Willard Mashinkilla Khumalo was one of the most talented and swiftest strikers to ever played for Highlanders Football Club and the promising Warriors crop, known as Dream Team.
Born on 11 June 1966, Khumalo attended Mzilikazi Primary School and later went to Northlea High School where he made news by becoming one of football’s schoolboy internationals.
Khumalo was one of the most productive footballers to ever the black and white jersey (Highlanders) and also had a fruitful career with the national side.
He was introduced to Highlanders Football Club by his mother at the time he was still at Mzilikazi Primary School.
He quickly got promoted to the club’s under 16 side before graduating into the senior team.
Khumalo was part of the 1986 prominent Highlanders side that bagged everything on offer in the domestic football league.
The team lifted the BAT Rosebowl, the Independence Cup, Heroes’ Cup, Chibuku Trophy, Rothmans Cup and Castle Cup.
In 1987, Khumalo travelled with Highlanders to Germany where the club established a relationship with a Division One side Emstedden 05, a team that he joined in 1989.
He was to return to Highlanders in 1990 in November in the Zifa Cup against Dynamos Football Club which Highlanders won.
In the twilight of his career, he played for Zimbabwe Division One side Shushine following differences with Highlanders’ then coach.
He also played for Zisco Steel and Lancashire Steel in the late 1990s before joining South African premier league side Free State Stars in 2000.
Khumalo was part of the first Matebeleland Under-18 Coca Cola team.
National Team Career
Willard Khumalo was capped at both Under-20 and senior level whilst still at school and was chosen among the Soccer Star of the Year finalists several times.
Khumalo was part of Zimbabwe’s senior Cesafa team that beat Kenya 2-1 in the final.
He was part of the Dream Team that almost went to the World Cup final in 1994. He joined great footballers such as Peter Ndlovu, Bruce Grobbelaar and Agent Sawu among other Zimbabwean greats.
After hanging up his boots, Khumalo went on to become the Bosso Welfare Manager.
Coaching Career and Club Administration
After retiring from football, Khumalo remained a part of the Highlanders family after initially starting as assistant coach to Rahman Gumbo.
He eventually took over from Rahman as head coach before moving on to the now defunct Mwana Africa Football Club which he took to the 2007 Caf Confederations Cup.
Khumalo also coached Lancashire Steel Football Club with which he won the Madison Trophy. In 2011 he coached Zimbabwe Saints Football Club before being appointed Bosso welfare manager in 2013.
Khumalo was also part of the Warrior’s technical team in 2006 when he was assistant coach to Charles Mhlauri.
Khumalo also coached Botswana’s Nico Stars and Tafic Football Club.
Death
Early on 23 August 2015, Willard Khumalo would pass away after having been in the hospital for some days suffering from diabetes.
He died at United Bulawayo Hospital. Khumalo was laid to rest at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo on August 27, 2015.
Brief facts: Willard Mashinkilla Khumalo was born on 11 June 1966 and was the first born in a family of seven-three boys and four girls.
He was son to musical legend Danny Mashinkila-Khumalo (father), and Maud Ngwenya (mother).
Khumalo was married to Nozipho Nkomo and the two had 3 children of which Nomakhosi Khumalo was one of his daughters.
He had a younger brother, Danny Mashinkila Junior who would become a musician in South Africa.
He also had a younger brother Brian. His son Dumo Khumalo is a footballer who played for Mzilikazi High School’s under-17 team.