Veteran scribe picks best XI Yesteryear greats
Twith
HIS week Sunday News trekked its former Sports Editor Phineas Mukwazo to find out the most outstanding players he has watched in Zimbabwe in the last five decades.
Mukwazo speaks of his views as a Bulawayoborn and bred football fan who had a brief stay in Zambia and also as a sports journalist.
“When I look back and reminisce on my time firstly as a fan and later on in my life as a journalist, I really have to scratch my head to come out with the 11 most exciting players of my time,” said the 60 year-old veteran journalist.
Mukwazo is impressed with the talent he has watched from the 1970s.
“This country has been awash with talent and it is talent galore that I have been exposed to. To put it in even more simpler terms, picking out the 11 can prove to be as difficult as picking up a needle in a haystack,” said Mukwazo as he went down memory with a selection rich in forwards.
Media personalities play a role in sport and developing the profiles of sportspersons.
Mukwazo picked former Salisbury Callies, Matabeleland Highlanders, Durban Callies, Zimbabwe Saints and Zimbabwe goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar, The Jungleman, as fans called him, also guarded the posts for Liverpool FC in the UK.
“Grobbelaar surprisingly comes number one on my list. Apart from being the most successful Zimbabwe player with the biggest internationally profile alongside former club mate Peter Ndlovu, then an upcoming goal minder, The Jungleman proved an exciting prospect in Bosso colours,” he said.
Mukwazo listed Tymon Mabaleka on second position. Nswazi-born Mabaleka played for Eastlands, Highlanders, Black Aces and Zimbabwe in a colourful career that brought Bosso three regional titles, one national playoff, two Chibuku Trophy medals and the inaugural Heroes Cup in 1980.
He said the Whitehorse as fans called him, had a workmanlike approach to THE GAME.
Mukwazo said he was impressed with Mabaleka’s “touch me not attribute” on the field which made him an invaluable asset to the clubs he played for.
On third, fourth and fifth place, he lined up Majuta “Jujuju” Mpofu, Boy “Maxmillion” Ndlovu and Vitalis Takawira.
“The trio brought excitement to the game through their dribbling skills,” the journalist said.
On sixth place is the Razorman, the Dynamos dynamo Moses Chunga.
“He was born a natural midfielder who on his day carried Dynamos on his shoulders.”
Forgotten 1978 Andrew “Mai Maria” Kadengu who is resident in Chinhoyi where he has served in the provincial league structure and coaches body is spoken of as being among the best players Mukwazo watched.
Kadengu, the
1978 Soccer
Star of the Year runner-up to George
Rollo, who was also good in the air and played as a winger and striker for Zimbabwe Saints used to silent many teams at Barbourfields Stadium.
Kadengu got national team call-ups in the Rhodesia era and shone alongside teammates Gibson Homela, Max Tshuma, William Sibanda and Douglas Maneto.
Another striker who caught the attention of the man who served Zimpapers over 25 years, is Joseph Machingura.
“Endowed with speed, he was one of the best strikers to emerge from Highlanders’ bitter rivals Zimbabwe Saints,” Mukwazo said.
On ninth position is gifted Nqobizitha Maenzanise. He played for Colts juniors, Highlanders, Zimbabwe Saints, had a stint in South Africa before returning to earn legendary status at AmaZulu and captain the Warriors at some stage.
“The diminutive midfielder had the heart of an elephant, brave, cool as a cucumber, who negotiated himself out of dangerous positions with ease,” said Mukwazo of a player teammates called Jackal.
He is regarded as one of the most skilful players ever.
On 10th position is Methembe Ndlovu the United States of America-based coach who came through the Highlanders and Zimbabwe age-group teams.
Mukwazo said Maenzanise had a businesslike approach on the field. So good was he that he could unlock any team’s defence with ease. Douglas “British” Mloyi completes Mukwazo’s 11 great players.
“British was very popular during his heydays and is still very popular today. How we miss his style of play which made football easy,” Mukwazo described the former Highlanders and Zimbabwe centreback.
Many fans believe the former Sunday News Sports Editor’s 11 played during wrong times and could have played abroad.
Mukwazo’s X1
B Grobbelaar, T Mabaleka, M Mpofu, B Ndlovu, V Takawira, M Chunga, A Kadengu, J Machingura, N Maenzanise, M Ndlovu, D Mloyi.