Zim’s Bobby Charlton
Chris Mhlanga takes a trip down memory lane to relive his whirlwind career that saw him don the colours of Black Aces and Moroka Swallows
IT’S one of those mornings when one wakes up as if he was on the wrong side of the bed and dreamt of hell encroaching.
There are few news sources who can raise your spirits and well travelled Gishon Ntini was one such character. Sadly he died this week.
But most football personalities in Bulawayo with journalists included, will testify that Chris Mhlanga is not far off.
While I am seated on the desk disappointed that my first priority Shadreck Ngwenya who played for Rhodesia, Black Aces and Moroka Swallows, cannot make it for the interview, I go through my phone’s contact book. As I scroll through to get Mhlanga’s number and I make a call to him and immediately jump into a taxi to his office.
“Oh, you also work upstairs like the young and fit guys we are Mhlanga,” I joke as we head to his first floor office.
“Eish wena mfana (Young Man) these steps damaged my knees. But I am now doing some training which I was introduced to by Danny MacLennan in the national team in 1968 and I no longer feel the effects of the stairs.”
As this is not enough Mhlanga goes on to boast that he is the only striker to have a shot Christened after a top British soccer legend.
He quickly pulls his file and shows me a copy of the Rhodesian Herald of 1968. On that day Arcadia United thumped Rufaro Rovers 4-1.
Then Mhlanga was turning out for Rovers and he scored the consolation goal.
“Rovers came back with a bang in 20 minutes when inside man Christopher sent a screamer a La Bobby Charlton high into the net from 35 yards.”
I then ask him why goals have dried up and that very few are of quality.
“It was not by a stroke of luck that I used to score such goals. I worked hard. For the boys to score many goals they have to train hard for long hours trying to perfect the art of scoring. Some of it has to be on their own, the other time with coaches and also talking to us former players. We have seen it all and we have hints that may improve the game,” said the 70-year-old Mhlanga. He said fans pay to watch goals and teams winning. “If there were no goals in the game football would not be what it is. We want action and good goals as well. Strikers must be in a position to score low volleys, middle volleys and high volleys. For a high volley you need to be airborne when you make contact with the ball, we do not see any goals scored from volleys on the run, these take goalkeepers and defenders by surprise,” said Mhlanga.
He said his generation of footballers was ever available to help youngsters.
“We played for nothing but passion for the game and the fans who came out to watch us. We were under pressure to outdo ourselves and as a result our matches had great goals. I tell you we are available to give hints for free if called upon,” said Mhlanga.
His sentiments have previously been expressed by Wankie and Chibuku Shumba great Twyman Ghost of Chibuku’’ Ncube.
The legend who bemoans that people of his status are not getting the recognition they deserve in the game and at clubs they played for, Mhlanga played for Nimfa Rovers, Rufaro, Dynamos, Rio Tinto, Highlanders, Eastlands and Bulawayo Wanderers.
The man who was born in Gwanda’s Entembeni area on March 24, 1946 grew up in Kadoma where his father ran a photographic studio and a hair salon.
It is at the gold mining town where he attended Mupamombe School that he got hooked to football.
“Life in mining communities revolves around sport and football being the world’s number on sport, is what we grew up playing in the dusty streets of Kadoma. At 15 in 1961, I made it into the Kadoma Select and I was later drafted into the Mashonaland Select where I played with the likes of Simon Machaya and Steven Chimedza all football legends in their own right. They were other guys who were big names that I have forgotten,” said Mhlanga.
He was to proceed to Mlezu College for his Junior Certificate in 1963 with the likes of Livingstone Mashengele, a former Matabeleland North Provincial Administrator.
Mhlanga and Mashengele were sacked from the school for spearheading a protest against fees and blacklisted by the White Settler Regime. He returned to Kadoma to rejoin his boyhood club Yellow Birds.
Then disaster nearly derailed his career when in 1964, a standoff between Yellow Birds and Scotford Mills fought over his services for the better part of the year.
e following year Mhlanga moved to Nimfa Rovers in Harare who were keen to turn professional. They played in tournaments around the country rubbing shoulders with clubs like City Pirates, Green Bombers where he came into contact with the likes of Chris Yoyo, Wilfred Tap Tap, John Chipukula Malalapipe Walker and a rising Chita Antonio.
In 1965 Rufaro Rovers, sponsored by the City of Harare-owned brewers snapped Mhlanga. ‘‘The
“I scored a hat-trick on my debut playing for the reserves against St Paul’s. St Paul’s had Paul Tsumbe and James Nxumalo. My performance was so good that I was persuaded to quit Nimfa immediately.
“When I arrived John Rugg was also new at the time just arriving from Scotland via Durban City. He introduced a sweeper and the English game to us. The likes of Killian Bukutu, Kenneth Makoni, James Chiabaya, Philemon Tigere a former national team player, Moses Chembe and Jonathan Makoni were some of my teammates,” said Mhlanga,
His stock as a striker continued to grow and in 1968 he was drafted into the national team. The following year, they were beaten 1-0 by Australia in the final qualifier for the 1970 World Cup won by Brazil. That squad had some of the finest talent of the yesteryear era the likes of Peter Nyama, Chimedza, Gibson Homela then a tear away striker, William Sibanda, George Shaya, Sherperd Murape and Rob Jordan.
A knee injury put paid hopes of being part of the World Cup qualifiers campaign squad.
“I was at the peak of my game scoring regularly. I was keen to prove my worth but I suffered a knee injury. Rio Tinto came knocking in 1969 inviting me to return to my home in Kadoma.
“Syd Mathews who was secretary of the league and Rufaro refused with my clearance and I was banned for a year prompting Rio Tinto to draft me into their coaching department,” he said.
He was reluctant to take the offer as he felt Peter Phiri, David Chingwa and Duncan Chamboko were more senior and deserved it.
“But it appeared there was this belief in me and I accepted the offer. I was made sports organiser and welfare officer at the mine but will not forget a rude awakening, a 1-6 loss to BSAP Thomlison Depot. I was forced to arrange a friendly match for us to avenge the loss, we went on to beat them 4-1 and I scored all four goals,” said Mhlanga.
He added: “Unknown to me Morrison Sifelani, Josiah Akende and Robson Rundaba were watching the game and they negotiated with Rufaro for me to dump Rio Tinto and return to Harare. Life was to be good at Rio. I had a company paid for maid among many other perks.”
Still the jester at 70, Mhlanga says had it been made public that he would be leaving for Harare a riot would have ensued as fans had fallen in love with him. He sneaked out of the gold mining town making his debut in 1970 against Sakubva United.
“We beat them 6-0 and I scored all, they were headed goals. Nobody has scored so many goals through his head in a game,” said Mhlanga.
Unfortunately most of the past’s football action was not captured by the national broadcaster and national papers.
It is one of two claims yet to be proved with the other Mhlanga likes to talk about being how he crossed the ball which was blown by the wind high up there. He had time to rush into the box and finish it off with his head.
Mhlanga insists that he is among the country’s greatest strikers and deserved between 1969 and 1970 to be Soccer Star of the Year as he overshadowed several top players of that generation.
“Even George Shaya knew that I was bad news,” quips Mhlanga.
Mhlanga will next week continue with his stay in Harare at Dynamos and his move to Highlanders, how the club was turned around, his move to Eastlands.