Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube
IT turns out one of the biggest football interventions in Bulawayo’s history was not by a coach or striker, but by the late Vice President, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo.
The iconic liberation hero, affectionately known as Father Zimbabwe, was the force behind the name changes of Bulawayo’s biggest clubs, Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints, in a bold move to stop tribal clashes among fans.
Back in the day, Zimbabwe Saints were known as Mashonaland United, while Highlanders carried the name Matabeleland Highlanders.
The names, while rooted in identity and pride, stoked tribal tensions across the city.
Fans regularly clashed before and after matches. Some even lost their lives, and others were left with permanent injuries, all in the name of football.
Upon his release from prison in 1975, Nkomo sat down with leaders from both clubs and urged them to embrace unity. Alongside fellow nationalist and former Cabinet Minister Dr Herbert Ushewokunze, Nkomo convinced the feuding clubs to drop the divisive provincial tags and take up names that spoke to national cohesion.
The transformation was radical. Matabeleland Highlanders became simply Highlanders, and Mashonaland United was reborn as Zimbabwe Saints. The message was clear. Football should unite, not divide.
“Zimbabwe Saints used to be Mashonaland United. When we changed the name during the Smith regime, the white authorities asked, ‘What is saintly about a Black person?’” revealed former Saints midfielder Douglas Mutema. “Some of us were arrested for using the name Zimbabwe Saints. They wanted us to call ourselves Rhodesia Saints instead.”
Mutema, who partnered legend William Sibanda in midfield, said the name changes were met with resistance from the Rhodesian authorities. But the clubs and communities pushed back with the help of Nkomo and Ushewokunze.
Police eventually introduced a bizarre solution to curb football violence. Suspected hooligans were made to report to the police on Fridays and kept until Sunday evening. They were only released after the match had ended.
Despite the ugly roots, both clubs went on to shine brightly.
Zimbabwe Saints, fondly known as Chikwata, produced legends like Boyce Malunga, Agent Sawu, Obey Sova, Mthulisi Maphosa and Henry Mckop.
They lifted the league and cup double in 1977 and dominated again in 1988 with the league title and Chibuku Trophy.
Highlanders became serial silverware collectors, scooping everything from league titles to knockout cups.
The club unearthed greats like Madinda Ndlovu, Makwinji Soma-Phiri, Zenzo Moyo, Siza Khoza, Tapuwa Kapini and the deadly Lunga duo, Gift Senior and Gift Junior.
Thanks to Dr Nkomo’s timely wisdom, Bulawayo football was spared a dark and dangerous path. He saw sport not just as a game, but as a powerful weapon for peace and unity.
Father Zimbabwe may be gone, but his vision for football as a unifier lives on every time Bosso and Saints fans stand side by side, no longer enemies but proud sons and daughters of the same soil.
