the stroke affected his left side and his ability to walk and hold things.
The stroke was triggered by hypertension, his doctor, said. Mparati is now undergoing rehabilitation at home and can now move, a little bit, around his yard.
The former DeMbare star lives with his wife Wendy and their three sons at their home, in Rugare.
Mparati told The Herald on Friday that he requires professional help, to assist in the recovery of function and mobility, and his rehabilitation has come with huge medical costs.
His wife takes care of him and when she is at work during the day, his boys attend to him. The eldest, Tatenda, is 12. Said Mparati:
I am now on hypertension medication since I suffered the stroke. The doctor said my BP was very high when I had the attack.
When I suffered the stroke, I couldn’t walk, for close to a month but now, at least, I can walk around the house, on my own.
I am feeling better, though, sometimes I experience pain on my left side, especially my hand.
Mparati won the league with Dynamos, their third in a row, as the Glamour Boys won four titles, on the bounce.
He last played for a club, in the lower division, owned by sportscaster Barry Manandi.
Manandi and his friend, Mike Madoda, now own Division One club, Golden Eagles.
He said Manandi has been playing a big part, in his recovery, and paid most of the hospital bills.
Since Mparati suffered the stroke, no officials from his former club, Dynamos, have set foot at his home.
His former teammate, Patson Jaure, is among the few football people, who have cared to pay him a visit.
