How Bulawayo goalie missed a Germany chance
Q: What is your personal best time, HENRY Moyo was inspired to become a goalkeeper by former Highlanders and Zimbabwe international footballer Bruce Grobbelaar who played as a goalkeeper, most prominently for the English team Liverpool between 1981 and 1994.
He says he admired his athletic ability, confidence and eccentric manner when he was in between the sticks. Moyo quietly manifested himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the South Zone league side Black Chiefs. As a result of his fine performance he says: “I was voted player for the month twice in that year.”
At Black Chiefs he played alongside Alfred “Ngedla” Phiri who was crowned Soccer Star of the Year in 1978. Due to political tension in Rhodesia he left for Botswana in 1979 and joined Gaborone United when it was in Division one. How did he join Gaborone United? “Due to high political upheaval in the country I left for Botswana as a refugee. While I was there the captain for Gaborone United invited me to join his side and I grabbed the opportunity,” he says.
His performance did not dip but improved. As a result he commanded the number one jersey. He was strict in marshalling his defence , which earned him the nickname Sergeant. After six months he went to Germany where he was given two options — to be a refugee or to play soccer. He chose soccer but after medical check-ups he had to abort his choice as he was diagnosed of a liver ailment.
“When I went for medical check-up the doctor asked me to choose between life and death! He said if I resume playing soccer my life would be cut short, so I called it quits,” he says.
As if the doctors had sealed his fate within two weeks he was detained in hospital and spent six months there. Moyo has advice for the upcoming players.
“I had a bright future in foolball but drugs cut it short. In the same vein the current crop of players should avoid or at least reduce intake of alcohol and drug abuse,” said Moyo.
After recuperating he enrolled for an electrical engineering degree while at the same time he was doing coaching badges. In 1983 he completed the degree. In 1984 he enrolled for Religion and Philosophy and mid-way he left for England where he completed the course in 1986.
Having completed the course he started to work as a pastor for a church called Church of God. While serving at Church of God he was offered a scholarship to pursue a Masters Degree in Philosophy at Lee College in United States of America. He specialised in Christian ministries. While pursuing his studies at the college he was hired as a coach and goalkeeper’s coach for the college outfit. That revitalised his interest in football. In 1994 he went back to England and enrolled for coaching badges.
He says: “I did a preliminary badge because the authorities there did not allow a foreign player who didn’t play in any level in England.”
In 1996 he went back to USA to lecture at Lee University. In his first three months he was appointed the assistant coach for men’s soccer and head coach for women’s soccer. In 1999 he was promoted to head coach for men’s soccer. He has fond memories of his tenure at the college.
“When I took over we were ranked 200 but within three years we were ranked 20th nationally. winning it, it means you would have achieved a lot, you would have worked so hard, we have worked hard as a school for so many years to reach this point, where we are right now. I am really happy that we managed to do something for our school, for the district, for Bulawayo as a province,’’ Mukanganise said.
He is grateful for the support they got from headmistress Lindiwe Moyo and sports director Dumezweni Sibanda which he believes played a part in their success at the provincial finals.
“Our trick was simple, we have got a sports director who is so much supportive, who supports you all the way. Our sports director Dumezweni Sibanda has supported us so much, even the administation has supported us so much.
“If you have got support you can always succeed in life. What I basically think was the recipe was the support that we got from everyone in our school. Apart from that, practice makes perfect, we have been practicing a lot with these youngsters to reach this stage at which we are,’’ he said.
Just to show how serious they are about their participation at the national tournament, Lobengula I recruited former Highlanders player Owen Gombami, Stanly Nyazemba and I also brought players from Liberia, Jamaica and Engalnd,” he says.
The players were hungry for success and did their best.
“With those players we won the Conference championship and went on to win regional championship and national championships in four years in a row. Out of that group I had players who were recognised as AII America meaning we were the best players in college soccer,” he says.
He went on: “Some of my players were drafted into the Major League Soccer (MLS) national team.”
Due to his immaculate services to the club and dedication of players at the end of 2009 the club rose through the ranks to sit at fourth position. In a bid to improve his coaching capabilities the ambitious Moyo did goalkeeper’s coach badges and youth coaching badges with National Soccer Coaches Association of America. returned to training last Monday. Mukanganise underlined their desire to represent not only their school and district but the province as well.
Lobengula qualified to the provincial finals by virtue of their third place finish in the Mzilikazi districts finals. With the district enjoying hosting rights, they decided that the top three boys’ teams proceed to the provincial event.
Mpopoma showed great form from the time they beat last year’s provincial champions Magwegwe 3-2 in the Mzilikazi district final. With prolific striker, Nomthandazo Ngano who has scored 19 goals in this year’s Copa Coca-Cola, 10 at district level and nine at the provincial finals, Mpopoma could finally bring the girls’ trophy for the first time to Bulawayo. In the five matches they played at the provincial finals, Mpopoma did not even concede a single goal.
According to the draw conducted at last year’s boys champions, Mpopoma will play against Mwenezi of Masvingo and Harare champions Vainona. For Lobengula, their opponents are Rusununguko of Mashonaland East and the Manicaland winners Takwirira. However, he regrets some of his decisions. “Some of the players that I recruited did not prove their worth and that caused a lot of problems for me. The university authorities were not happy with mediocre players as they were deemed a cost to the institution,” he said.
He stepped down from both his lectureship and coaching job in 2011. After that he was hired by a company called USA National Training Centre.
“They hired me to develop a soccer academy and within three years we had 400 players and in 2013 I also developed women semi pro-soccer team and I became the head coach for the side,” he said.
He says the academy produced players who went on to ply their trade in Europe.
“A goalkeeper Libby Stout plied his trade in France, Germany and England where she turned out for Liverpool ladies team,” he says.
In 2014 he resigned from the National Training Centre and set up his own soccer academy called International Pro soccer academy which is based in Florida.
He says the emphasis of the academy is player development and the academy has Under-12, 16 and 18.
“We teach nutrition, rest and rehabilitation, personal management and finance. At the moment I have 160 players,” he said.
At the moment he is looking at possibilities on establishing a soccer academy in Zimbabwe’s second capital city Bulawayo. Asked about which team he supports he said: “Every now and again I follow Highlanders and I have a strong attachment with the club. In English Premier League I support Liverpool.”
Moyo was blessed with two sons Themba (28) and Dumisa who is a journalist based in USA. He is a pastor at Church of God there. THE GAME of football the worldover is result-based. Hwange Football Club, like any other club, in the world is a result-oriented club and it is the results which make it a successful team.
Losing matches will not make the club compete for the premiership top prize and risks even relegation.
If results are not positive for any club, decisions aimed at redressing the situation need to be taken and this is not akin to Hwange FC alone but any other club in the world.
For example ex-Leicester City coach Claudio Ranieri was sacked following a string of poor results despite having won the English Championship.
Jose Mourinho was sacked from Chelsea following what the club considered to be a poor show, think of David Moyes who was sent packing from Manchester United following a poor string of results.
Footbal is a result-based game which ever way you look at it and if results are not coming decisions such as the one made at Hwange FC will be made. Why an overhaul of the whole
technical bench? The fact that the entire technical bench makes a technical team means they cannot be isolated from their results as individuals when in fact they were working as a team, sharing the same vision and strategies. It is not about an individual but the team as a whole.
Who is taking over and does the club entrust him to save the club
from relegation? The executive committee is currently engaged in a process to ensure the best candidate will take the club to the next level. Once a decision is taken, on who is taking over, it shall be communicated. What is the view of the executive
on poor perfomance? Hwange FC Executive Committee’s view on poor perfomance is no different from any other executive
Rugare Dobbie