WATCH: We did it for pride: Mutema

Yesteryear greats with Lovemore Dube

FORMER Zimbabwe Saints right midfielder who arrived at the club to plug the gap left by Max Tshuma who was at Moroka Swallows in South Africa has urged local footballers to manage fame.

He said football can give one a status that he never imagined he could get. Douglas Mutema believes it is even worse in these times where soccer players earn big.

He said the wages for letting fame get to one’s head are immense and have negative results.

Mutema says that does not only affect one’s performance but may dig into a player’s pocket and leave him to lead a sorrowful life. Experience in life is always the best teacher.

Mutema, despite his admission of wrong doing at the peak of his career, is a happy father of 22 who has the distinct record that he does not want any footballer or any other man to follow. He had seven children born in one calendar year.

“I speak from experience as a father and grandfather to this generation of players. I know there is now a lot of money and they are earning well. We played for fun, we did it for pride but from the time the likes of Ephraim Chawanda broke through in the mid-1980s, football now has money.

“From my living testimony I hope these kids may get some lesson and not plunge themselves to what happened to me. I love my children, I could have done better, I admit but the future lies in these boys we have playing professional football. They have to manage their lives on and off and not believe that they own the world,” said Mutema.

Mutema said having multi-partners is the downfall of sportspersons and at one stage he boasted the distinction of having a girlfriend at each and every high school in Bulawayo between 1977 and 1978.

“From my mistakes the players must learn but I had a great time at Zimbabwe Saints and sadly injury blighted my career where at one stage I had a feared combination with William Sibanda,” he recalls.

Sibanda, a former member of the national team, is regarded as one of the best midfielders ever produced in this country.

Happily married to Lilian, Mutema was born in Bulawayo’s Old Memorial Hospital in 1954 among four other guys who went on to play and work at Sugar Refineries in Bulawayo.

Golbeck, Capson, Ollam and Licius dominated Gold Star who were sponsored by Sugar Refineries.
He went to Mapazura Primary School under Chief Mapanzure in Zvishavane District and went as far as Standard Five.

Growing up in the district he shone as a footballer from an early age in an area where almost a dozen primary schools fell under Dadaya Mission.

“I played position 4, 6, 8 and 10. I was flexible on the field and could play to coaches’ instructions in any position,” said Mutema.

He remembers clashing with Ian Mpofu who also went on to play for Zimbabwe Saints.
“One of the players I remember from my primary school days is Ian Mpofu who was at Shabanie, we clashed in primary schools football and it was a good thing for us to see Gibson Homela at Msiphane in our district, he was already a big footballer nationwide, someone to emulate,” said Mutema of a legend whose stature is paralleled by a few in this country.

After Standard Five, Mutema followed the normal route of moving to a big town to look for employment.
As someone who was good at football, it was not long before employment tied to his being a soccer player came his way.

He joined Cotton Printers, a popular lower division side that eventually rose from Bulawayo African (Amateur) Football Association to Division Two.

“Because of employment opportunities, the team got stronger and the supervisors were allowed to choose players who were good and the team ended up in Division Two,” said Mutema.

Between 1973 and 1974 he says he joined Eastlands who were playing in the South Region elite division alongside Highlanders, Rangers, Mashonaland United later Zimbabwe Saints, Gwayi River Mine, Wankie (Hwange), Gweru United, Hippo Valley and Kamativi.

“I remember Tymon Mabaleka had just left and he was still popular at the club. There was an outstanding goalkeeper, William Chirwa better known to fans as Gorilla and former Highlanders assistant coach Cosmas Zulu was among the players,” he said.

He also spoke of dumpy sized wingback Richard Kasawaya, a committed player who put everything into his game.

“You just needed to thread the ball into space and leave him to finish, he had pace, a cheeky shot and the right temperament for a striker, utilised opportunities that came his way,” said Mutema.

In 1975 Mutema tried his luck at Zimbabwe Saints.

“During those days, at Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints, you had to be from Mzilikazi, Barbourfields, Makokoba and Nguboyenja.

“I tried at the club at a time Simon Machaya was coach but found the team not accommodating, I was from Mpopoma and the rest looked like guys who had grown up together and played football from childhood,” said Mutema.

But there was no stopping him in 1978. His debut match was against a star-studded Rio Tinto at Ross Camp.

“My assignment was to go out there and shut out Robert Godoka who always eclipsed William Sibanda in midfield. I was Max Tshuma’s replacement and I was expected to live up to that level.

It was a great match and I lived up to it, shutting out Godoka. This time around at Chikwata I had been well received with Homela and Sibanda leading the way,” he said.

Mutema said he lost his mother in rural Zvishavane on the same days as his debut and stayed for two days without receiving the news.

“Back in those days there were Telegram messages sent. Ours was sent the following day, instead of us getting the information within hours, it was only on Tuesday that I received the sad news,” said Mutema who added that it was quite emotional for him and his brothers.

He joined one of the strongest Chikwata sides, a team that had won the 1976 Chibuku Trophy 4-0 against Highlanders, winners of the league race and Castle Cup in 1977.

“I won the BAT Rosebowl in 1978 and the regional league in 1979, finishing second to Caps United in the national championship and Chibuku Trophy,” said Mutema.

“Because of injuries I missed the Caps breakthrough tournament final, which was the Chibuku Trophy of 1979 and the 2-1 Castle Cup win over Dynamos,” said Mutema.

He said the way he struck a good combination with William Sibanda had left some believing the duo had been playing together for a long time.

“Each time I held the ball, fans would scream Wrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, others could not tell who was who between us and believed we looked the same including commentators on the road because I was also quite good,” said Mutema.

Mutema says another game where he had to neutralise a big name was against David Muchineripi, the Black Aces midfield king pin.

“The match was at Rufaro Stadium and my task was to subdue Muchineripi and was praised after the win for a sterling job. I could play man marker or creative role when I ventured upfront. When William went up I covered for him, our play complemented each other and we had good players around us, Andrew Kadengu, Steve Kwashi, Itai Chieza, Douglas Maneto and Thomas Chipembere,” said the former versatile player.

He said there were lessons whenever Max Tshuma, Onias Musana, Douglas Maneto, Ebson “Sugar” Muguyo were in town.

“We always drew some inspiration when they returned. There was a thing to learn from them, like utilising space and communication,” said Mutema.

Mutema had a knee injury in late 1980 and never really recovered as he hung on at Saints until 1984 and saw through a young crop of players like Ephraim Chawanda, Misheck Sibanda, Joseph Machingura, Josphat Munetsi and Josphat Humbasha.

“They breathed in new life. Club was being rejuvenated as our 1960s and 1970s heroes were being retired,” said Mutema.

Mutema joined Gold Star and played up to 1989.

“I enjoyed watching and playing against George Shaya, he was sheer genius stuff, David Muchineripi, July Sharara, David Khumalo, Godoka, Nyaro Mumba, Rodrick Simwanza, Musa Muzanenhamo, Posani Sibanda, Victor Dliwayo, Stewart Gilbert, Gibson Homela and William Sibanda were among the best players,” said Mutema.

Of generations that followed George Ayibu, Jethro Hunidzarira, Chawanda and Obey Sova were among some of the best players to come out of Saints in the 1980s.

Mutema says he has been out of touch with the club because he now lives and works in South Africa as a haulage truck driver.

“Is Saints still there? I have not heard about the club in ages,” said Mutema.