Manchester City’s shock loss in Club World Cup triggers gambling-related suicide in Zimbabwe’s Kuwadzana suburb. (Photo by JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP via Getty Images)
EPICSTORIAN — The tragic death of 34-year-old Taurai Manyepo has spotlighted the dangers of gambling addiction in economically vulnerable communities,
following Manchester City’s shocking exit from the FIFA Club World Cup.
Manyepo, a football enthusiast from Kuwadzana, Zimbabwe, reportedly took his life after losing a US$500 football bet placed on Manchester City to win.
The English champions, widely favored to advance, suffered a 3–4 defeat to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal, stunning fans and punters worldwide.
For Manyepo, who had borrowed the money under the pretense of needing to pay for his mother’s medical bills, the outcome proved fatal.
He was found dead three days after the match.
Gambling addiction claims Taurai Manyepo life after Manchester City loss
Sources revealed that Manyepo borrowed US$500 from a friend, allegedly to pay for a hospital scan, but instead wagered the full amount at AfricaBet.
His lender, Lloyd Pikiri, shared his emotional reaction:
“I am still in shock. I feel like I killed a friend.”
Pikiri explained that Manyepo claimed his mother was admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and needed a CT scan costing US$300.
Touched by the urgency, he lent him US$500 with a repayment date agreed for July 31.
Days later, Pikiri received the devastating news of Manyepo’s suicide.
The deceased was found hanging from a tree behind his residence in Kuwadzana.
Betting suicide Zimbabwe cases spark mental health alarm
Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi stated that in cases of suicide, if the family does not notify authorities,
law enforcement may step in to investigate the circumstances.
According to the
World Bank’s 2021 statistics,
Zimbabwe’s suicide mortality rate stood at 17.34 per 100,000.
The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency reports that suicide accounts for 1.8% of all deaths nationally.
In similar incidents, a Harare man fainted after losing US$724 on a bet involving the game Aviator,
and another punter from Chitungwiza stole over US$3,000 from his employer to finance gambling activities.
Also Read: CAF raises WAFCON prize to $1 million for winners
These cases reflect a growing crisis tied to betting behavior in urban Zimbabwe.
Manchester City loss exposes deeper gambling crisis
The Manchester City defeat, led by coach Pep Guardiola, was unexpected,
given the club’s status as defending champions and Premier League dominators.
Prior to the match, bookmakers overwhelmingly favored the English club to advance.
For Manyepo, whose community battles daily financial hardship, the loss was not just sporting—it became life-ending.
The betting outcome left him unable to repay the debt, with emotional and social pressure building until he could no longer cope.
Mental health experts urge support for gambling addicts
According to psychologist Kudakwashe Mchena, gambling addiction is a psychological condition similar to substance dependence and should be treated with therapy.
“Without intervention, the addiction often leads to self-destruction,” he warned.
A 2022
World Health Organization report on Zimbabwe emphasized that men are disproportionately represented in suicide statistics.
Talk show host Rebecca Chisamba criticized the normalization of betting among youth:
“These young men gamble based on trends and unrealistic expectations. There’s no sure path to winning. Betting is pure chance.”
Club World Cup tragedy marks grim reminder for punters
While fans across the globe celebrated Al-Hilal’s stunning victory, the outcome brought only pain in Kuwadzana.
The football spectacle that lifted millions ended in silence for the Manyepo family.
No trophy, no goal, and no celebration can undo the tragic outcome of one man’s fatal bet.
