An obsessed Manchester United fan Tafara Kakungwa, from Zimbabwe’s Epworth township, committed suicide by hanging himself, following the Red Devils’ humiliating 7-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool. The 24-year-old, who worked as a vendor and was also known for his punting activities, was so devastated by his team’s crushing loss that he decided to end his life.
Obsession with Manchester United
Kakungwa was so obsessed with the English Premiership side that he even named his son Rashford after Manchester United’s forward, Marcus Rashford.
The Zimbabwean man was left devastated on Sunday after Manchester United succumbed to a historic drubbing at Anfield – the club’s joint-worst defeat in its illustrious history.
Following the humbling game, a highly emotional Kakungwa is said to have gone outside his house without communicating with anyone and hanged himself. His body was later discovered hanging from a tree by his wife Maria Mabanga.
In an interview, a devastated Mabanga told the online publication Zimbabwe Now News,
“I’m still trying to come to terms with what happened to my husband. I decided to follow him when he got out of bed, and then I saw him hanging from the tree.”
A Possible Bet Gone Wrong?
It is not clear if Kakungwa lost a bet on the game, but it is suspected that it could have been a contributing factor to his decision to take his own life. The motive for his suicide remains unclear as investigations are still ongoing.
Manchester United’s Humiliating Defeat
Manchester United suffered their joint-worst defeat in history when they lost 7-0 to Liverpool after the Red Devils crumbled in the second half.
This was the biggest win in the history of the fixture, passing Liverpool’s 7-1 victory in the 1895-96 Second Division.
United lost by the same margin to Blackburn Rovers in 1926, to Aston Villa in 1930, and to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1931.
Liverpool won the match courtesy of goals from Mohammed Salah (2), Darwin Nunez (2), Cody Gapko (2), and Roberto Firmino.
The tragic incident highlights the emotional attachment that some fans have to their favourite teams and the impact that their performance can have on their lives. It also serves as a reminder that support for sports teams should never be taken too far.
Source: iHarare
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