British mourns legendary goalkeeper

Lovemore Dube, Zimpapers Sports Hub

ONE of Highlanders and Zimbabwe’s best centrebacks Douglas “British” Mloyi has described William “Gorilla” Chirwa as one of the best goalkeepers ever in Zimbabwe.

Chirwa died at Mpilo Central Hospital on Friday at the age of 85 leaving a legacy of great goalkeeping behind.

According to his son, Joseph, Chirwa fought a kidney ailment since October last year.
“He had not been well since October last year and eventually succumbed on Friday,” said Joseph.
Mloyi, who was promoted to the Highlanders first team around 1974, said he did not play against Chirwa but had watched him.

“I never got to play with him. I watched him in action, he was a great goalkeeper who was quite agile and his clearances from his own box were struck with technique and precision to set up strikers. The game misses such characters today.

“He played in an era of good goalkeepers like Zimbabwe Saints (Mashonaland United)’s Adam Maseko and Eddie Frano. May his dear departed soul rest in peace,” said Mloyi.

Chirwa nicknamed Gorilla by fans because of his big frame and agility, started his football career in Ndola, Zambia in 1954.

A devout CCAP Church member, Chirwa was born on 5 August 1940 in Nkhatha Bay in Malawi.
He left his home in 1952 to study at Ndola’s Kawushi Primary School before he moved to Itawa Upper Primary School where he established himself in the school’s first team in 1954.

“There was so much of football competition in Zambia. The teenagers loved the game and the mines were very active in the sport and that made us improve as players,” Chirwa told this writer in 2016.

After school he moved to Ndola United playing for them up to 1959. A chance visit to see his parents who worked at Dalny Mine in Chakari opened avenues for him for a glittering career in Zimbabwe which won him several pieces of silverware including slots in the Soccer Star of the Year calendar where in one of the seasons he was a runner-up to George Shaya.

“My parents insisted that I go back to school which meant Standard Five and Six again at Sanyati Mission. After school because management had heard that I am a good player they gave me a job in 1962 where I played for Chakari FC. We played in the Chamber of Mines competitions against formidable opposition like Rio Tinto, Hwange, Mhangura, Gaths Mine, Shabanie, Zisco, Kamativi and Gwaai River Mine.

“There was a league for the mines and national competitions which meant we played a lot of football and worked hard as well to stand the heat of the time,” said Chirwa at the time.

He moved to Mutorashanga Mine where his growing reputation as a good goalkeeper was recognised by Feoch Mine coached by senior player Jaison Muzambi.

He played with the legendary Rio Tinto winger Joseph Zulu.

His crowning moment was in 1965 when Feoch Mine won the Chamber of Mines title in Masvingo.
In 1969 Gaths Mine bought him.

A coaching clinic conducted by legends Tendai Chieza, the late Simon Machaya and James Nxumalo opened the doors for him to move to one of the country’s biggest towns — Bulawayo.

Tendai suggested that Chirwa should come to Bulawayo and join Bulawayo Sables who were owned by Castle Breweries.

A brewery manager said they were content with Rex Sheasby as their goalkeeper.

A chance meeting with a Mr Nyaguze of Luveve shops saw Chirwa joining Eastlands a good team chaired by former Dynamos chairman, the late Job Kadengu.

In his first year, 1970 they won the Callies Floodlight Trophy and reached several finals and semis.

He said he had a great time with Eastlands and was at one time called up to the Rhodesia national team to compete for the Number One jersey with Rob Jordan of Salisbury Callies.
Gorilla also had a short stint with Mashonaland FC in Bulawayo but his stay with Eastlands remained entrenched in his heart.

He once coached How Mine in the 1980s. At one stage the father of nine played as a winger.

Joseph said the family was still consulting about the burial date and place.
Mourners are gathered at 4470 Magwegwe North.