shloboe boe
WHAT we call the Class of 1998 is a group of players who were at the foundation stage of the team that went on to win four consecutive league titles and those who came along to achieve this great feat.
It is no doubt part of Highlanders’ marvellous history and legacy.
Never before had our club even won consecutive league titles at this level.
Hence to be part of this history is a proud moment for me and my colleagues.
Somewhere in the annals of history, Highlanders and Zimbabweans will have a place for this group of footballers, coaches, support staff and administration at this great institution.
I played for the Highlanders juniors and was promoted to the first team in 1995 but I did not establish myself as a regular.
Then I was young and still eager to earn my stripes.
Out of frustration of not playing under Madinda Ndlovu, I tried my luck in Botswana, hoping that maybe some day I would return an improved player and don the colours of my family supported team.
In 1998 having impressed in some social soccer games, executive members and technical team led by the late duo of manager Ernest Sibanda and head coach Rahman Gumbo, I was enticed to return to Highlanders.
I remember, Highlanders was under Roger Muhlwa and Peter Dube who had replaced Madinda with Rahman Gumbo.
They dispatched Ernest Sibanda to get my clearance on the eve of the kick off of the 1998-99 season and that was the beginning of a very good story for me to be told for generations to come.
We were young and hungry for success with veterans like Amin Soma-Phiri, the late Mercedes Sibanda and Willard Khumalo, among the veterans.
Louis Kutinyu too was more experienced and a veteran of many battles.
Methembe Ndlovu was coming from the US and a group ahead of us in the junior age group teams. Dumaza Dube and Kelvin Kaindu were nursing injuries and would eventually leave the club. It was not easy being at the club.
There was no money.
Our chairman and secretary then were blunt.
They came to us and said Highlanders were broke and insolvent. Those who wanted to leave could leave.
They gave us a challenge that if we play beautiful football and crowds swell, we will be paid our signing on fees, allowances and bonuses as we go.
Perhaps the fact that a majority did not have family commitments to worry about, was good then. But that call added to the charisma of manager Ernest “Maphepha” Sibanda as that was good enough motivation for us to carve careers for ourselves.
We were a united group of fairly young players eager to explore the rigours of professional football and try to emulate what greats of the club like Tymon Mabaleka, Madinda Ndlovu, Tommy Masuku, Lawrence Phiri, Willard Khumalo, Tito Paketh, Mercedes Sibanda and Douglas Mloyi had achieved with the club.
We won the 1998 Cosmos Cellular and in the following year Blessing Gumiso arrived from Mutare, Austin Juwayeyi from Harare, Thabani Masawi from Corrugated and a majority were from the Highlanders juniors.
It was easy to gel as we were of the same age group boys. Unity was a key factor as we navigated the terrain with erratic payments being made with crowds growing by day as we played football that fans wanted. They believed in that young team and people started following us all over the country and
“Roadshows” became synonymous with the club.
Looking back at that team, Maphepha was the executive’s joker. He knew how to handle us having been a player, junior league chairman, social soccer club member and a businessman who had to traverse the region on business and dealing with people at different levels.
One time, we were despondent, we did not want to travel for a fixture in Harare because we were owed by the club. He was able to bring us together and convince the lads to travel as the money would be sent through fax as soon as the executive got it on departure day. Yes, you heard me right, through fax.
We went to Harare hopeful of the promise and played our hearts out for the club and won.
We look back and have a big laugh among ourselves when we meet to reminisce as former teammates. How could the money be faxed in all honest?
One of my attributes was being bullish and if defenders intimidated Thabani, they would not get it that easy with me as I matched them physically and pace wise.
We scored many goals together and we were a feared lot in the league. We encouraged each other a lot and knew exactly my next move, he could hold up play or pass first time to set me up. There were several sources of goals in that team and creativity came from everyone as all were talented players.
Noel Kaseke and Mamba Chisoni were very young wingbacks just out of the junior ranks, eventually they go to know I did not want to spend the afternoon bored up there as they toyed around with the ball. They pumped the balls into spaces and gaps that we capitalized on.There was Simon “Makwee” Sibanda too, very creative and heart-stopping at times when he would control the ball in the 12-yard box and dribble past strikers. There was Siza Khoza on the right running rings around defenders subtracting numbers for us to have clearer sight of goal with fewer men to contend with.
Gift “Thebe” Lunga (Jnr) was there on the left adding to the depth and creativity.
Gumiso and Alexander Phiri were our defensive midfielders. They would work themselves to a standstill.
There was, however, something peculiar about Alexander, in every game in which he was set to be man of the match, he would not finish it.
Two brilliant long drives beating Nelson Sopha of St Michel in a Champions League tie in the Seychelles, as if rehearsed, saw Phiri walking out, claiming injury.
Bekithemba Ndlovu, Dazzy Kapenya and Thulani “Biya” Ncube were the fortresses on which our defence was built around.
They gave great cover to Edmore Sibanda, Pope Moyo and the late Amon Chimbalanga.
The talent supply line was on with the late trio Benjamin Moyo, Jiza Sithole and Simms Mkorongo promoting Johannes Ngodzo and Mkhokheli Dube with others like Honour Gombami, Sifiso Nketha,
Gilbert Banda and Anzilom Ndlovu joining the ranks of the first team ranks.
Among the highlights of our first year was the 2-0 win over Dynamos on 28 February 1999. I had never seen Barbourfields Stadium so packed.
The build-up to the match carried some controversy.
On the Thursday of that week, the Premier Soccer League issued a list of players that would not participate in the match.
Dazzy Kapenya and I had accumulated three yellow cards and Dube and Muhlwa would have none of that. Their complaint was why they kept quiet until the 11th hour. More so, the count of three yellow cards should have had me punished before the crucial title decider against Dynamos.
We were fielded and we won and went on to claim the title.
There were wild scenes of jubilation in Bulawayo and overnight we were heroes, legends of our own making, respected around the country.
My most memorable game is when we beat Zimbabwe Saints 7-1 at Barbourfields Stadium. Thabani Masawi scored four goals and people started believing in us ukuthi we can do it. I must have scored two goals that afternoon.
When the 2000 season started, we continued playing breathtaking football and I earned myself a move to Cyprus.
At the time of my August departure, I had notched 22 goals two less than my tally of 1998/99 our first championship and done enough to convince scribes to vote me the 2000 Soccer Star of the Year.
I could not be at the awards but that was a crowning moment not only for me but my Highlanders, as they received the championship trophy on the evening.
We were now under James Mangwana-Tshuma and Kennedy Ndebele who did well with the club, winning the next three championships.
I would have loved to stay with that team but I was tempted to take the Paphos FC offer and I would eventually play in Greece.
It was good that last Tuesday we met as former players and caught up with each other. These guys will always be special to me. They made me who I am today. It was an honour serving Highlanders as a player and later, manager.
Moyo is now into the construction industry and is vice-chairman of Bulawayo City Football Club. He spoke to Lovemore Dube.
Siphakeme .Mnindwa
