Ex-goalie Nyahuma still going strong

A LOT of local football fans must be wondering where the former goalkeeper of the now-defunct Premiership side Black Aces, Emmanuel Nyahuma, is.

“Shumba’’, as he is affectionately known by the hordes of football fans in Harare’s high-density suburb of Highfield, is still alive and kicking.

Now in his early 60s, Nyahuma, a senior national team triallist, is still involved in coaching football and is currently based at St George’s College in Harare.

Zimpapers Sports recently caught up with Nyahuma and he revealed that he still has the passion and zeal of coaching football.

“I’m still very much into football and I’m currently based at St George’s College here in Harare . . . That’s where I’m based and coaching at the moment . . . I’m enjoying it there,’’ said the soft-spoken Nyahuma, who made his name as a talented goalkeeper at Black Aces in the 1980s.

Nyahuma is not the only former high-profile goalkeeper who has ventured into coaching. Former Black Aces and CAPS United shot-stopper, Brenna “BaGari’’ Msiska, is now one of the assistant coaches at Premiership side Yadah.

Nyahuma was part of the Black Aces side which was laden with talented individual players such as the Mugeyi twins, Wilfred and William, Charles “Star Black’’ Kaseke, Shadreck “Waga Waga’’ Dzvairo, Kifton “Somalia’’ Kadurira, Magarika “Maga Dog’’ Dzvairo, Sebastian Chikwature, Shingi

Nyamadzawo, Thomas Muchanyareyi, Percy “Master’’ Mwase, Stanley “Zero my Hero’’ Mashezha, John and Davis Mbidzo, and Miriro Bernard.

The late coaches, Peter “Thunderboots’’ Nyama and Steve “The Dude’’ Kwashi, had the privilege of coaching these talented players whose every home game at Gwanzura was always played before a full house in the mid and late 1980s.

Black Aces were then a tricky customer as they made Gwanzura a fortress and not many teams escaped with maximum points while playing against “Shaisa Mufaro’’ at the famous venue in Highfield which is now an eyesore through negligence by the Harare City Council.