Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Brian Abbas Amidu, also known as Tumirai Matsika, has been denied bail by a Zimbabwean court after being arrested in connection with one of the Midlands Province’s largest drug trafficking busts this year.
Amidu appeared alongside Kudzai “Reuben” Mhlanga before the Kwekwe Magistrates’ Court, where the pair were remanded in custody pending trial. Authorities allege they were found in possession of approximately 780 kilogrammes of dagga, with an estimated street value of US$78,000 (over R1.3 million).
The court ruled that both men would remain behind bars while prosecutors finalise their case.
The arrest has reignited public debate around Amidu’s true age, after the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) listed him as 29 years old, despite several football databases – including FotMob and Transfermarkt – recording his birth year as 1990, which would make him 35. The discrepancy has fuelled online speculation and renewed discussion about age manipulation in African football.
According to reports in The Herald, prosecutors described the seizure as a major narcotics operation and a significant breakthrough in the fight against organised drug trafficking in the region. Police sources allege that Amidu has operated under multiple aliases and is facing pending cases in Epworth and Harare under different names — a pattern they claim was designed to evade law enforcement.
Once a rising football star, Amidu’s fall from grace has captured national attention. His professional career began with Kaizer Chiefs in 2012 before he moved to Black Leopards. He later plied his trade abroad in Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, before returning to represent CAPS United and the Zimbabwe national team, the Warriors.
Social media has been flooded with commentary from fans who once celebrated Amidu’s footballing skills but are now shocked by his alleged involvement in the drug trade. Many have questioned how a player with an international career could end up in such serious criminal trouble.
The ZRP maintains that the case against Amidu is part of a broader crackdown on narcotics trafficking across Zimbabwe. Authorities said investigations are ongoing to trace the source of the drugs and potential links to wider criminal networks.
In an unrelated case, the country’s growing drug problem has been further highlighted by the recent arrest of Robert Mugabe Junior, son of the late former president Robert Mugabe. Mugabe Junior, 33, was detained in central Harare last week after police allegedly found small quantities of cannabis in his possession.
According to police, Mugabe Junior was stopped while driving the wrong way along 2nd Street Extension in Harare in the early hours. Officers searching his vehicle reportedly found two small sachets of cannabis, a dagga grinder, and rolling papers in a sling bag. The stash weighed about two grammes, with an estimated street value of US$30 (around R500).
While Mugabe Junior’s alleged offence involves only a small quantity of drugs, his case — coupled with Amidu’s — has reignited concerns over the spread of drug use and trafficking among high-profile individuals in Zimbabwe.
Authorities say both incidents underscore the government’s renewed determination to combat illegal drug activities, regardless of social status or public profile.
As Amidu awaits trial, his dramatic shift from celebrated athlete to accused trafficker serves as a stark reminder of how swiftly fortunes can change. The court has yet to announce a trial date, but prosecutors are reportedly preparing what they describe as “a watertight case” against the former footballer and his co-accused.
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