My consolation was in providing assists: Phiri

for me to manoeuvre whenever we played Highlanders. Let me hasten to say he was the only defender that gave me torrid time,” he shares.

He revealed that Highlanders were the formidable side in the South Zone League and for their sterling efforts in 1977 they won the league championship.

“What made Highlanders dominate the league was that they had experienced players such as Lawrence Phiri, the late Majuta Mpofu, Tennyson Mloyi and late Tymon Mabaleka and they turned Highlanders into a formidable force in the South Zone League,” he says.

He says the formation of the National Soccer League in 1979 brought brighter prospects for his football career.

“It brought joy because I knew I would compete with big clubs like Gweru United, Hippo Valley, Zisco, Hwange and Zimbabwe Saints and I knew I would be taking my game to greater heights and have a chance to turn out for one of the South African teams just like Ebson “Sugar” Muguyo, Max Tshuma (late), Douglas Maneto, the late Shadreck Ngwenya who were playing in South Africa,” says Ngedla.

He says he had great moments when he was selected as a guest player for Highlanders FC.

“David Khumalo and I were asked by Highlanders officials to turn out for them in a friendly match against Dynamos in Harare. That match remains as one of my memorable matches. We were trailing DeMbare by one goal to nil but I scored an equaliser in the last stages of the game,” he remembers.

Highlanders players who were involved in that friendly match are Mark Watson, Nephias Ngwenya, Melusi Sibanda, Noah Banda, Bonface Nyambwe, Richard Phiri, Henry Chitsa, Stewart Mpofu and Richard Phiri.

One of the worst moments in Chiefs colours was when his side was booted out of the Chibuku Trophy.

“We were booted out of Chibuku Cup semi-finals by Dynamos 3–1. We were hoping to sail through to finals,” says.

After a fruitful stint with Bulawayo Chiefs he joined Bulawayo Wanderers at the time the outfit was coached by Tendai Chieza.

“I just played for two seasons for the side and joined Black Aces, an outfit which was based in Matshobana. I was the player-coach for the side and I spent a season with them,” he reveals.

He had to quit soccer in 1985 and concentrated at his work at National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) where he was assisting boilermakers. He retired in 2012 after serving the company for 40 years and 11 months.

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