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WHEN Highlanders Football Club knocked out Harare City in the Bob90 Super Cup at Barbourfields Stadium three weeks ago, there was something spectacular at the end of the match.Highlanders’ warm down had fans enjoying every bit of it as it was accompanied by a dance routine. The author of that script is the club’s new physical fitness trainer, Majaha Ndlovu. Even his warm up before substitutions has won the admiration of veteran gaffer Cosmas Zulu who described it as very relevant. But many have been asking who this Majaha Ndlovu is. It is as if he just sneaked into Highlanders in the off-season out of the blue yet he is a man who has been in the game for a while and has even worked with big South African clubs like Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows. In an interview with Chronicle Sport on Sunday, Ndlovu said he was inspired to take fitness training by Highlanders’ Khumalo and Zimbabwe Saints’ Roger Russell. “I just admired the way they used to do it while I was growing up. That inspired me when my playing days came to an end that I should contribute to the game in that way and I love my job so much,” said Ndlovu. He packed his bags in South Africa at the end of last year with one thing in mind – to contribute to the well being and fitness of his countrymen. “I had a decent upbringing here in Bulawayo where I attended Mahlabezulu Primary School and Ihlathi Secondary School. “It just dawned on me that I have to go back and give back to my country in a skill that I have and help in the well being of society as a fit person has a healthy mind. “I said if I could get a job to help a team like Highlanders, I would be happy. I have had two good months with the lads and I have enjoyed every bit of it and I am impressed with the players’ response to my training methods and their fitness levels,” said Ndlovu known popularly as Masinga in Berea, Yeoville and Hillbrow circles in Johannesburg. His nickname is drawn from South African legend Philemon “Chippa” Masinga who played for Bafana Bafana, Jomo Cosmos, Mamelodi Sundowns, Leeds United in the UK and Bari in Italy. Ndlovu is a former Eagles and Zimbabwe Saints player who went as far as the Chikwata reserve side in the 1990s with players like Leonard Chunda, the late Innocent Rwodzi, Innocent Zulu, Agent Sawu, the late Nhamo Mutswairo and Nkosana Gumbo under the tutelage of Boyce Malunga, Max Tshuma and Gibson Homela. “I was a striker, I played up to the reserves at Saints. In South Africa they called me Masinga after Chippa because of my frame and bald head, many said I look like him,” said the Bosso fitness guru. The 44-year-old left Bulawayo in 1996 to play for Nico United in Botswana where he stayed until the end of 1998. He proceeded to South Africa and played for a First Division side known as Spartak. This was followed by another move to Witbank Spurs where he briefly played with later arrivals the Mubaiwa twins, Peter and Patrick and former Bosso hitman Ralph Matema. “During my days as a player I worked out a lot in the gym. It was from one such routine that I stumbled on Gordon Igesund at Planet Fitness Gym in Bedfordview, South Africa. He then invited me to work on his boys at Moroka Swallows and I was later to work with present coach Zeca Marques. “Owen da Gama and Rudi Krol also gave me an opportunity to work with Orlando Pirates. It was an eye opener working with such great teams and big stars,” said Ndlovu. He said the South African players were serious with their work. Even the big name players, he said, listened to him despite playing abroad as they appreciate where their bread is buttered. Another memorable moment for Ndlovu was working with Cassius Baloyi ahead of his much talked about fight with Phillip Ndou three years ago. He also did fitness work with world travelled Umoja Theatre Company and the highlight of his fitness work was winning the South African Fitness Marathon. He did aerobics non-stop for five hours with his team to earn a trip to San Diego in the US where he stayed for two months learning more about the trade. He said: “We competed in an international event and our South African team was third with Americans filling the top three spots. “I learnt a lot there and when I returned to South Africa I put it to good use and acquired some training equipment that I brought back home for use.” About the captivating routine after the Harare City game, he said; “It is one of many fans will see from the boys this year. They have to warm down after the match and put a bit of life at the end for the fans. I am sure soccer fans will like it as we have several dances for them.” Ndlovu said he would love to see fans dance along. He added that the situation in Zimbabwe was different to South Africa. There, he said, fans have clubs where they learn some of the dance routines seen on the terraces and it is always lovely to see them joining players on the field. He is confident that mid way through the season fans at Barbourfields will be dancing along in unison.
Online Reporter