Online Reporter
Yesteryear greats, with Lovemore Dube
AMIN Soma-Phiri’s name will remain entrenched in Zimbabwean football history thanks to his famous headed hat-trick in the 1988 BAT Super League clash against Dynamos at Barbourfields Stadium.
Rarely does a player score two or more goals with headers in an official match. But Soma-Phiri achieved that feat against the country’s biggest football institution, Dynamos, a team not just fulfilling a fixture that day, but gunning for glory after surrendering the 1987 league title to Black Rhinos. Dynamos had last won it in 1986.
They arrived in Bulawayo with firepower: Lucky Dube in goal, Oliver Kateya, Angirayi Chapo, Misheck Chidzambwa, Henry Chari and Max Makanza, all rated among the best at the time.
“Dynamos was a very tough team back then. There was Kenneth Jere, Henry Chari and Misheck Chidzambwa. They were very tall, not just tall but very tough. Misheck would always come for crosses against me. I was asked to mark him and outclass him when it came to jumping and scoring. My attitude was to outjump opponents. Dynamos was not just any other team,” said Soma-Phiri, the eldest of the footballing brothers from Luveve, Safi and Makwinji being the others.
He said back then, their mentality was clear: no team could come into Barbourfields and bully a Bulawayo side.
“We always wanted to protect our team and please our people. What’s important is respect for the fans, especially if it’s a team with a big following like Highlanders,” said Soma-Phiri, part of a golden Bosso generation that included Douglas Mloyi, Alexander Maseko, Peter Nkomo, David Phiri, Nhamo Shambira, Tito Paketh, Dumisani Nyoni, Netsai Moyo, Willard Khumalo, Madinda Ndlovu, Nqobizitha Maenzanise, Thoko Sithole, Tobias Mudyambanje, Joseph Tembo, Dumisani Ngulube, Richard Ndlovu and Fanuel Ncube.
“I did not want us to lose in Bulawayo, especially at Barbourfields. We always wanted to win,” added Soma-Phiri.
He said he was rarely left out of the team by Barry Daka, having been identified by the legendary coach back in 1979 at Luveve Youth Club. That discovery saw him play for Olympics, later rebranded as Supersonic.
“I was never left out of the team, ever since Olympics. I was always in when we played Dynamos. I was a strategic person, meaning if there was Moses Chunga at Dynamos, or Stix Mtizwa and Joel Shambo at CAPS United, or Maronga Nyangela at Dynamos, I would be tasked with shutting them down and disrupting their moves.
“I had the advantage during set pieces, I would always be there, even scoring goals. I was always on target,” said Soma-Phiri, known as “Mr Fixit”, a nickname coined by soccer commentator Charles Mabika.
Whenever he was introduced into a game, it was to change its tactical dimension.
“I never wanted to be outplayed by anyone. My motivation was to be at the top of my game, and I showed that at training,” he said.
At training, Soma-Phiri focused on perfecting set pieces. He would arrive early to work on aerial duels, whether with defenders or forwards.
“Coaches then realised I was a player they could use,” he said.
His younger brother Safi was a right back, while Makwinji went on to play Champions League football and later managed Dynamos. Like Amin, Makwinji was also lethal in the air, scoring many memorable goals for both Dynamos and Highlanders.
Asked about their heading ability, Amin said: “This thing started at home. We had three rooms and a chimney in between. That’s where I would throw the ball up and head it. I would do whatever I wanted. Makwinji saw me and mastered the drill,” said Soma-Phiri, whose 1988 headed hat-trick earned him a national team call up for a match against Zambia.
His athleticism was evident from school days. At Mafakela Primary in Luveve, he excelled in both athletics and football, already playing striker on the streets and at the youth club.
Reflecting on the hat-trick, Soma-Phiri described it as one of his proudest moments.
“I stood for Bulawayo. I felt proud that I did it for the city. One of the goals came from a Titus Majola cross. I was inspired because when I joined Highlanders, I was coming in to replace him. Sadly, he died before he could retire,” said Soma-Phiri, a qualified Caf A coach.
He said Highlanders supporters are a passionate bunch who live and breathe the team.
“Highlanders supporters are hard to please. They make you play. Our coaches would urge us to respect our fans with good performances. These were our own people, from our families and our hoods. They deserved results. If you do the opposite, they’ll still be there, but winning motivates them,” he said.
As a midfielder competing for a place in a side that had David Phiri, Tito Paketh, Titus Majola and Willard Khumalo, Soma-Phiri admitted that selection was fiercely competitive.
He described Paketh as the best player he ever played with, both at Highlanders and Supersonic.
“He was so talented. He made things look easy,” said Soma-Phiri.
“I was inspired playing with Titus, Tito, David Phiri, Oxo and Madinda. To be selected, you had to rise to the challenge.”
Back in their era, players were motivated by winning bonuses, there were no salaries.
He challenged today’s generation to push themselves and achieve success with Highlanders.
“Without silverware, no player enters the history books. That challenge alone should push these boys to excel,” he said.
Soma-Phiri’s Luveve Big XI project, which produced players like Peter “Rio” Moyo, Milton Ncube, Shepherd Maregere and Richard Jongwe, is still running.
He says the project will not be abandoned, it’s now focused on developing his 15-year-old son.
“He will be a better player than me. I work with him every day,” said Soma-Phiri.
