Online Reporter
SUNDAY Life continues with its look at some of the best players ever to don the Highlanders centre forward jerseys and chose to talk to some of the men who were tasked with keeping them at bay.
Bennedict Moyo, a former Zimbabwe youth international and a member of the Olympic team in the early 1980s, went on to be a coach trainer and a member of the Warriors technical team, had a number of names in his list who he believes were a nightmare to defenders.
Mark Watson tops the list so much that when he made a temporary move to Ziscosteel who were still known as Risco back then in 1983, Moyo met the news with relief.
“I was very relieved to have him on our side. It was a problem solved as he used to give us a torrid time. He was a good striker whose moves were deceptive and he would just lurk in the box and wait for a chance to pounce. At a wink he would have pounced, he had all the makings of a Great
Number 9,” said Moyo who many referred to as Grinder because he was tough.
He was part of a brilliant defence that had James Takavada and Ephraim Dzimbiri, two of t6he country’s best wingbacks of the early 1980s.
Watson also found himself up for mention from legendary defender and former striker Gibson Homela.
“Mark Watson was a very good striker among the very best nationally and gave good service to Highlanders,” said Homela who also played with the former Bosso forward in the national teams of the early 1980s.
Homela’s opinion could also be handy in that he played against Watson in the South Region League in 1979 before facing off in the National Professional Soccer League in 1980 before it changed to Super League.
One of the country and Bulawayo’s finest products Godfrey Paradza gave Watson the nod among
Highlanders’ greatest strikers. He described Watson as very cunning with his approach and effectiveness in the box where he would punish strongly if left unmarked.
“His off the ball runs, his perfect finishing and hunt for chances in between defenders was top rate.
He was cunning, deadly in front of goal and knew how to elude defenders and was deadly when finishing,” said Paradza who as an Under-18 at Highlanders got to meet the striker at training or watched him during games.
Josiah Nxumalo from the grand yesteryear crew appeared to have made a big impression during his era as the three defenders voted for him among the best.
“Nxumalo was an out and out striker. He was big an intimidating to defenders. He was like Peter Nyama, if you gave him a chance he would pounce or even use his big body, surely he was one of Highlanders’ best strikers, the traditional Number Nine,” said Moyo.
Moyo’s list of the top notch goal-getters had Adam Ndlovu and Zenzo Moyo as well.
“You cannot talk about the history of Highlanders and leave out Adam and Zenzo. Adam was persistent, had force and good finishing, Zenzo was tall and intimidating, he used his big body to get
past defenders and hit the nets to stay in the charts,” said Moyo.
Paradza said Adam Ndlovu was an intelligent player, who had strength and could not come second in most of the tussles for the ball.
“He had this never-say-die spirit which made him a cut above the rest. Ndlovu had an element of surprise,” said Paradza.
Paradza said the likes of Itai Chieza, Nxumalo and Gibson Makhanda played well before he could follow local football.
“I only heard about them, I was too young during their playing days,” said Paradza.
Paradza also had Zenzo Moyo.
“He was a good striker but left early before we could formulate an opinion about when he played in Cyprus,” said Paradza.
Homela had Watson, Nxumalo, Zenzo, Tymon, Adam, Madinda and Peter.
“The brothers were a problem in attack but of the pack Adam was the natural Number 9,” said Homela.
He added: “Adam was something else, he got goals. Peter and Madinda were menacing but the list would not be complete if I do not recognise Zenzo’s talent. He was not a dribbler but got the job done as he would bull dose his way through,” said Homela.
Homela said Tymon Mabaleka weighed in well as well but like Cavin Duberley they were more of linkmen cum/striker.
“Tymon and Duberley were more of attacking midfielders though they would float up front and in midfield and deceive defences to score for Highlanders.”
Apart from Watson the panel agreed on Zenzo, Josiah and Adam as having been very brilliant strikers during their time.
But there were also other strikers capable of finding the target 15 times in a season like Dumisani Ngulube, Tobias Mudyambanje, Ralph Matema, Obidiah Tarumbwa, Thabani Masawi, Gift Lunga
(Snr), Rahman Gumbo, Mulenga Chewe, Eddie Dube, Eddie Nyika and Lynoth Chikuhwa.
Gumbo, Matema and Chikuhwa won the top goalscorers.
Perhaps Zenzo was the most prolific of them all. He left for Cyprus in August to join Paphos Athletic Union at 23 goals. He was only pipped to the Golden Boot on the last day of the championship by
Chewe who was with Railstars in 2000.
Considering that he had also spent almost a month on trial in Cyprus, many believe he could have scored a record number of goals in the league and with cup goals challenged Moses Chunga’s 1986 tally of 30 league and 16 cup goals that has stood as the highest number scored in a season.
Some have imagined him in a setup of the 1980s which had creative midfielders like Tutani Moyo,
Thoko Sithole, Tito Paketh, Boy Ndlovu, Willard Khumalo and wingers Madinda Ndlovu, Peter
Ndlovu, Tanny Banda, Abraham Madondo and Chris Ncube.
Zenzo did not stay long on the domestic scene but would have set records if he had maintained the form he showed in the 2000 season in which alongside Masawi, were many defences’ nightmare.
