Dzapasi: Defence maestro with eye for goals
BRIGHTON Dzapasi spent seven years from 1978 to 1985 in the first team of the now-defunct former Premiership side Black Aces an awesome achievement for a defender.
He played alongside some of Aces’ legends such as the late Archieford “Chehuchi” Chimutanda, Byron “Piri Piri” Manuel, Nigel Munyati, Boniface Makuruzo, Maronga “The Bomber” Nyangela, Clever Hunda, Cabby Chimunda, Stewart Gilbert, Sunday Masauso, Brenna Msiska, Thomas Muchanyarei, Peter Manyara and Anthony Mbidzo, to mention just a few, at the Highfield-based community team.
Dzapasi and his colleagues played for pride and monetary success was never a source of motivation.
Donning the Aces shirt was not an easy thing as there were thousands of players who always wanted to get into the team.
Top Zimbabwean football commentator Charles “CNN” Mabika described the 62-yearold Dzapasi as one of the most underrrated players of his generation.
“Brighton Dzapasi was a hardworking defensive pillar, who rarely came out of a tackle second best.
‘’He was one of the most underrated players of his generation, who was shy on and off the pitch and let his marking prowess do the talking on the pitch.
“Perhaps his misfortune was having to share the limelight in a midfield combination that contained many popular artists like Archieford Chimutanda, Boniface Makuruzo and Peter Gogoma.
“He was also a utility player, who was exceptional in supporting set-pieces, especially corner kicks where he was a good header and scored a couple of goals from such positions.
“He was also gifted with the ability of marking and distributing the ball with either foot,” Mabika said.
In 1986, Dzapasi left Aces to join Chapungu United where he was also offered a job in the Air Force of Zimbabwe with benefits like housing and access to schools for his children.
He was among the pioneers of Chapungu United under the late Lovemore “Mukadota” Nyabeza.
Chapungu had some talented players who included the likes of Nkulumo “Dayidzayi Vamwe” Donga (late), Beavan Gwamure (late), Choddy Chirwa, Godfrey Chuchu, Jonah “Chivhu” Murewa (late), Moses “Gweje Gweje” Chasweka and Perkins “Yellow” Nyamutamba.
The interesting question is, how did he survive over a decade of playing football at the top level?
Dzapasi attributed this to great determination, staying focused and never allowing beer and women to distract him from his vision to play in the Zimbabwean elite league.
He said he realised how tough it was to get such an opportunity in the sea of thousands of young people and had to put heart and soul to football.
He was a family man blessed with three girls.
He realised football was not just for fun, but it was his job to look after his family.
Football never made him rich materially, but he felt blessed as he fulfilled his dream to play in Zimbabwe’s top-flight division.
He is also grateful to the Air Force of Zimbabwe that later gave him a job, which he continued with long after his retirement from football.
His message to young people is that they must stay away from drugs, prostitution, drinking alcohol in excess, and focus on their football and looking after their families.
He also argues that sport, indeed, can empower one’s life as his own life is a testimony.
“Playing in the top division also requires humility and respecting your coaches. As a player I knew the coach was the boss.
‘’I made my life simple by listening and obeying the coaches as I realised failure to do so would see me on the bench.
‘’Competition for places in the first team was tough,” Dzapasi said.
He said in the 1980s, most clubs would take only 13 players into the first team.
It was hard to be among the chosen ones. “I had to keep fighting and staying focused.” His message to young boys is that, the world has changed, football is now a globalised sport; talented boys end up in top European leagues.
“Young players must stay disciplined, work hard and seize opportunities to impress top European football scouts,” Dzapasi said.
He has inspired many young boys in Highfield.
He also inspired his young brother, Dyson Dzapasi, who went on to be one of the best scouts for Leeds United Academy in the UK, and is now an international football talent scouting and promotion manager.
Dyson has scouted and placed many young players into UK championship and Premiership academies.
Brighton also influenced his nephew, Basil Chisopo, who went on to play for CAPS United and lawyer Cosmas Mukwesha, who went on to do legal work for both ZIFA and the PSL.