Chronicle Editor
Yester year greats with Lovemore Dube
WHO was Bulawayo’s best footballer of the 1970s?
It’s a question one comes across when he meets fans of that era. To them football ceased to be exciting the moment that generation retired.
Sunday News will run with a few names and leave the reader to conclude with his or her own best 11.
What kept fans on the edges of their seats were the speedy wingers on the flanks and their ability to work their way past defenders. A calculated cross into the boss for the strikers to finish off, gave value for money to fans who packed stadia to the rafters.
The big no-nonsense defenders who dominated in the air, kicked the ball so high, or just used their big bodies to shake off strikers were what spectators enjoyed watching.
The wingbacks who shut out marauding wingers, were a joy to watch on the overlap with good deliveries into the box, great pace when chasing back made the game the spectacle it got to be.
That era appears to have branded Zimbabwe football. Stars of that time are still spoken of as if they played yesterday.
Even those that never watched any of those legends speak about how brilliant William Sibanda, Tymon Mabaleka, Majuta Mpofu, Aleck Mwanza, Stanley Nyika, Itai Chieza, Isaac Mafaro, Boet Van Ays and Tommy Masuku were.
Coming up with that era’s Best X1 would be a tall order as the teams had very brilliant players. Who would forget the Highlanders FC hit machine consisting of Cavin Duberley, Barry Daka, Tymon Mabaleka, Josiah Nxumalo, Itai Chieza and Tommy Masuku.
This strike force rates among the best. They were good dribblers on the wing, great ball players in midfield and good finishers as well.
The defence with likes of Edward Dzowa, Lawrence Phiri, James Nxumalo, Ephraim Moloi, Tembo and Van Ays provided great cover to Ananias Dube and Bruce Grobbelaar.
Mashonaland United’s Fletcher High School boys, Homela, William Sibanda and Mwanza were key components of the side that later changed to Zimbabwe Saints.
Sibanda is regarded as the best midfield player of his era. A great ball player and reader of the game he shone with players like Andrew Kadengu, Max Tshuma, Simon Supiya, Stephen Chuma, Moloi, Douglas Maneto, Emmanuel Sibanda and Moses Moyo.
Rangers had great stars in the mould of Bruce Mawa and when one turned to Bulawayo Wanderers names like Melusi Sibanda, Majuta Mpofu come to mind.
Big Joe Moyo, Nicho Mabhena, Runny Nyathi, Conrad Nkomazana, Francis Sikhosana, Alfred Phiri are some of the players that came from clubs like Black Chiefs and Bulawayo Rockets.
Greg Faasen, the Boonzaier brothers, John Reilander, Ernest Sibanda, Tito Paketh, Fanuel Ncube, Titus Majola, Boyce Malunga and Mark Watson are some of the best players to have come out of Callies, Contex, Old Miltonians and Portuguese.
Who can forget Eastlands with the likes of Lovemore Nyabeze, Chris Mhlanga, Tymon Mabaleka and William Chirwa?
Sunday News caught up with Godfrey Paradza a former Highlanders FC junior, Dynamos, Darryn T and Zimbabwe Saints star, who growing up in the 1970s was inspired by the 1970s players.
He has chosen an exciting line up drawn from several city clubs and has some of the best names in the game.
In goal Paradza chose William Chirwa and John Walker
Chirwa starred for Eastlands and Mashonaland FC while Walker who is believed to have played into his 40s and possibly 50s, was an outstanding goalie for Cobras and Northern Rhodesia and later on City Pirates in the 1970s.
Former Saints defender Peter Mpofu occupies the right back position with Van Ays thrown at left back.
He has chosen a centre back partnership of James Nxumalo and Simon Supiya.
His anchoring role choices are two being Moses Madalaboy Moyo and Tendai Chieza who arrived at Saints from Mangura having vowed fans around the country in the elite league and Chamber of Mines.
Former Saints striker Nelson Mapara takes the right wing position with Homela attacking right link.
Alick Mwanza and Itai Chieza are a toss up for the lead striker position with William Sibanda taking the Number 10 slot undisputed.
Paradza said his left wing spot would be a very difficult choice between Paul Tsumbe, Barry Daka and Onias Musana.
Paradza’s Best 11
1 William Chirwa/John Walker, 2 Peter Mpofu, 3 Boet Van Ays, 4 James Nxumalo, 5 Simon Supiya, 6 Moses Moyo/Tendai Chieza, 7 Nelson Mapara, 8 Gibson Homela, 9 Alick Mwanza/Itai Chieza, 10 William Sibanda, 11 Paul Tsumbe/Barry Daka/Onias Musana. Please forward your Best 11 from the 1970s by whatsapp to 0786468644
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter