Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, Deputy Sports Editor
A FORTNIGHT ago, as part of the Highlanders@100 Celebrations we looked at some of the best goalkeepers to guard posts for one of the country’s most iconic football clubs.
This week, we look at right backs; the Number Twos (2).
About a dozen people who were contacted said there was Mercedes “Rambo” Sibanda and the rest.
He appeared in almost everyone’s list.
Sibanda who died some 25 years ago burst onto the scene in 1984 and went on to establish himself among the best in the land and landed the Zimbabwe Footballer of the Year in 1987 and a number of appearances on the calendar well into the 1990s.
He was capped at Under-20, Under-23 and Warriors. So good was he that he attracted the attention of Mamelodi Sundowns during its golden era under owner Zola Mahobe and coach Stanley “Screamer” Tshabalala. He had a brief stint with top Danish side Randers.
A charismatic personality, with a well cut body and a calf that was the envy of many fitness enthusiasts, Sibanda earned the monicker Rambo and went on to be the darling of many fans across the country, even from Bosso’s bitter rivals.
He was all one would want in a star, confidence, skill, great ball control, good shooting, arrogance character and charisma, above all a big heart for the occasion.
There were other great Number Twos for Ithimu Yezwelonke like Lawrence Phiri in the early 1970s, Zenzo Dabengwa, Augustine Lunga, Lizwe Chafunya, Fanuel Ncube, Sam Sibanda, Abraham
Mbambo, Simon Sibanda, Melusi Mabaleka Sibanda, Zephania Ngodzo, Bekithemba Ndlovu, Melusi Ndebele, Manase Mwanza, Noel Kaseke, Webster Chingozho, Andrew Mbeba and Mvelo Khoza.
On Friday we took it to the fans and some footballers to nominate their choices.
Hosea Bhebhe: Mercedes Sibanda, very powerful when attacking and he had good powerful shots. Fanuel “Launcher” Ncube could cover all the pitch, though not so talented. I liked his spirit of not giving in at all costs. Also Doink, Simon Sibanda, he was a spirited player, he could overlap and supply good crosses to the 18-yard area.
Former Zifa technical director, a Zimbabwe Saints legend, Jethro “Chemmy” Hunidzarira listed Lawrence “Lofty” Phiri, Fanuel “Ncane” Ncube, Super Netsai Moyo and Abraham Mbambo.
Lawrence Maphosa, a journalist with an interest in archiving listed three, Mercedes Sibanda, Fanuel Ncube and Andrew Mbeba.
“Only three for me,” said Maphosa.
“He was the first defender from Bulawayo to win the Soccer Star of the Year, first Highlanders player to captain a national team, one of Highlanders defenders with many goals.
Fanuel Ncube, very consistent and captained Highlanders to many trophies. Andrew Mbeba, one of the defenders with many assists at Highlanders, one to score from freekicks and more than one Soccer Star of the
Year appearances,” wrote Maphosa.
Former Hwange and Giant Killers goalkeeper Isaac “Sakhi” Tshuma named Mercedes Sibanda, Fanuel Ncube and Bekithemba Ndlovu as the best right-backs to turn out for Highlanders.
Noah Mpofu, a Highlanders life member put his money on Lawson Nkomo now a Mawabeni FC coach.
“Lawson Nkomo, he was very good at defending, his overlapping was a good and deadball specialist as he scored crucial goals.
Nhlanhla Maphosa a Scotland based Highlanders supporter put his money on Mercedes Sibanda. He said Rambo was ahead of time playing as a wing back yet back then they were fullbacks, solid in defence, very effective on initiating and supporting attacks.
“He was very fit and could run 24 hours, powerful shots from distance, unstoppable freekicks outside the 18 area and penalties,” said Nhlanhla.
He said while Simon Sibanda was very short for a defender, his positional awareness was great, a good reader of the game, aggressive yet speedy wingers never got the better of him. For his lack of height he came in with intelligence and provided Bosso with a playmaker on the right side of defence.
Keutsepilemang Ndebele among Zimbabwe’s brightest young coaches in the mid 1990s, has Rambo as his best ever.
“My choice will be limited to some generations for common reasons. Number 1: Mercedes — good ball winning skills on the ground and in the air, courageous, great bullish and aggressive attitude, super tactical awareness, excellent in attack, scored goals from almost anywhere and free kicks especially, as a dead ball specialist. Super athletics and stamina, pinpoint recovery runs. Number 2:
Fanuel Ncube — ball winner, excellent long ball passer and crossrr of ball, good character and courageous. Number 3: Abraham Mbambo — the gentleman of the game, best footballer attitude and a wonderful man. Attacked with gusto and crossed the ball well. Ball winner on the ground and had good speed and excellent recovery runs. Number 4: Simon “Makwe” Sibanda — the most deceptive defender ever to play the game in my opinion.
For his height, he was always closest to the ball and won most of his ground duels and sometimes unfairly so. Excellent timing and tactical awareness got him out of the mess before it happened. Excellent in defending and attack.
Good ball crosser and technically gifted Doink was. Number 5: Bekithemba Ndlovu — bundle of energy going forward and coming back. Good ball winner on the ground and air. Strong attacking and defending abilities and powerful shooter of the ball,” said Ndebele.
Madinda Ndlovu, the Highlanders and Zimbabwe right wing master, had Netsai Moyo, Godfrey Paradza, Augustine Lunga, Fanuel Ncube, Sam Sibanda and Rambo as the best rightbacks he watched and played with at Highlanders.
Former Chronicle Sports Reporter, Ricky Zililo who now works in the United Kingdom said Rambo is probably the best right back ever and listed Noel Kaseke, Bekithemba Ndlovu and Zephania Ngodzo.
“For me, Mercedes ‘Rambo’ Sibanda was arguably the best right back I ever watched in a Highlanders shirt. Growing up, whenever we played umphepha, if you played, you wanted everyone to call you ‘Rambo.’ That’s the kind of aura he had. He inspired so many youngsters, especially in Bulawayo.
“As I got older, Noel Kaseke became another favourite. What a player! His work rate, endless overlapping runs, inch-perfect crosses were a joy to watch in that great Bosso side that dominated Zimbabwean football. The fact that he came straight from Founders High School into the Highlanders first team tells you everything about the quality he possessed.
“Then there was Super Bekithemba Ndlovu. What I admired most about SaMaNdlo was his heart and work ethic. He never stopped running or fighting.
He reminds me of another player who showed that commitment, discipline and hard work can take you to the very top, Zephaniah ‘Mania’ Ngodzo. SaMaNdlo and Mania were warriors who gave everything for the black and white. It’s a pity we never saw the very best of Hloniphani ‘Fah’ Ndebele in the senior team. The ex-footballer from Emakhandeni who had a good stint in Swaziland had unbelievable skill, perhaps too skilful for a right back!
“Without disrespecting other good servants like Melusi Sibanda also known as ‘Shepherd’ or ‘Mabaleka’ and others I may have forgotten, I think Andrew Mbeba deserves to be mentioned among the best Bosso right backs of his generation.
His performances have earned him that recognition. And then there was Bukhosi Ncube from Victoria Falls. What a promising talent. It’s heartbreaking that a knee injury cut short what looked like was going to be a brilliant career. We’ll always wonder how far he could have gone,” Zililo said.
Those asked ranged from 40-65 years old.
Judging from the responses, Rambo was among the best talents to play rightback for Highlanders.
