Chronicle Editor
Lovemore Dube
THERE is an assertion that Bulawayo’s brilliant goalkeepers of the 1980s era destroyed careers of other promising talent that could not easily claim first team football.
Another argument is that junior teams were probably too good and “oGediboy” were rarely tested, a situation that created an aura of greatness around them.
But some who were followers of junior teams from 1978 to about 1994 insist that indeed generations were lost out because of a group of outstanding characters like Peter Nkomo, Alban Mafemba, Pernell Mckop, Johannes Tshuma and John Sibanda.
Among those that lost out ‘Big Time’ is former Bulawayo Wanderers and Eagles junior Nelson “Noza” Dube, who however, made his name far from home because he was given an opportunity to prove his worth. Born 20 June in 1965, Dube went to Nkulumane Primary School where he started playing in the Fourth Division in Mpopoma rising to the first team. He would however, leave Zimbabwe for Zambia in 1976 where he joined Ndola United Juniors in the Copperbelt.
His coach in Zambia was Kaizer Kalambo. Dube and family returned to Zimbabwe in 1982 and he did not waste any time joining Zimbabwe Saints junior development to continue with his progression in the game. “I played with Obey Sova, Phillip Munawa and company but in 1983 I moved to Bulawayo Wanderers joining the Under-18 team where I found guys like George Nyirenda, Collet Ngwenya, Peter Sakala and Vusa Gumbo.
“In 1984 I was promoted to the first team. Johannes Tshuma held fort before Pernell Mckop came on board,” said Dube who is now into real estate in neighbouring South Africa.
Bored out with being third on the packing order and down further with the arrival of Mafemba, Dube wanted out landing himself a six month stay in Hwange where he sought a move to join Wankie FC which had Weekly Mwale and rising former Marist Brothers, Dete goalkeeper Isaac ‘Sakhi’ Tshuma. But his frustrations worsened as Ironman Kennedy Sibanda and Joe Banda could not release him.
”When I returned to Wanderers who were then known as Eagles, I was surprised to get news that I had been sold to Mutare United. I went with about six other juniors who included a player we called Wagga. But I did not like Mutare so I ended up at Shangani Mine. The main reason why I took the offer to go there was because I was left with six months of my contract,” he said.
Shangani were in Division Two so he would play for the mine and then following day be in Bulawayo to turn out for either Hunyani and How Mine. Player registration back then was very porous. Dube’s year of reckoning was 1987 when he moved to Gweru United who were in the then Super League, now the Castle Lager Premiership. There he met legends like Ashton Mhlanga, John Baison, Takesure Tito, Wonder Chaka and Kisdo Matsika.
“Club first team goalkeeper Peter Mlauzi had moved to Shangani Mine. I was part of the Gweru United team deputising the great Ranga Mutunga when Pisa Pisa played Lioli of Lesotho in the Cup Winners Cup,” said Dube.
He said during his era Zimbabwe was blessed with some of the best strikers ever produced in the country.
“There were so many great strikers during my time. But the pick of the group was the duo of Jerry Chidawa and Maronga Nyangela. Their relentless pressure both aerial and on the ground made it a nightmare facing them. I feared matches against Rhinos, yes other teams had deadly strikers but those two were fierce some,” said Dube who said playing behind Gweru United great Alexander Useni gave assurances of good protection.
He confessed to being a Brenna Msiska fan. “He was my favourite goalkeeper and I always wanted to emulate his heroics,” said Dube.
A rolling stone gathers no moss. He did not live long enough to make an impact in Zimbabwe football as he was soon on the road again, this time across the Ramakgwebana River to join Francistown side Tasc.
“In 1989 I moved to Tasc with Themba Lunga, Summer Ncube, Themba Lunga, Chris Lunga and Chemai Hunidzarira,” said Dube. With Francistown sides playing second fiddle to teams from Gaborone, it was natural Dube would go to where the money and action was.
He stayed at Gaborone United from 1990 to 1992 a period in which he played his best football winning the league title and other tournaments. Dube nicknamed Noza by his teammates, played at the Botswana capital based club with former Eagles mate Marko Tshuma, young brother to Johannes Tshuma and Mandla Balanda, both players enjoy legendary status at Gaborone United.
Winning the league title came with guarantees of African Safaris and his Gaborone United represented Botswana in the Champion of Champions tournament later named Africa Champions League. In the middle of 1992 Dube moved to Selibe Phikwe where he teamed up with other former Eagles players Norman Gumbo and Stanford Ntini and former Black Mambas player Geshorm Majawa.
In 1993 Dube was back to what he seemed to enjoy – changing clubs and travel. Others he rated highly were Dynamos’ Gift Mpariwa, Nomore Marange of Zisco, Eagles’ Rahman Gumbo, headers specialist Amin Soma-Phiri and Black Aces’ Wilfred Mugeyi.
While Useni stood out for him he has fond memories of the following defenders and wishes he had a chance to play with Ephert Lungu (Rio Tinto), Ephraim Dzimbiri (Zisco), Eagles’ Felix Ntuthu, Hwange legend Amos Rendo, Zambian Mufulira Wanderers’ Ackim Musenga and Kalambo of Ndola United. He mentions former Eagles Under-18 teammate George Nyirenda as having been a dependable defence stalwart with City Senne of Gaborone United having guided him to a number of clean sheets.
He relishes the 1980s as foreign teams visited Zimbabwe and at one time while in Gweru he remembers facing Germany side Mainz 05 and Zambia’s City of Lusaka. This time he moved to Hotspurs who played in the Bopsol League which changed to National Soccer League.
“In the Bopsol I played against players like legends Lucas Radebe and John Shoes Moshoeu,” said Dube.
He played active football until 2006 when he decided to retire happy with his accomplishments and the opportunity to face some of the best players in three countries.
Dube speaks with nostalgia about his time with Gweru United and the adrenalin pumping clashes against Eagles, Caps United, Chapungu, Rio Tinto, Dairibord, Dynamos and Highlanders.
Online Reporter