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TAVAKA “Dread” Gumbo’s name will remain entrenched in the records of football history in two of Zimbabwe’s erstwhile sporting towns of Hwange and Zvishavane where he asserted himself as one of the best ball players.
His ability to read the game and control the tempo of the game made him a household name in both towns where sport at some stage was a religion. For his efforts to have been recognised for national duty while turning out for the now defunct Shushine speaks volumes of the talent he was endowed with.
Throughout his career he shone a beacon of light in the middle of the park, attracting attention of big clubs.
It all began at Cyrene High School where he was a pupil up to the fourth form in 1986. By the time he completed his final year, Gumbo was in no doubt rated as one of the best footballers ever to play on the school fields.
His exploits won the school many battles. In most instances it was almost a “one-man show” as the gifted player strutted his stuff with aplomb in midfield.
A holiday soon after writing his Cambridge O-level examinations in 1986 had Gumbo trying his luck at Hwange Football Club.
“Soon after writing the examinations I visited my brother Rugare in Hwange with the intention of just passing time. Little did
I know I would see the football bug in me emerge.
“I found myself in the Hwange reserves playing with boys like Fabian Zulu, Andrew Banda, London Khumalo and Nathan Banda among some of the most promising boys of that time. They were good lads with a lot of promise,” said Gumbo.
He did not stay long to make an impression towards the first team as he soon left for Zvishavane to start the journey to legendary status.
Upon arriving in his home town of Zvishavane, Gumbo did not join the town’s big boys who were by then Shabanie Mine and Mandava United. Nor did he think about Shabanie’s friendly enemy in sport sister club Gaths Mine but he chose Buchwa Mine before crossing over to ShuShine in 1989.
It is at the bus company where his career was to illuminate Zvishavane. They were in Division Two and later they bought a franchise in the Southern Region leading to their promotion into the then Super League in 1992.
He had the chance to work with legends in their own right as his coach. He had Tendai Chieza a former Mhangura and Zimbabwe Saints player who coached Chikwata to several pieces of silverware and was capped by Rhodesia.
His other mentor was former Arcadia, Dynamos and Black Rhinos midfield star Hamid Dhana and local Zvishavane gaffer Ian “Fifa Coach” Malombo.
Playing alongside him were the likes of Fred Siziba, Farai Vandira, Norman Moyo, Vivian Mushekwa and his buddy and cousin Isaac Riyano.
To have been considered for the Dream Team and 1993 Soccer Star of the Year calendar were his career highlights.
It was at a time when heroes of the 1980s the late Mercedes Sibanda, Willard Khumalo, Knight Mathe, Maronga Nyangela, Madinda Ndlovu, Jimmy Mbewe, Jerry Chidawa, Obey Sova, Stanley Mutasa and Rahman Gumbo were rounding up their careers.
At that stage young talent Agent Sawu, Adam Ndlovu, Fabian Zulu, Vitalis
“Digital” Takawira and Tauya Murewa were getting to the top of their game.
At ShuShine he was coached by Ian Malombo Mpofu, Hamid Dhana and Tendai Chieza. It was him who invited his nephew Isaac Riyano to ShuShine and played with the likes of Vivian Mushekwa, Norman Moyo, Farai Vandira and Fredrick Siziba.
His first call up was when Reinhard Fabisch was national team coach during the Dream Team days.
The dreadlocked soft-spoken Gumbo, a Caf A Licence holder, has switched clubs with reckless abandon after hanging his boots in 2000 but he is hopeful that one day, he will come right.
At the club he was coached by Ian Malombo Mpofu, Hamid Dhana and Tendai Chieza. it was him who invited his nephew Isaac Riyano to ShuShine and played with the likes of Vivian Mushekwa, Norman Moyo, Farai Vandira and Fredrick Siziba.
The team however, found the going tough in Division One and were relegated at the end of 1993.
Gumbo stayed with the team but found himself on the way to Hwange at the end of 1994.
The Caf A Licence holder said during his time national team selection was fair.
“We had regional squads where we would eventually clash with our Northern Region counterparts. The nation knew who the best players were,” said Gumbo.
Gumbo will always be remembered with the likes of Johannes Tshuma and Chipo Tsodzo for volunteering to serve the nation at the hour of need when most senior players turned down the chance to play in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1995 when there was an ebola outbreak.
His star continued to shine in Hwange with a number of national team call ups. It was at a time when there was good talent in the country and he could not assert himself as a regular in the Warriors set up.
He played up to the turn of the century and ventured into coaching.
He has worked with a number of Premier clubs but rates getting Hardbody to playing Premiership football as one of his successes.
“Competition for promotion is always stiff. I had the honour of helping Hardbody into the Premiership and I have been around as a qualified coach. For now I am not coaching but available for any team that needs a coach and we can develop a similar football philosophy and achieve,” said Gumbo.
The former Cyrene High School star was born in Masvingo and attended primary school at Matshayisikhova and Fusi in Luveve, Bulawayo.
He had a brief stint with Zimbabwe Saints and played most of his junior football at school. He believes in the schools system.
“Investment is needed there too as children spend more time there. Former players and qualified coaches are needed there so as to raise the standard of the competition and game,” said Gumbo.
He rates the 1995 season as his best.
“We beat Dynamos 4-1, Highlanders 1-0 after a Johannes Tshuma howler where he was robbed of the ball by Lowani Nyathi and the 5-1 thumping of Tanganda. We beat all the big teams that year.
“Cleopas Dlodlo was a competitive opponent while at Eagles. I got as much as I gave to the likes of Willard Khumalo and Memory Mucherahowa in our midfield duels in the Premiership. In Division One Collin Zamani and Victor Netho were difficult too,” said the 48-year-old.
His career best goal he said was against Innocent Wiridzayi.
“It was a few paces from the centre circle and let go a screamer. That was my best goal in my career,” said Gumbo.
Online Reporter