Bello deserves a Bells

Langton Nyakwenda
Sports Reporter

SOME called him Snoop Dogg because his dressing and lanky stature resembled that of the popular American rapper, but Keni Mubaiwa is also remembered for many other things.

He was the last Dynamos chairperson to lead the Harare giants to a league title.

DeMbare actually won four straight titles between 2011 and 2014 under Mubaiwa’s chairmanship.

Mubaiwa was also famous for his propensity to drop some interesting nuggets, especially at media conferences.

In one of his most popular media addresses, Mubaiwa labelled Gift Bello a rebel after the gifted centre-back had dumped Dynamos for FC Platinum in February 2014.

“Bello is a rebel and I don’t know if we are going to see another rebel from the players here,” Mubaiwa fumed.

Bello had been central to Dynamos’ successive titles and his decision to swap the DeMbare blue for the green and white of FC Platinum appeared to have caught Mubaiwa by surprise.

But Bello’s bold decision turned out to be a masterstroke for the Mbare-born defender.

Bello was 30 then and had won three championship medals when he left Dynamos.

He is now 38 and boasts a record-equalling seven league titles.

Only Devon Chafa — who won four with Dynamos, one with CAPS United and two with FC Platinum — sits on that special table.

The defender was handed the seventh league medal at Mandava last weekend after FC Platinum were crowned Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions for a club record fourth consecutive season.

He is also expecting another blessing: His wife Gamuchirai Mamutse is pregnant and almost due to deliver.

“My wife has been very supportive; she is a pillar,” says Bello.

“She is not going to work these days but we have a small business; we sell cakes here in Zvishavane.”

The couple has two children – Tyler (6) and Taraj, who turned four in May.

It was not easy for Bello during his early days in Zvishavane.

Adjusting to life in a small mining town for someone who was used to life in Harare’s ghettos proved a little difficult for Bello.

“Zvakamboda kunetsa, but I managed to settle and everything is okay now, zvese bhoo.

“I thank FC Platinum for giving me the opportunity to make history. It is because of this team that I now have seven league medals, which is a special achievement.

“I want to thank the sponsors of this team, the fans and, of course, my coach Norman Mapeza,” he said.

However, it was not Mapeza who lured him to FC Platinum in 2014.

Lloyd Mutasa, who had coached him at both Kiglon and briefly at DeMbare, brought the defender to the miners when he was the FC Platinum coach.

Mutasa was then fired at FC Platinum in August 2014 and Mapeza took over.

Since then, FC Platinum have grown in stature.

Apart from a record-equalling four straight league championships, they also boast two Chibuku Super Cup titles won in 2014 and 2021.

And Bello has been a central figure to that success.

FC Platinum have kept 137 clean sheets in 226 league matches since Bello arrived in Zvishavane. They have 72 clean sheets in 113 home matches.

Mapeza’s men are so mean at Mandava that they have kept 37 clean sheets in their last 50 matches at home.

“It’s about continuity, which, in turn, breeds consistency,” Bello said.

Incidentally, since Mapeza’s appointment, FC Platinum have become a football beast, whose solidity in defence is second to none in the Premiership.

They recorded 23 clean sheets in 34 matches in the just-ended season.

The champions conceded only four times in the 17 league matches on home turf, and Bello feels the understanding between the players and their coach is reaping rewards.

“Most of the guys in the team have come a long way with coach Mapeza. We know how he wants us to play and we have mastered his system.

“My experience in the game is my advantage. I use it to control the game and also help the youngsters, consistently reminding them of what the coach wants.

“Our philosophy is to pass the ball and we are used to it.”

Bello has experience spanning11 seasons in the Premiership.

He made his debut at Kiglon in 2010, before moving to Dynamos in 2011 alongside then-teammates at Kiglon, who included Denver Mukamba, Thomas Magorimbo and Devon Chafa.

“I want to play until I get to 40,” he declares.

“I also want to win another championship medal so that I get to eight league medals and break the record.”

Mapeza, a favourite for the 2021/2022 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Coach of the Year award, has high regard for Bello.

The former Zimbabwe skipper would also lament the mercurial player’s absence on the few occasions the veteran defender missed FC Platinum matches.

“Bello has been one of our most valuable players in the past four seasons.

“For a 38-year-old to keep playing at that level is massive and I salute him for that. He has led by example.

“We have a number of youngsters who look up to him for guidance and he is doing just that,” Mapeza said.

Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya (20), Kelvin Mangiza (21) and Panashe Mutimbanyoka (20) are some of the upcoming players who are now playing an integral role at FC Platinum.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about discipline, commitment and passion.

“I think Bello can still keep on playing; sometimes it’s about the genes. If you go to Italy, most players there play into their early 40s or late 30s.

“The likes of Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini retired very late and I think Bello can also do that,” said Mapeza.

Baresi is a former AC Milan and Italy defender, who retired from the game in 1997 at the age of 37, while Maldini, another ex-Rossoneri star, quit professional football aged 41.

Locally, Zimbabwe has Bello, who is still playing and winning titles at the age of 38.

Perhaps Bello deserves a Bells.

 @LangtonGuraz