Tribute to Arcadia legend Amato
THE recent death of Mohammed Ben “Amato” Cader came as a sad reminder of the good old footballing days for the Arcadia community.
Cader was undoubtedly one of the leaders in the great years of Arcadia United from the 1960s through to the 70s.
Arcadia United won their only domestic league title during the era, back in 1971. They also won the Castle Cup in 1968 and ‘69.
Sadly, as the club is set to mark its 60th anniversary next year, most of the yesteryear heroes, including Cader, are now late.
Former club members Eugene Raffy Raftopoulous and Simon Finch, the son of another Arcadia United great Jimmy Finch, gave a moving tribute to the yesteryear legend, who had morphed into a successful businessman and farmer before his death.
“Another Arcadia United loss sadly, but will he be truly remembered? Mohammed Ben Cader aka “Amato” and Jimmy Finch both played for the two Harare teams that headed the semi-professional league that preceded the RNFL (later ZIFA Super League and PSL).
“Finch was at Salisbury City and Cader at Salisbury United. As these two teams came to an end, Finch moved on to the newly-formed black African side, Dynamos.
“Both him and Finch were completely immersed in Shona, and therefore completely comfortable in the nuances of the sub-culture, to transition in predominantly black teams,” reminisced Raftopoulous.
Cader’s nickname of “Amato”, it is believed, emanated from his workplace, the most significant African-supported store of Amato Nyore Nyore Furnishers.
Raftopoulous believes through the inspirational role played by people like Cader, the Arcadia community produced exceptional football talent.
“Ben at Salisbury United played with Alan Hlatshwayo, Adolf Mutuma who later played at Arcadia United, and after we won the Castle Cup in 1968 versus Dynamos; we were graced in 1969 with the presence of Jimmy Finch in Arcadia United.”
“Cader was undoubtedly one of the Influential leaders in the great years of Arcadia United. Great dribbling skills, is two-footed, and is masterful in his midfield role of stitching together the linkage of build-up and strike ability of that era.
“He was a very respected voice in the dressing room and admired businessman, in one of the toughest disciplines in business, farming. The latter is a seven-day business, 365 days a year.
“These disciplines desire the attributes of great work ethic and high discipline, as well as the ability to mobilize and motivate a workforce. These were deeply endowed in the Ben Cader I knew, had the privilege of playing with but more importantly was in the presence of this man. He was and will always be a benchmark of real manhood and dignity,” remarked Raftopoulous.
The now-defunct Arcadia United, a club that produced 1978 Soccer Star of the Year George “TNT” Rollo, was a conveyor belt of talent as it also gave Zimbabwe players such as Herman “Sea Cottage” Hendrickse, Bethal Salis, Reg Payne, Headley Layton, Joey Antipas, Miguel Lemming, Carlos “Murehwa” Max, Mike Abrahams, Stewart Gilbert, Reginald Paizee, Graham Boyle, Majid and Hamid Dhana, Mike Mhlanga and Wesley Gilbert.
Arcadia United was followed by the community at various stadiums with their vociferous and colourful supporters, the most renowned being the late Auntie Cookie bellowing instructions from the stands at Danny Bismarck, Callies, Rufaro, Gwanzura, and more stadiums across the country in the famous white with three stripes down the left.
“I recall Arcadia changing at the gum trees at Callie ground, but this did not deter the team at all, displaying their talents and beating them with the likes of Topsy Robertson, Nhimo Schlachi, Gallagher, and team,” recalled Simon Finch.
“Ben Cader sprayed the ball too many attacking players as the engine room to the likes of Titus Tito Mugodi, Jimmy Finch, Alvin Gough, Eugene Raftopoulous, David Gwege Williams, Elijah, Cardoza and company during matches against Callies, Chibuku, Dynamos, Wankie, Cam and Motor and Mhangura etc.
Arcadia United was a team that produced many family groups from our community over the years, namely Cader, Hendricks, Raftopoulous, Galloway, Moodley, Rollo, Bismark, and Dhana just to mention a few.
With its sound junior policy back then, they had an abundance of stars coming through the ranks to take the place of the older players. “Going back to coloured football, Morganians was one of the dominant teams in the Coloured League, as well as Santos and Ramblers.
“The team was inclusive of the guys I mentioned in my first message as well as Ahmed Dhana and more, plus the inclusion of another Morganian, Majid Khan whose eldest brother was a namesake in Coloured Football, Sarawari Khan who was one of the founders of the side called Black Aces.” Mohammed Ben Cader is survived by his wife Queenie, children, and grandchildren.