Chapo had respect but was firm: Chirambadare

STANLEY Chirambadare has described the late former Dynamos right-back Angirayi “Durawall” Chapo as a captain who had respect but was firm.

Chapo died last Tuesday at his Mufakose home in Harare and was buried in the capital on Thursday. He was in his early 60s.

Chapo got his break in the Dynamos first team in the mid-1980s taking over from Garnett Muchongwe at right-back. It was not an ordinary Dynamos outfit but a solid unit that swept all that came before them to win several tournaments and league titles in an era Caps United, Arcadia, Rio Tinto, Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints were very competitive in the Super League before the advent of the Premier Soccer League in 1993.

Chirambadare who eventually established himself in the Dynamos left-back position in 1987, forming a formidable defence which had an about to quit Misheck Chidzambwa (deceased), Henry Chari and Chapo on the right and later had the late Francis Shonhayi, spoke highly of his former teammate and skipper.

He described him as a friend on and off the pitch, and said their overlaps were well co-ordinated on the field of play.
“We were friends on and off the pitch, our movements upfront were well co-ordinated. As a captain he had respect but was firm,” said Chirambadare.

Chirambadare had an on-and-off relationship with Dynamos from his teens in 1981, but it was not until 1987 that the club, impressed with what he was doing at Arcadia, sent an emissary to talk to him. That man turned out to be Chapo.

“When Dynamos wanted me back at the club, they sent Chapo to talk to me about the move. His calm and persistent character persuaded me,” said Chirambadare.

Samora as Chirambadare was called during his days, believes Chapo represented Dynamos very well putting on performances that won him national acclaim and the nickname Durawall. He was many a left-winger’s nightmare and many will remember his encounter with Peter Ndlovu in the 1990 Zifa Cup final where at one stage he shovelled the young prodigy to the tartan track with a crude tackle, coolly back-pedalling and smiling away in his customary grin.

According to Chirambadare, Chapo is the last Dynamos captain in terms of the 1963 constitution where the players had the power to appoint officials.

“Angirai Chapo is the last Dynamos captain in terms of the 1963 Constitution, where the players had power to appoint or ‘disappoint’ officials. Payments were negotiated along this background,” said Chirambadare of his former roommate at camp.

Chirambadare revealed that Chapo was a lovable character at the club. He said in camp they at times discussed the line-up.

“He represented the team well. He was loved and feared. In camp he was my roommate. We discussed the line-up as the coach would always ask him, his thoughts in that regard,” said the former left-back.

Chapo was described as a good family man who was committed to all he did.

“As a family man, I admired him. In all he did there was total commitment, football, work and family. I say go well legendary captain, the best I played along with,” said Chirambadare.

Chapo and Chirambadare’s former coach Sunday Chidzambwa was the highest football personality at the funeral where he introduced some of the former right-back’s teammates and opponents.

The legendary Moses Chunga, Henry Chari, Simon Chuma, Mugove Munyorovi, George Nechironga, Obert Chimedza, Eric Aisam, Ralph Kawondera, Mike Chipembere, Clayton Munemo and Eddie Muchongwe attended the funeral.

So impressive was Chapo at right-back that with the late Mercedes “Rambo” Sibanda considered for a loose libero role in the Warriors set up in 1988, Chapo was thrown at right-back at East and Central Africa Football Association tournament in Malawi.

He was right-back when Zimbabwe were knocked out of the Afcon Cup by Congo in 1991.

 

The late Angirayi “Durawall” Chapo

The team had Ephraim Chawanda, Alexander Maseko, the late John Sibanda between the posts, the late Adam Ndlovu, Moses Chunga, Memory Mucherahowa, the late Paul Gundani, the late Willard Khumalo and Henry Mackop.

He also played alongside John Phiri, Carlos Max, Eddie Muchongwe, Max Makanza-Lunga, Mpumelelo Dzowa, the late Rahman Gumbo and David Mwanza in the Warriors.

Confident on the ball, firm on the tackle, enterprising on the overlap, Chapo was a delight to watch and deserved each and every one of his more than a dozen caps for his country.