FROM THE RING TO THE FIELD
Most times parents play an influential role in influencing our choice of career as they paint a good picture of it. Sixty-three-year-old Philemon Dangarembwa was no exception to that. His first sport of choice was boxing, and he spent more time slugging it out at Thabiso Youth Centre which is in Makokoba, Bulawayo. But his father did not like the idea as he would spank him if he heard that he was throwing one or two jabs in the boxing ring.
“My father would get angry if he heard that I was at boxing and he would beat me up and instruct me not to go there again. But it was hard for me to just do away with the sport I felt I was good in,” he says.
Seeing that his sport of choice was not his father’s favourite he had to switch to the beautiful game of soccer.
He honed his football skills at Thabiso Youth Centre and later on he crossed the town to perfect his football skills at Mthwakazi Youth Centre which is located in Nguboyenja suburb. Now having embraced his father’s sporting choice he joined Bulawayo City juniors in 1968.
“I started my football career with Bulawayo City Under-14, 16 and 18. While there a friend invited me to try my luck at Rangers FC,” he recalls.
In 1970 his friend Philemon Dube invited him to try his luck at Rangers FC which was in the Rhodesia National Football League.
He says the team had quality players in the name of Bruce Mawa, Boet Fieldman, Sterno Brian and Engelbert Hendricks. He remembers that Rangers FC was dominated by coloureds. But he quickly found his place in the system.
He was thrust into the centre back role where he partnered his late friend Dube in that position for three seasons. Being the only blacks attracted the good and bad.
“Some of the fans used to call us names but we stood our ground and never gave in to boos and unwarranted criticism whenever we had made mistakes during the game,” he says.
He shares a bitter memory on a game between Mashonaland United and his side.
“It was a weekend game where we played against Mashonaland United and we beat them 3-0. Three Mashonaland United players were sent off and supporters threw missiles onto the pitch. During that melee I fell down and sustained a bruise and decided to feign an injury, I was pulled out and as a result the match was abandoned,” he recalls.
In 1976 he left to join Zimbabwe Saints and his maiden season was the highlight of his career when Chauya Chikwata as they were fondly known beat Highlanders 4-0 in Chibuku Cup final played in Harare.
He says their chief striker Chita Antonio scored a brace and Gibson Homela, who had been recalled for the match from the United Kingdom also scored a brace.
He remembers a game against Dynamos with bitter memory as they were thumped 8-1 in Castle Cup final that was played at Rufaro Stadium.
In 1982 he left Zimbabwe Saints to join Olympics which was coached by Barry Daka. In the early days of his arrival, the team attracted then electronics giant, Supersonic who became the sponsors.
He says Supersonic FC was a good side that managed to upstage a trailblazing Caps United FC that had talented players like Stanley Ndunduma, Joel Shambo, Shakyman Tauro and Duncan Ellison.
With the team Dangarembwa was able to win the Rothmans Shield to add on to the Chibuku (1976), Castle Cup (1977) and the league titles of 1977 and 1979.
He played alongside Rabson Chitambo, Ben Makadzange, Boyce Malunga, Tito Paketh, Felix Ntuthu, Fortune Zengeni and Patrick Ncube.
Daka was to leave the side in 1984 to take over from Bobby Clark at Highlanders with others like Tobias Mudyambanje, Amini Soma-Phiri and Paketh following a year later as the club faced viability problems.
“Barry Daka entrusted me with the coaching of the team, as such I doubled as a player/coach. I had to recruit players to strengthen the squad as it was depleted,” he said.
While in Division One the late politician Hebert Ushewokunze became the sponsor of the team and he changed its name to Zimbabwe Colts FC.
“We tried hard to gain promotion into the Super League but sadly we were beaten by Wankie FC who gained promotion,” he said.
In 1986 he went for a knee operation but he did not return to Zimbabwe Colts but decided to join Zimbabwe Saints. He spent the entire season playing in the reserve side as he failed to breakthrough to senior team.
The first team was a formidable force and had players like Ephraim Chawanda, Misheck Sibanda, Josphat Humbasha, Josphat Munetsi, Kenneth Mathe, Obey Sova, George Ayibu, Joseph Machingura, Shayne Khamal, John Sibanda and Henry Mckop.
Seeing that the knee injury was recurring, Chauya Chikwata head coach Roy Barreto asked him to assist him in the coaching department.
He grabbed the opportunity and became his assistant. In that season, 1988 they won the championship, the Chibuku Trophy over Highlanders and were finalists in the Rothmans Shield, but surprisingly he was fired at the end of the season.
In 1989 he took a break as he was frustrated and had to resume coaching at National Blankets which was in Division Two at the time.
Once again he took a break from the stressful job of coaching and had to bounce back in 1994 when he joined the then Division One outfit Shushine FC.
He spent a season with the Shushine FC before he joined AmaZulu FC and helped them to gain promotion into the Premier Soccer League in 1997.
After a good season with AmaZulu he returned to Zimbabwe Saints. At the time Chauya Chikwata had the talented Ronald “Gidiza” Sibanda, Muzondiwa Mugadza and Mlungisi Ndebele.
With eight games to go, he was able to transform the side, forcing a top four finish.
But he was sent packing and replaced by William Sibanda.
“The management said I should train the squad only and not to be involved with team selection. They said William Sibanda who was based in Gweru would select the team and that angered me. I refused and as a result we were fired,” he said.
In 1999 he was lured by Joseph James to coach Thorngrove United which was in Division Two whom he guided to Division One.
He was back at Zimbabwe Saints in 2004 but quit as the club was not paying him. He is no longer active in coaching and now spends time with friends playing for Mzilikazi Pirates.
He is the father of former Mzilikazi High School and Zimbabwe Saints utility player Keith who is based in the UK.