The ‘Incredible Hulk’ we lost
THEY say dynamites come in small packages and that’s correct and it’s also correct that more dynamites come in big packages. For how else can you describe the lethal doses of explosives that were unleashed on the field of play by big Friday “Breakdown” Phiri, the former Warriors and CAPS United bustling forward, who passed away last Friday and was laid to rest on Sunday.
Phiri was a bull terrier on the pitch as he roamed the left wing to provide pinpoint crosses for his teammates and could also readily switch to play as a centre striker, where he was a predatory finisher both with his head and either foot.
Yet after all the action on the pitch had finished, Phiri would transform into a gentle and shy giant who shunned publicity and was difficult to pin down for an interview.
A virtually unknown player who was plucked from Mutare United by the late CAPS United coach, Ashton “Papa” Nyazika in 1980, a year after the Green Machine had won their maiden league title, it didn’t take long for the Makepekepe fans to fall in love with this forceful and lethal forward.
Although CAPS United failed to defend their title — it was grabbed by their bitter rivals Dynamos — Phiri announced his entry into top-flight football with an indelible ferocity as he finished third in the Golden Boot race behind winner and close ally and teammate Shacky “Mr Goals” Tauro and Dynamos’ speedy striker, Oliver “Flying Saucer” Kateya.
During the following years in the then Super League, the deadly combination of Tauro and Phiri upfront would become an unenviable task for any defence.
In one encounter at Ascot in 1986 against Gweru United, Tauro and Phiri extinguished “Pisa-Pisa” in a three-goal salvo in the opening 10 minutes, with Phiri grabbing a double and Tauro scoring once on their way to a 3-1 victory.
Former CAPS United secretary-general, Wellington “Hwezha” Dangarembizi, then already a staunch follower of the Green Machine, recalls that day well.
“The home side had only opened a few turnstiles and the long queues were moving very slowly and I remember grinding my teeth in frustration as I heard the three loud cheers that greeted all three goals and I almost tore my hair from its roots,’’ he said.
“I still went in and could only be told how and who had scored the goals and Friday was deservedly named man-ofthe-match as he had torn Pisa-Pisa to shreds on that afternoon.
“When I later became the secretary of CAPS United in the ‘90s, Phiri was always very polite and respectful even though I was younger.
“He was an exemplary leader to the younger players who were coming into the system and I am still shocked at his passing away.”
Even when Phiri was on many Warriors excursions, he was always reserved on the plane and bus as we made our way to many venues all over Africa.
But as soon as he put on that strip for his country, the metamorphic transformation would catapult him into the “Incredible Hulk” that would terrorise defences on the pitch.
Phiri could also cover up for his teammates.
I remember during a league match for his beloved CAPS United against Zimbabwe Saints at Rufaro and his leftback Clever Muzuwa had received a yellow card during the early stages for a rough tackle on prolific Saints star winger, Joseph Machingura.
Moments later, as Chauya Chikwata laid siege in a crowed penalty box, Muzuwa fouled Machingura once more, but the referee and his assistant were somehow uncertain on who the offender was.
And up stepped Phiri to offer his apologies to the referee and Machingura as he claimed responsibility, obviously aware that a second yellow card to Muzuwa would be costly to his team, and he went into the referee’s book for a caution and yellow card.
With the close exception of former Warriors and Zimbabwe Saints legend, Agent “Ajira” Sawu, I have yet to come across another local forward who was equally devastating both on the left wing and in the centre.