Just a passing glance at greatness
REGGAE icon Don Carlos released an album called “Just a Passing Glance” in 1984.
The lead single off that album became an instant hit in Zimbabwe.
This was largely because reggae was very fashionable then, especially after Bob Marley’s visit in 1980 and subsequent tours by bands such as Misty in Roots, UB40 and the iconic star Jimmy Cliff.
Carlos himself visited Zimbabwe in the same year he released that album.
The song talks about how he felt after experiencing the rare opportunity of looking Emperor Haile Selassie in the face.
The album’s cover was imaginative. It had an illustration of the dreadlocked Carlos looking back in awe at a seemingly hallowed silhouette of Emperor Selassie against a plain brick wall.
A few weeks ago, I had one of those fleeting moments that stay with you forever.
One morning, around 8am, I was waiting for a colleague at a sports club in Queensdale when an elderly gentleman pulled up beside me and eased himself out of his well-takencare-of sedan.
He subsequently called out to some kids — who may have been around 10 or 11 years old — and they dutifully obliged.
They helped him lift a bucket full of tennis balls from the boot of his car.
I started paying closer attention. It looked as if they had been doing the same thing for some time.
The man went to the tennis court and about half a dozen pre-teen boys joined him.
He began taking them through a tennis practice session.
All the while, I kept thinking he looked familiar.
Curious, I walked over to take a closer look.
I could not help but look back at the time when, as a primary school kid, I took part in the Bata Tennis Foundation with Marje Cawood in Marondera.
This was a clearly passionate senior citizen, who was sharing his love for the game with young people.
After about an hour, he called time on the session and the young boys helped him pack his stuff.
I grabbed a chance to speak to him.
As it turned out, I had the privilege to speak to Albert Nhamoyebonde, a legend in tennis.
He has coached the sport at the highest level.
I spent the next 15 minutes soaking up interesting viewpoints.
He told me he takes the midweek session for free and will coach anyone who turns up.
He then has another paid-for session on weekends.
I marvelled at his passion.
He has lost none of the drive that led him to take a step in 1984 that would transform the sport by setting up the Mufakose Tennis Coaching Agency.
Interestingly, this is the same year Carlos released his album and landed in Zimbabwe.
At the time, tennis was considered an elite sport.
In any case, Mufakose was home to football icons, including stars of the 1980s CAPS United team, known as The Cup Kings.
Imagine trying to convince youngsters in Mufakose to take up tennis when they were being inspired by Joel Shambo and Stanley Ndunduma at Makepekepe.
Or convincing youngsters to take up tennis when local heroes such as Angirayi Chapo and Memory Mucherahowa were shining for Dynamos.
It was audacious. It was unheard of. However, the sport began to take over Mufakose and culminated in Martin Dzuwa becoming the first black player to win the Zimbabwe Open in 1995, at the age of just 17.
On many streets, makeshift tennis courts began replacing makeshift goalposts as youngsters practised their serves, volleys and groundstrokes.
Dzuwa would eventually don national colours, alongside the famous Black brothers, Byron and Wayne, and win titles in several African countries.
His rise touched young lives and showed them possibilities previously unimagined.
Claudio Murape from Mufakose would also become Zimbabwe’s first black non-playing captain of the Davis Cup team.
What Nhamoyebonde did back then is like having someone set up a polo centre in Zengeza and having young people from the area taking part, and even winning national competitions.
As I stood with the great Nhamoyebonde, and he spoke about how important it is for young children to play and exercise, and not to spend all their time on their gadgets or in front of television sets, I felt inspired.
It is the stuff of legends that we need to see more and be inspired by.
As he drove off, after that life-touching moment, I felt, as a nation, we must always find a way to ensure that legacies built by people like Nhamoyebonde continue to thrive. This is an appreciation article. It is a salute to true greatness.
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