CELEBRATING ZIMBABWE’S FOOTBALL HERITAGE Stadia and their legends

Yesteryear greats with Lovemore Dube

WHO remembers Cam and Motor Stadium, Torwood, Gwayi River Mine, Ross Camp, Mangula, Dingumuzi and Gwanzura?

These were prominent stadia in the yesteryear era and many a great talent that rose through to legendary status showcased their skills there.

Cam and Motor Stadium in Kadoma was home to Rio Tinto and later Eiffel Flats. Playing at the stadium before a vociferous mine crowd was not a pleasant feeling for the opposition teams.

If the crowd’s antics did not intimidate then seeing Philemon Mutyavaviri, Graham Boyle, Raphael Phiri, Ernest Makosa, Ephert Lungu, Gibson Sibanda, Robert Godoka, Joseph Zulu, Robert Phiri, Wonder Phiri, David “Chikwamha” Mwanza, David Chisambi and Abraham Likombola was scary.

It was one of the great teams from the 1970s which was still very competitive in the mid-1980s.

Rio Tinto gave Zimbabwe Ephert Lungu the 1983 Soccer Star of the Year.

Godoka on the right flank and Zulu on the left, youthful energy in midfield masterminded by Mwanza, solid defending by Boyle nicknamed the Ironman and Lungu “Mamuna”, Rio Tinto presented the fans with an entertaining team that played as a unit and had flair.

Their coach, John Rugg, a Scot rose to be one of the best local coaches, so good that he was made national team coach several times, was the club’s gaffer and instilled a great sense of discipline and belonging.

Coming out with a result at Cam and Motor was not so easy.

Mangula (Mhangura) Stadium, home of a club by the same name was a typical mine venue. Too many antics before and during the match, traditional dancers “Zigure” spicing up things, “jujuman” whether real or mythical, sending fear to the opposition, the team was among the strongest of the 1960s and early 1970s when copper fetched good prices on the world market.

With the array of talent in their midst, Mangula did not need intimidation of opponents on the terraces. They were the bookmakers’ perennial favourites for glory.

Driven by the Chieza brothers Itai, Isaac, George, Harrison, Tendai and Winston, great goalkeeper Booker Muchenu, steely defence rock Philemon Phiri and winger Lovemore Nyabeze, they were high up there among the best in the land.

Perhaps their most famous match is the 1973 Chibuku Cup final 3-0 loss to Highlanders. The Bulawayo team was like the proverbial sacrificial lamb and were expected to offer token opposition to a well-oiled machine.

Tymon Mabaleka and his troops put up a scintillating display that got the country talking. It would appear that the loss signalled the end of the great side as most players moved with the Chiezas finding themselves at Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints with Itai enjoying relative success at Bosso and Tendai at Chikwata.

Mangula were hard to beat at their stadium.

In the 1990s the club got a bit of a kick and was revived with Davidson Gurajena, Gerald Phiri, Gilbert Manyonda, John Phiri, Jani Milanzi and Abraham Chimkanga among the latter day side’s top players.

Legendary Moses Chunga once called the pitch a “potato field” as years of neglect took its toll on the facility.

For the loyal locals of the yesteryear generation, only memories of the past linger and the facility has been run down so much that those that etched their greatness there should be  turning in their graves.

Gwanzura Stadium in Harare was the home of Black Aces. The Highfields stadium and the club were good competition for Harare clubs who used Rufaro Stadium and Danny Bismark.

Parading stars like Rodrick Muganhiri, David Muchineripi, Wonder Chisetera, Byron Emmanuel, Simon Mudzudzu, Sunday Chidzambwa, Archieford Chimutanda, Twyman Ncube, Posani Sibanda, Fresh Chamarenga, Brenna Msiska, Charles Kaseke, Thomas Muchanyarei and the gold and black strip, the Highfields community still holds the team to their hearts as either Chibuku or Black Aces.

The players listed above are legends and by any measure Black Aces were a great side competing for honours with Arcadia, Dynamos, Zimbabwe Saints, Rio Tinto, Wankie, Mangula, Salisbury Callies and Salisbury Sables.

Many will attest that they looked forward to a Stan Dube’s soccer reports from Torwood Stadium, the home of Risco later to be called Zisco.

The venue was a fortress. Coming out with a positive result was as tough as climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

Paul Moyo’s arrival in 1977 and subsequent cup glory in the following year, saw the football script changed.

The country began to take note of Kwekwe and Redcliff as a football destination.

Some great players came through the club’s channels onto the Zimbabwe stage with Frankson Nyembere, Jonathan Boriwondo, Asani Karigeni, Richard Manda, Benedict Moyo, Ephraim Dzimbiri, James Takavada, Frank Mkanga, Costa Mafukidze, Njabulo Zulu and Ronnie Jowa.

In 1978, barely a year into the Rhodesia National Football League, the elite division back then, the club shocked the nation by winning the prestigious Castle Cup at a time when Harare, Wankie, Mangula, Bulawayo and St Paul Musami had been the centres with teams that had won national tournaments.

Kambasha Brothers Rockets better known as KB Rockets had their own fairy tale in Kwekwe playing at Mbizo.

The Africa Union Sports Council Region Five Games of 2014 hosted in Bulawayo, will always be remembered for bringing back to life White City Stadium.

One cannot talk of Bulawayo and leave out the facility. While in the past it was a multi-sport venue famed for track cycling and athletics, football was and still is the main attraction for the communities of Mabutweni, Njube, Iminyela, Pelandaba and Mpopoma.

Bulawayo Wanderers and Eagles later, used White City as their home ground. A small pitch with thick turf. Perhaps that may explain why they played passing football, enveloped in expression of one’s natural abilities.

They allowed talent to excel and fans to get their money’s worth.

So many skilful legends emerged out of the White City pitch with ball juggler Majuta Mpofu, Francis Paketh, dribbling wizard Boy Ndlovu, Collet Dube, Peter Sakala, Asani Karigeni, Elvis Chiweshe, Tanny Banda and Itai Masawi among the revered ball players.

Other brilliant talents exhibited by Bulawayo Wanderers are Elvis Chiweshe, Moses “Madalaboy” Moyo, John Nyumbu, Mapleni Nyathi, Doctor Melusi Sibanda, Johannes Tshuma, Rahman Gumbo, Noel Nyoni, Felix Ntuthu and unsung heroes like Eddie Zimunya and Charles Wadawu.

Ascot Stadium, the home of Gweru United and its paper burning fans, was one venue teams dreaded. The small grand stand under which players trotted onto the field, was very intimidating as fans stood by the security fence leading players to the pitch.

John Baison, Wonder Chaka, Isaac Tshuma, Ashton Mhlanga, Themba Chingwena, Collin and Sam Semwayo, John Nyumbu, Ranga Mutanga were some of the team’s stalwarts.

Dingumuzi Stadium, home to 1970s sensational club Black Horrors, the 1979 Chibuku Trophy 2-0 beaten semi-finalists inspired by Onias Musana, Richard Ndlovu, Grey Ncube and Lemmy Mnenekwa will stay football folklore stuff.

Danny Bismark in Harare added colour and different vibe. From “Zigure” to free drinking and smoking women and men all calling out “Arcadia, come on Arcadia, take him on Jimmy”,  the venue and the club Arcadia left an indelible mark.

Many a great player graced Danny Bismark and left a great impression on Zimbabwe football.

For years Arcadia and Danny Bismark will be spoken of in good light, with so many of its heroes in an imaginary Hall of Fame if the concept is not taken up and implemented by Sports Ministry and Zifa.

So many great stories are said about the stadium and players from the coloured community of yesteryear.

Majid Dhana, Stewart Gilbert, Titus Mugodi, Adolf Mutume, Bethal Salis, Ernest Mutano, Anthony Kambani, George Rollo, Hamid Dhana, Dorman Moodley, Reg Payne, Joey Antipas, Mike Abrahams, Herman “Sea Cottage” Hendrickse, Reg Payne, Headley Layton, Miguel Lemming, Carlos Max, Givemore Nyahuma, David Zulu, Charlie Jones, Shaun Charters, Mike Mhlanga and Maxwell Joseph illuminated the scene and left an ever lasting impression.

Ross Camp in Bulawayo played host to top local clubs.

Highlanders and Saints used the facility which was also home to BSAP who were coached by Paul Kruger.

Even small venues like Mabvuku, Cold Storage, Matshobana, Greenspan, Kamativi, Gwayi River Mine, Callies, Hellenics and Italian Clubs have their own great history and legends.