Aged 29? Ex-Kaizer Chiefs star Abbas Amidu arrested in Zimbabwe, sparking debate over his age
Former Kaizer Chiefs player Brian Abbas Amidu also known as Tumirai Matsika, aged 29 according to Zimbabwe Republic Police, and Kudzai Mhlanga, also known as Reuben Mhlanga, 41, appeared in Kwekwe Magistrates’ Court after being arrested with 780kg of dagga in one of the Midlands’ biggest busts this year.”
Image: Zimbabwe Republic Police/X
Former Kaizer Chiefs forward Brian Abbas Amidu has been arrested in Zimbabwe following the seizure of nearly 800 kilogrammes of dagga, reigniting debates not only about his alleged criminal activities but also about his true age.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed that detectives intercepted a silver Honda Fit Shuttle along the Kwekwe–Kadoma Highway near the Gokwe turn-off.
“Detectives recovered 75 packets of dagga concealed in black plastic wrapping,” the ZRP said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), estimating the haul at 780 kilogrammes, with a street value of approximately US$78,000 (more than R1,3 million). Authorities said the bust followed a tip-off that the suspects were transporting drugs from Kwekwe to Harare.
Amidu, also known in local records as Tumirai Matsika, appeared before Kwekwe Magistrates’ Court on Monday alongside 41-year-old Kudzai “Reuben” Mhlanga. Both face drug trafficking charges and were remanded in custody pending a bail application. The Herald newspaper in Zimbabwe reported that prosecutors described the bust as one of the largest in the Midlands province this year.
Amidu’s career included a brief stint with Kaizer Chiefs in 2012 before moving to Black Leopards in South Africa, and later playing in Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. He also represented CAPS United and the Zimbabwe national team, the Warriors.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police statement lists Amidu's age as 29, but publicly available football databases, including FotMob and Transfermarkt, suggest he was born in 1990, making him about 35 years old in 2025. This discrepancy has triggered a social media storm, with fans questioning the legitimacy of the younger age reported in court.
Age discrepancies are not uncommon in football, particularly in Africa, where players have been known to understate their ages to meet youth tournament eligibility requirements or secure contracts.
Former Kaizer Chiefs, Serbian football manager Vladimir Vermezović posing for a picture with Brian Abbas Amidu and Bobby Motaung
Image: Kaizer Chiefs/X
Police allege that Amidu has used multiple aliases and has pending cases in Epworth and Harare under different identities, a tactic investigators say was intended to evade detection.
The stark contrast between his once-promising football career and current legal troubles has attracted widespread attention across Zimbabwe and southern Africa.
Last week, IOL reported that Robert Mugabe Junior, 33, son of the late former president Robert Mugabe, has found himself behind bars again after being arrested in central Harare for alleged possession of illegal drugs.
Authorities say Mugabe Junior was stopped by police during the night while driving a silver Honda Fit the wrong way along 2nd Street Extension in Harare.
During a search, officers reportedly found two small sachets of cannabis (dagga), along with papers and a dagga crusher, in a sling bag in his possession. The total weight is reported to be two grammes, with a street value of about US$30 (approximately R500).
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