From one football generation to the other
Ngezi bank on Amini’s experience When football unifies feuding families
Edward Sadomba
THE legendary former Ghana captain, Abedi “Pele” Ayew, occasionally speaks about his footballing sons, Andre and Jordan. Sometimes he defends them, but in other instances, he feels the criticism is warranted.
Abedi recently told Modern Ghana, an online publication, that there was nothing wrong with Ghanaians criticising his sons, arguing that his “boys are attacked because they carry great potential”.
“When I was playing, it was the same, so there is nothing wrong with it.
“It is because they (Ghanaians) know you have it and you can do it; that is why they come at you. If you don’t have it, nobody will call your name,” he said.
Abedi was a key member of the Ghana side that won the West African country’s last Africa Cup of Nations trophy in 1982.
The former Marseille star was named the best player in Africa on three occasions.
He was so good that he earned the nickname “Pele” after the late great Brazilian treble World Cup winner, Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pele).
Abedi’s brother Kwame represented the Black Stars in the 2000s, while his sons — Andre and Jordan — are still playing for the national team.
Andre is the current captain of Ghana, while Jordan is growing into a key player at English Premier League club Crystal Palace.
There is a long list of fathers and sons who have played football or represented their countries at senior level.
AFC Bournemouth striker Justin Kluivert is the son of former Barcelona and Netherlands star Patrick, while Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel carried on his father Peter’s legacy when he lifted the English Premiership title with Leicester City in 2015/2016.
The legendary Dutchman Johan Cruyff and his son Jordi are also another fatherson football story.
On the domestic front, former Dynamos and Al Hilal striker Edward Sadomba is also inspired by Abedi and the way he raised his sons to become top footballers.
Sadomba similarly has two sons who have just started their football journey.
His eldest son, El Shaddai (14), dominated social media platforms recently after grabbing the Golden Boot for scoring six times for Zimbabwe at the CAF African Schools Championship-COSAFA Qualifiers in Harare from December 15 to 17.
El Shaddai also made it into the tournament’s Best XI, along with his captain Tadiwa Chakuchichi, as the hosts grabbed the bronze medal.
The younger of the Sadomba boys, Adonai (13), was also part of the Zimbabwe schools’ squad.
“I have always been an admirer of Abedi Pele and the way he has shown his sons direction. I am inspired to also do the same for my kids,” said Sadomba.
The former Warriors striker has designed a home training regime for his two boys and has a gym at his Harare house.
“Three times a week, we wake up at 5am and do a 6-kilometre road run. We are also in the gym together four times a week,” said Sadomba.
“I also monitor what the boys eat and drink. I guess it’s important for parents to identify their children’s talents and support them from a tender age.”
Luton Town midfielder and Warriors skipper Marvelous Nakamba is the son of ex-Hwange player Antony.
He continues to get support and guidance from his father.
Also receiving support from his father is Highlanders winger Ray “Ndori Ndori” Lunga, who is the son of former Bosso striker Gift Lunga Snr.
“My father is always there for me,” said Ray.
“He is always telling me stories about the Highlanders of the 1980s and 1990s; how big this institution is, and that pushes me to work hard,” he added.
Highly rated Chicken Inn and national
Quincy Antipas team goalkeeper Donovan Bernard was still young when his father, Mirirai, who was also a good ’keeper in his days, passed away in 2006.
The legendary Mirirai won the Super League title with Black Aces in 1992 under Steve “The Dude” Kwashi (also late).
“I was only nine when my father passed away, but he did train me a bit and wished to do more for me, but time didn’t allow,” said Donovan.
“But it was an advantage to have him as a father because it helped me to get recognition easily. I watched some of his games for Black Aces but I was very young. It still comes back in flashes, but I have heard he was a very good goalkeeper.
“I am also told he was a character and you would feel his presence wherever he went. I am proud of him.”
Trailblazing Nyasa Big Bullets coach Kalisto Pasuwa is coaching his son Kenneth at the serial Malawian champions.
Just like his father, Kenneth also plays a defensive midfield role.
Kalisto was in the same DeMbare squad with Lloyd Mutasa, who also has sons — Wisdom and Panashe — who are playing professional football.
Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas, who was a defender for Arcadia United, had his son Quincy featuring for Motor Action
FOOTBALL once again showed its power when it helped end a feud between two families in Harare’s Waterfalls suburb and eventually united them.
Apparently, Prophetic Healing Deliverance (PHD) Ministries’ founder Walter Magaya and businessman Regis Zindoga’s families initially seemed to have an acrimonious relationship.
One Sunday afternoon, Magaya told his congregants that Regis, through a letter, had directed PHD to stop using their family name — Zindoga — when advertising the church.
The church is adjacent to Malvern shops in Waterfalls, which is popularly referred to as “KwaZindoga”, as the family owns several outlets in the area.
Regis’ letter prompted Magaya to direct his lawyer Everson Chatambudza to consider legal recourse. Regis similarly contemplated doing the same to settle the dispute.
But it was through football that the cold war between the prophet and the businessman thawed, albeit fortuitously.
As fate would have it, Regis’ son Junior, a budding footballer who was 16 at the time of the dispute, was a learner at St George’s College. He later went on to have a professional football career and played for Ngezi Platinum Stars.
However, at the end of the 2022 season, the 22-year-old was offloaded by the platinum
Andre Ayew before he moved to Brondy IF in Denmark.
The late Steve Kwashi, a fine winger with Dynamos in the 1980s and Zimbabwe Saints in the 1970s, had his son Fungai Tostao follow his footsteps when turning up for CAPS United and clubs in Vietnam.
Tostao is also Lloyd Chitembwe’s assistant coach at CAPS United.
Dynamos board chairperson and ex-goalkeeper Bernard Marriot-Lusengo’s son Edson, who is now late, starred for CAPS United.
Ex-Arcadia United midfielder Hussein Amidu’s sons — Abbas and Bret — have also gone on to excel in the game.
Former Warriors skipper Benjani Mwaruwari’s son Benjani Jr signed his first professional contract with English fifth-tier side Yeovil last year.
The gifted forward is now 18.
Alois Bunjira, who played a starring role when CAPS United won their second league championship in 1996, has a son Alois Jr, who is also a flying winger.
He dazzled on the wing for Northern Region Division One side Golden Eagles in 2022. As the old saying goes, an apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
It seems part of the conveyor belt for talent for the Warriors and various clubs now lies in the sons of former players.
■ X: @LangtonGuraz
miners and was subsequently bailed out by Magaya’s Yadah Stars FC.
According to Chatambudza, who incidentally is the chairperson of Yadah, the development showed the power of sport.
“As I remember this incident well, I wouldn’t want to talk much about it, but at the end of the day, issues are always resolved,” he said.
“I am happy that we are now a family; that’s the power of sport, and it was one of those great endings considering how we started knowing the Zindoga family.
“You cannot convince anyone that we once walked that road because of the relationship we have built.
“I also want to thank Prophet Magaya for being the person he is because he could have just instructed our coaches to ignore Junior, but he demonstrated what he preaches in a brilliant way.”
In his maiden season with Yadah, Junior became the first player to grab a hat-trick for the club in the Premiership.
In total, he scored five goals in a season in which Yadah needed to defeat Dynamos on the last day of the season to guarantee their
MAN . . . Junior Zindoga’s exploits for Yadah Stars have helped end tensions between his family and Prophet Walter Magaya
Veronica Gwaze
The 2023 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Soccer Star of the Year, Qadr Amini, will once again have to lead from the front as his side, Ngezi Platinum Stars, plunge into the CAF Champions League competition for the first time.
Amini, who has previously seen Champions League action with Gunners and FC Platinum, will be the most experienced man in coach Takesure Chiragwi’s squad.
The versatile player, equally comfortable playing in defence as he is in midfield, was part of the Gunners outfit that won the 2010 Premiership title and then featured in the Champions League the following year.
Two years later, he was back in the same competition in the green-andwhite colours of FC Platinum.
Amini also had a taste of the CAF Confederation Cup in 2017, when he was part of the Ngezi side that represented Zimbabwe after winning the 2016 Chibuku Super Cup.
This year will mark Amini’s fourth appearance in a CAF inter-club competition and his third in the Champions League tournament.
Unlike in his previous spells, Amini will be leading a bunch of rookies, with few of the Ngezi team that won the 2023 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title having previously had a dance in Africa.
The 33-year-old skipper, also voted Ngezi’s Player of the Year, revealed his excitement at having to return and face some of Africa’s best teams.
It was the allure of Champions League action that also influenced Amini into postponing his intention to hang up his boots. “I feel so excited to go and play again in Africa, facing other continental powerhouses . . . it is always a lifetime chance and experience for any player,” Amini said.
“It is that level of competition which every player wishes to have a feel of; I am happy to be going there again as a player. “Playing at this level is what any player would dream and wish for, and living the dream once more is one of the reasons I will don the Ngezi Platinum Stars colours once again.
“I feel and believe I still have more to offer in this game and for the team I have called home for years. In fact, it will just survival.
Magaya said he was never going to drag the player into an issue involving his father.
“A leader has to lead by example and it never crossed my mind when we signed Junior that we once had a misunderstanding with his father,” he said.
“Junior was too young to be caught in the mix and it was going to be unfair to punish him when he was looking for a club just because of what happened when he was still a learner.
“Junior has made it possible for us to have a good relationship with his family.
“He is a good player with great potential and it feels good that he also made a mark as a Yadah player.
Qadr Amini be fulfilling for me to be part of the Madamburo family for a little longer because they have been good to me in many ways.”
For all his long service to the game, including some international appearances for the Warriors, 2023 will no doubt be a stand-out year for Amini.
This is because of the treble of gold medals he bagged.
he also has a silver medal to add to his cabinet after Ngezi finished as Chibuku Super Cup runners-up.
Amini also chipped in with seven goals
“He shall always be remembered as our first player to score a hat-trick in the PSL.”
Although Junior has been linked with a move to Dynamos, his father has become one of Yadah’s leading supporters.
And the Zindoga name, which had been removed on the PHD advertising billboards, has since been reinstated and now even appears on the team’s jersey.
Away from the pitch, Chatambudza is also helping the player to register his Junior Zindoga Foundation, which is meant to help underprivileged children.
Junior’s uncle, Johannes Madhiri, who was also instrumental in helping the families find each other, gave some insight into the conflict, which he believes was largely due to a misunderstanding
— five of them from set pieces — and five assists.
his leadership qualities were underlined by the fact that Ngezi were voted the PSL’s Most Disciplined Team for the second year running.
Ngezi had two more players — goalkeeper Nelson Chadya and 22-year-old forward Takunda Benhura — making it onto the Soccer Stars of the Year calendar.
The trio must now replicate their 2023 PSL showing in the CAF competition.
“I have been there before and learnt a lot,” Amini added.
“I understand the feeling and importance of football at that level . . . the professionalism and the atmosphere are amazing, especially when you play against Al Ahly of egypt or Al hilal of Sudan.
“At this level, we will need to be physically and mentally fit and have a deep tactical understanding as well . . . here you do not just play for the sake of it; we cannot go there just to make numbers.”
Amini still has memories of all his outings against egyptian and Sudanese giants Al Ahly and Al hilal, respectively.
he notes that each one of the fixtures was a thriller for him.
“I encourage the youngsters to grab this opportunity with both hands. It is a potentially life-changing chance for everyone. This time there is no off-season for us. We are down to serious individual training in preparation for the huge task ahead,” noted Amini.
“A lot of scouts follow these games; other coaches will also be watching, so we need to step out there with all the focus and determination, and play our hearts out. however, above all else, it should never be about personal glory — we play with and for each other and win or lose as a team.” “that could have been avoided from the onset”.
Madhiri is a former Black Rhinos player who won the Super League title with the army side in 1984 and 1987.
“It was a big misunderstanding and we never wanted anything from them, but all we expected was for them to formally ask to use the Zindoga name in their advertising campaigns.
“But it’s something which did not happen; they never expected that we would react the way we did and everything happened really fast.
“It is human to disagree at some point, but what is more important is to find ways to reconnect after such disputes,” said Madhiri.