Vusumuzi Dube
Lovemore Dube
IN the middle of the crowd watching Brazil clashing with Portugal in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa was one Hoston Fuyane.
He had travelled all the way from Zimbabwe to the neighbouring country at the behest of “boys” who in their youth he had planted a football seed and the spirit of Ubuntu.
How many people who make it in life ever think about those that cleared for the path for them so that they can tread on it without thorns? Or gave them a key to a better life?
Fuyane was invited to watch several games by players he had nurtured on dusty football pitch in Magwegwe West in the 1980s. The “boys” felt compelled to give him a big “Thank You.”
And what a better way than payback in a shared passion — football but not any other game but the best of the best in the business featuring the best soccer has paraded in recent years. Those being Robinho, Kaka, Ramires, Julio Baptista, Bastos, Felipe Melo and Cesar for Brazil and Portugal led by mercurial Christiano Ronaldo, Deco, Fabio Coentrao, Raul Mereles, Ricardo Costa and Hugo Almeida.
For a second watching those stars took Fuyane to Dreamland.
“I will never forget the gesture by my former Tottenham Hotspurs juniors from Magwegwe North and surrounding areas. I have absolute love and respect for my former players, they appreciate the little I did in their lives. It was a great honour to be in their company and to be taken to such high-profile matches. Am not getting any younger and the truth is I am happy with my contribution to the game,” said Fuyane.
Fuyane was invited by Ishmael Ncube, Mubitana Siba, Itai Masawi, Methuseli Moyo and Ndabezinhle Ndlovu who after the tournament bought him equipment which he used to start Zambezi Lions which was later christened Mosi Oa Tunya Rovers of Victoria Falls.
The project started in October of 2010 and registered under Zifa the following year with his former Magwegwe protégé Silas Zimbiri as coach.
“I used to sacrifice from my pocket for that team. Itai, Ndabezinhle, Mubitana, Methuseli and other guys I coached bought me equipment on realizing I still had the passion for youth development,” said Fuyane.
Born at St Lukes Hospital in Lupane District on 9 June 1958, Fuyane attended Lozikeyi Primary School in Nguboyenja, Bulawayo and later Singwango Primary School in Nkayi District.
“I did not go far, there were problems. I came back to Bulawayo and started following football and when we moved to Magwegwe around 1981-82 we formed a club called Tottenham Hotspurs,” said Fuyane.
Among the players he coached in those days were the skillful Masawi brothers Itai and Thabani, Sizabantu Khoza, Howard Mago, Mlungisi Ndebele, Silas Zimbiri, Timile Ncube, brothers Jenito, Mzimba, Corlius Mhlanga, Mthandazo Ndlovu, Dick “Muller” Ngwenya, Andrew Mlauzi, Patson Bwanali, Jeffrey Zimba, Zakaria Sibanda, Julius Mtize, Sydney Maseko, Cleto Sithole, Khumbulani Banda, Richard Mwanza, Thulani “Mjinja” Ndlovu and his siblings Ndabezinhle, Daniso as well as their nephew Mbusi Hlongwane. Mjinnja and his brothers are cousins to former Highlanders great, Dumisani “Savimbi” Nyoni as their mothers were sisters.
“The list is too long I can’t remember all of them. Most of them played in the Premiership, Division One or got jobs and played for company teams in Division Two. I remember this boy Siza Khoza, his mother did not want him to play football, I had problems trying to convince her. But I am happy the boy went on to play for Highlanders, Caps and the Young Warriors,” said Fuyane.
Despite producing gems, Fuyane who concedes that not proceeding with his education affected him in later life, says he could not go to coaching clinics because of his literacy limitations.
“Aah I could not go to coaching clinics. I did manga manga coaching doing what I saw from others. I would observe how others went about their business at training and try to do the same. Watch matches at White City or Barbourfields and try to get my boys to do the same tricks. I am proud, some of them got to be very skillful and played at the top in Zimbabwe like Mago, Mlungisi, Itai and Thabani who were from childhood blessed with amazing skills. I allowed them to express themselves on the field as they had the talent,” said Fuyane.
After impressing with his Spurs, family demanded his presence at their Lupane homestead in 1986. He would go to Lupane District and help form Lupane Football Association in 1986-87.
He believes he produced a rough diamond that needed better polishing before it hit headlines like the rest.
Fuyane speaks with a tone of resentment on how he lost a talented player called Taiziveyi Mpofu.
“Andrew Tapela snatched him from us and took him to learn at Regina Mundi High School, a boarding school. I later heard he had been taken by Highlanders but did not stay long there before he was taken by a Botswana side. That boy was a very good player I had developed at St Luke’s,” said Fuyane.
A few years later he moved to Silalatshani in Insiza District and continued with his love of the game.
“I did not produce anything notable there because I did not stay for long,” said Fuyane.
The unsung football hero then trekked to Victoria Falls – a town that was eager for football relevance with Makasa Sun, now Kingdom Hotel and Southern Sun now Victoria Falls trying to outplay each other for recognition in football.
Perhaps by pulling resources together under the Sun Hotel banner, they could have mopped the best talent in the resort city and neighbouring Hwange and built a more formidable side for honours.
At Zambezi Lions, he is proud of his contribution to the local game. Happy that he and his coach Zimbiri developed Gift Mbweti, Bukhosi “Khosera” Ncube, Ben Munsaka and Bosso anchorman and playmaker Melikhaya Ncube.
“I used to pump out from my own pocket for the boys to develop their talents. I did it because I loved the game and I will not hesitate to ensure the boys achieve greatness in the sport I love,” said Fuyane who is now viewed as an Elder and respected by the younger generation now running Mosi Rovers.
Fuyane said in 2015 his club which had been playing in Division One was relegated. They also had challenges with finances.
“I spoke to my bosses and they agreed to pay our outstanding fees but Zifa Matabeleland North refused to accept us in Division Two. We never gave up and we had the community paying US$10 each among those who loved the game in October. In 2016 Mosi Rovers was formed from the still-smouldering ashes of Zambezi Lions. I am happy with the project now, it looks it has a future. My wish is for God to grant me more years and I live to watch Mosi Rovers in the Premiership. The guys that are running the club are committed to the dream,” said Fuyane.
One of his former players Itai says Fuyane is one unsung hero in the game.
“He was a very good coach. He taught us basics that we carried to the Premiership. He was a very good coach a hero whose praises deserve to be sung while he lives. He created many stars from meagre resources and turned them to what lit local stadia and on the international scene,” said Itai later named Stango because of his skillfulness as a right-back.
Fuyane who is married says his son, Qhubekani is trying his luck in the Zifa Southern Region League with DRC FC.
But sadly, Fuyane is tucked away at some corner in Victoria Falls, with the powers that be and the community not taking note of the hero he is in the game. — [email protected]
Online Reporter