Daka, a living Zim football legend
BARRY Daka, a living Zimbabwean football legend whose 50 years in the game have seen him emerge as one of the most decorated cadres in the game, says it’s time to catalogue the history of the beautiful sport.
“Those that are knowledgeable about what has been happening in the game are passing on by day without passing on a lot about the history. Mine is a challenge to the football family to start compiling lists of former players and greats to have played for the respective clubs and national teams since the game was introduced in Zimbabwe.
“We need to appreciate the route the game has taken to the present day. There were successes more on the development of talent at grassroots level with mines, companies and local authorities very much involved,” said Daka.
He said yesteryear greats who may be coaches, players and administrators have a role in shaping the future of the game.
“Someone who played the game and ventures into coaching at times is better listened to because he can demonstrate and mere mention of his past may stimulate better interest,” said Daka who played for Hwange, Highlanders and Olympics.
He said it was not too late for the “legend” concept to be branded and this could help former players get something to do within the sport.
“My disappointment comes from the fact that the football family appears to have forgotten the role played in the game by former players. Once they retire they become a forgotten lot. Something can certainly be done to look at their welfare and they can be tapped into for the development of the game as coaches and administrators. They played the game, they have the passion for it,” said Daka.
He then visited last week’s write-up on former defence partnerships that thrilled fans in Zimbabwe.
In his early years in the game sometime in the mid 1960s, Daka said there were few defences as watertight as the Highlanders team that had Edward “Magungubala” Dlamini, Andrew “Scrupata” Jele, Billy Sibanda and Edward “Sales House” Dzowa.
He said Amos Rendo and Misheck Bhibo of Hwange then Wankie were also another partnership that was difficult to breach.
In the 1970s Daka said Boet Van Ays and Zenzo Dabengwa Ndlovu had a good understanding of each other.
He said it is important for defences to complement each other. He said it was rare for defenders to have same qualities and hence the need for their strengths and talents to be woven together to deliver results.
Zimbabwe football history, he said, would not be complete without mention of the pair of Shepherd Murape and Stephen “FakaSimbi” Chimedza.
“These guys were great defenders for both club and country. They stepped their authority when playing for Dynamos and Zimbabwe,” said Daka.
Another former Dynamos defender of yesteryear who had Daka’s praises is Shadreck Ngwenya.
“Ngwenya was solid in all the partnerships he was involved with be it at All Blacks, Black Aces, Chibuku Shumba, Dynamos or Moroka Swallows,” said Daka.
In his years as Highlanders coach he said he had enjoyed working with Douglas Mloyi, Richard Ndlovu and Alexander Maseko.
“I would play around with those three and have a twin centre back hard to beat. I also saw Bobby Clark draw the best out of Macdonald Silongwe partnering William Mabika,” said Daka.
The late Golliath Masuku, who died last month in Johannesburg is described by Daka as one of the best defenders of the 1960s era when he partnered Alton Dube. Both were defence stalwarts at Bulawayo Wanderers, one of the most exciting football projects to come out of Bulawayo that produced great national talent.
It is only natural that Daka casts his net as far as his former project — Olympics — where he described the defence partnerships of Tito Paketh, Boyce Malunga and Felix Ntuthu as having been among the best in the land.
“They were quite talented and you could play them in several combinations including midfield and attack, but when you had them at the heart of defence you would look forward to a great game,” said Daka.
He added: “Gibson Homela played with Emmanuel Sibanda at Zimbabwe Saints for one of the best partnerships. You see most of the pairings that I am talking about have silverware to support my argument. They also did well playing with Peter Mpofu, the father of Patrick ‘Mboma’ Mpofu who plays for ZRP Bulawayo in the Zifa Southern Region Division One League.”
At one of the most talented sides and most successful teams from outside Mhangura, Bulawayo, Hwange and Harare, Rio Tinto, the legend spoke of John Phiri and Ephert Lungu both of whom were good enough to be capped a number of times by the Warriors. At one stage Lungu was captain while Phiri rates like Homela among the longest ever features in the national team.
The Chidzambwa brothers he said made whatever partnership they played with tick at Dynamos and the national team. The elder of the two former DeMbare greats, Sunday was a delight at Metal Box with players like Oliver Kateya on the left before moving to Dynamos where he won virtually every piece of silverware on offer since 1976 to his retirement in 1983.
Misheck whose gangly posture and leadership earned him honour for the club and country stamped his authority at DeMbare and Warriors.
Daka said fans of later generations were unfortunate not to have watched Reg Payne, Dorman Moodley, Majid Dhana and Joey Antipas’ partnership.
“They played great football and understood each other’s strength and weaknesses and knew how to cover for each other. They were solid and gave good cover to their goalkeepers,” said Daka.
Gweru United’s John Baison and Ashton Mhlanga contributed to an exciting football side with their brilliant displays.
He was full of praise for Zimbabwe Saints’ Ephraim Chawanda and Misheck Sibanda.
“We made a good sweep of silverware in 1988 but Saints won the league and Chibuku Trophy and the cornerstone was the solid defence built around those two,” said Daka.
He said Francis Shonhayi was also part of good partnerships at both club and country.