Going down memory lane with Roseman ‘Dracko’ Mangwiro
MY football initiation as a young boy was through the radio. There were names which we often referred to as “Football Names”.
Once you heard these names through the commentary of Mukoma Choga Tichatonga Gavhure, Kingsley Sibanda or Charles‘CNN’ Mabika, they would stick forever.
Every effort was made to see the players in flesh whenever they came to Harare, in my case, Gwanzura Stadium in Harare’s high-density suburb of Highfield to be precise. The good old stadium was a stone’s throw away from my father’s house and I watched many football stars there.
There were many such unforgettable names, names like Obey Sova, Howard Mago, Nyaro Mumba, Chingumbe Masuku, Titus Majola , Robert Godoka , Perkins Nyamutamba and Laban Ngoma to name but a few.
They had a nice ring to them and they left a permanent imprint on the mind.
Allow me to add Roseman “Dracko” Mangwiro to the list.
The name simply unforgettable, the player even more so!
I had the privilege to catch up with the former Gweru United midfield dynamo!
It was good to know that he is in robust health and I could not miss the opportunity to go down memory lane and recapture his football journey.
He had a lot to say.
“I was born in 1963 in Mtapa, Gweru and attended Muwunga Primary school. I had to study for my secondary education through Rapid Results College. I realized my football talent while still at primary school and I played together with James Mhlanga, the young brother of Ashton. He was very talented but he somehow did not make it into the then Super League.
‘’In 1981 I joined Gweru United, I was only 17 but I quickly settled well into the grove of the team. During that first season my teammates were Nobert Zimuto, Ashton Mhlanga, Wonder Chaka, Robert Phiri, Takesure Tito, Kizito Matsika, Samuel Ushe, Themba Chigwena, Isaac Tshuma, John Baison and Paul Ngwazi to mention but a few!”
The roll call of honour from the legend got me excited and I wanted to know more about the players mentioned.
One cannot talk about Gweru United without dwelling at length on Ashton Mhlanga, the man they called “Musharukwa!”
How good was he I asked?
“Ashton was a football genius, he could use both legs to shoot. He was our penalty specialist and more often than not, he used to send goalkeepers the wrong way!” replied the legend, the nostalgia evident in his emotional voice.
What about Wonder Chaka, the man often described as the“baby faced Assassin!”
Roseman warmed up to the task. “Wonder was a cool guy, he had the ability to score goals when we really needed them. He was Mr. Reliable and I rate him as the best striker ever produced by Gweru United!”
I asked the legend about his strengths and without a hint of self-praise, he responded:
“As a holding midfielder, my strengths were winning the ball and distribution. I had great ball control and I was tireless. My first coach was William Sibanda, a great defensive midfielder during his hey days and he taught me well.
He was helped by Mark Tizola. I think I was among the top 10 defensive midfielders of the early 80’s!”
I could not argue with this because even Mukoma Choga used to sing his praises: “Richitorwa nechikomana, Roseman Dracko Mangwiro, chinotamba bhora rino mwisa Mvura!”
This was no exaggeration from the renowned commentator and wordsmith.
Any football journey has its ups and downs and Mangwiro had his fair share of both.
He remembers the disappointments more.
“The match which disappointed me the most was against Highlanders at Babourfields, we were dominating and we were supposed to win that match. We ended up losing the match and it led to our relegation.
‘’Being relegated really hurt! It ate my heart. Another match was the one against local rivals Bata Power at Ascot. We lost the match and our supporters were infuriated, they beat up the rival supporters. With Takesure Tito, I was caught up in the crossfire. We were arrested for assault, went to court and fortunately the magistrate dismissed the charges,” said the lucid
Mangwiro.
He added: ‘’We played the Chibuku Trophy final against Arcadia in 1983 and we lost 2-1! This was a big disappointment for all of us, a question of so near and yet so far!”.
As a midfielder who does he rate as his best midfield partner?
“I played with Richard Manda as a defensive partner, he was solid and young Collin Semwayo who was the best attacking midfielder I played with. At one point we nicknamed him “Poacher” because of the way he used to score important goals! My toughest opponent was Arcadia United’s Majid Dhana, his tackles were something else!”
Although life has not been all rosy for the former midfield dynamo, Mangwiro is still optimistic about the future of Zimbabwean football.
“All stakeholders must work together, we must revive the junior structures, development is key, former players must be encouraged to lead the game, participate more, we must guide the youth and stop drug abuse.!” he added.
“We have the talent and we must work together,” he urged.
What about his best Gweru United XI dared to ask?
“It’s not easy come up with a best 11 but the following will definitely make my team: Ranga Matunga, Takesure Tito, Ashton “Musharukwa“Mhlanga, Robert Phiri, John Baison, Roseman“Dracko“Mangwiro,Jonah “Chivhumudhara “Murehwa,Collin “Computer”Semwayo, Norbert Zimuto , Wonder Chaka and Kizito Matsika!”
The legend retired in 1987 after failing to recover from a nasty knee injury.
“My only regret is that I did not win any trophies but I really enjoyed my football journey.’’
Gweru United “Pisa Pisa”, what a team and thank you “Dracko “for bringing back the memories!
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