Goalkeeper, dancer and actor rolled into one!
THAT the prestigious Ballon d’Or award has been won by a goalkeeper once since its inception 64 years ago, tells a story of how the last man in defence has often been overlooked.
Russian goalminder Lev Yashin won the award in 1963 and since then, no goalkeeper in the world has claimed the top gong.
Only two ’keepers — Thomas N’Kono of Cameroon (1979, 1982) and Ezzaki Badou of Morocco (1986) — have won the African Footballer of the Year award since 1970, when the accolade was inaugurated.
Juventus legend Gianluigi Buffon remains the only shot-stopper to have laid his hands on the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award when he won it in 2003.
Former Germany national team player Oliver Khan is the only keeper to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball award since 1930, when the first global showpiece was held in Uruguay.
Locally, only three goalkeepers have won the Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year since 1969 when George “Mastermind” Shaya won the inaugural award.
Japhet M’parutsa (1982), Energy Murambadoro (2003) and Washington Arubi (2011) have that special record.
Yet, the goalkeeping position is fast becoming a more crucial position, with added responsibilities than before.
Kepa Arrizabalanga became the most expensive goalkeeper of all time when he moved from Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea for £71 million in 2018.
“I suppose the current crop of goalkeepers now have more responsibilities like starting play from the back, being able to initiate attacks and sweeping behind the defence, which requires excellent footwork.
“All that an infield player has, a good goalkeeper must also have. A goalkeeper nowadays must be able to control, manage the ball and have excellent distribution skills,” explained Richard Tswatswa, one of the most experienced and qualified goalkeeper coaches in Zimbabwe.
Tswatswa, a former senior national team goalkeepers’ coach and a holder of various goalkeeping coaching and instructors’ certificates, turned 63 last week.
The Harare City team manager, who has over four decades of experience, has an interesting history, yet he has remained on the periphery when major contributors to the local game are mentioned.
A former actor and ballroom dancer, who was taught the art by Dynamos board chairperson Bernard “Magitare” Marriot, Tswatswa was the Warriors’ goalkeepers’ coach when Zimbabwe featured at their third African Cup of Nations finals in Gabon in 2017.
He had stints at Arcadia United, Motor Action, CAPS United, Dynamos and was also involved with the national Under-20 and Under-23 teams, before settling for his current post of team manager at Harare City.
He is part of Harare City’s technical team which is headed by Lloyd Chitembwe and comprises assistant coaches Nelson Matongorere and Fungai Kwashi, as well as keepers’ coach Zivanai Kawadza.
“My goal is to continue churning out good goalkeepers and goalkeeping coaches. Plans are at an advanced stage to set up an academy,” Tswatswa told The Sunday Mail Sport.
“I have stayed this long in football because of passion. Goalkeeping development and coaching is what makes me happy.”
He is a holder of a CAF B coaching certificate and a qualified CAF Sports Administration tutor who has lectured extensively on the evolution of the goalkeeping position at various coaching courses organised by both ZIFA and CAF.
“I came through the mill. I have been goalkeepers’ coach for the national Under20, Under-23 and senior national team. “I also managed that famous Warriors team that went to Malawi by bus under coach Kalisto Pasuwa.”
You can call Tswatswa a jack of all trades.
He has played tennis, table tennis, volleyball and chess during his 43 years in sport.
He is also an accomplished ballroom dancer, bass guitarist and actor.
“In 1980, I went for auditions for the part of Josiah Tongogara in a liberation war film on Chimurenga wars from 1890 to 1980.
“I acted as the main character, General Josiah Tongogara, in the film “Spirit of Liberation”, which was co-directed by Peggy Harper and Father Emmanuel Ribeiro.
“We performed for Government officials, including the late former president Robert Mugabe at the 7 Arts Theatre in Avondale,” recalled Tswatswa.
The way Tswatswa carries himself, his articulation and ability to coordinate is proof of someone with vast experience and grooming.
He was also daring during his youthful days.
He even tried ballroom dancing and won a bronze medal for Zimbabwe/Rhodesia at a contest held in South Africa in 1979.
“We had great ballroom tutors then — Mudhara Marriot (Bernard), Mudhara Rogers and my then-personal tutor Henry Maposa.
“I also played guitars for a group called Last Legends.”
He still enjoys his music and often listens to jazz and blues.
“My favourite musicians are BB King, Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton and of course, locally Thomas Mapfumo, Tuku (the late Oliver Mutukudzi), Simon Chimbetu (late), Alick Macheso and Dhewa (late Tongai Moyo).”
Tswatswa’s goalkeeping journey began at Rukudzo Primary School in Kambuzuma, Harare, in 1969.
“I then went to St Peter’s Kubatana (Kambuzuma) for my secondary school and continued to play as a goalkeeper for the first team between 1970 and 1973.
“I then played for ProNutro FC from 1975 to 1982. During this period, I had a couple of injuries, including a broken middle finger on my left hand and an injury on my right knee.
“Subsequently, I got into coaching, with my first FIFA coaching certificate coming in 1984 after I had retired from playing.
“I can say I was multi-talented as I grew up working for the City of Salisbury (now Harare) as a sports organiser from 1975 to 1979 and continued from 1980 to 2017 in the City of Harare as a social worker after graduating at the School of Social Work.
“I was eventually promoted to the post of Community Services Officer (Sports).
“I was heavily involved in the establishment and running of the Harare junior football league, having been the chairperson and secretary of the league for many years.
“I guess I have tried to summarise my 43 years of active sports development in the City of Salisbury and Harare.”
An affable character, Tswatswa has perfected the goalkeeping art of players such as Tatenda Mukuruva, Donavan Bernard, Tapuwa Kapini, Tafadzwa Dube, Arubi and Murambadoro.