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Tadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League giants Dynamos have joined the nation in mourning national hero Ben Mucheche who played some key roles in the Glamour Boys’ success story in the 1970s.
Mucheche died on Wednesday last week and he has since been declared a national hero due to his immense contribution to the liberation of this country from white minority rule.
While he chipped in, committing his resources towards sustaining the struggle for freedom, he was also instrumental in aiding Dynamos during a period that they enjoyed immense success.
In fact, Mucheche, who is one of the first black businessmen to make it big in this country, was the DeMbare manager between 1970 and 1975. But his aid to the country’s most successful club wasn’t confined to that period only.
Through his logistics company, Mucheche Bus Services, the national hero was already providing transport for the team when he was officially integrated into the Dynamos system.
He continued providing the service well after he left his official position and he rarely missed DeMbare games both at home and away decades after leaving his position at the club. Dynamos board chairman Bernard Marriott-Lusengo described Mucheche as a kind-hearted character who had a hand in the early successes of the Glamour Boys.
“He was a larger than life character, so to speak. In the 1960s, it wasn’t that easy having all that a team needed.
“As Dynamos Football Club, we needed a lot and Mucheche was always available to cater for our needs,” said Marriott-Lusengo.
“We always had a bus from his company which we used as a team. On top of the bus, he would also chip in with some allowances for both the playing and non-playing staff.
“His roles during those days were so very key otherwise, in hindsight, our operations as a team would have been crippled and the club would have folded. “Around 1970 and the five years that followed, Mucheche was roped in as the team manager”.
Under his managerial years, Dynamos enjoyed even more success.
“He was an efficient, hands-on leader who let his actions speak for him.
“He was liked by everyone at the team and he was a cool, generous man. I can’t remember the years we travelled on his buses because it happened for a very long time.
“Crops like the late national hero are always hard to come by. As Dynamos Football Club, we feel that we have been robbed of one of the most iconic figures to have passed through the team”. Marriott, who is the only surviving founder member for the 1963-established outfit and the current majority shareholder, said Mucheche loved Dynamos very much and he was a permanent figure at their games well after he left his official position at the team.
“Mucheche would often call me and we would accompany each other to Dynamos games both at home and away,” said Marriott.
“He was a Dynamos follower with blue blood. He continued supporting the team even after he was no longer an official at the team.
“I have seen passion in the game but nothing beats what Mucheche represented.
“We won so many trophies in the 1960s and 1970s with him at the helm of helping the team.
“We also won a lot of accolades that I would say were inspired by him. We are very happy that authorities have decided to confer him with a national hero status”.
For Dynamos secretary general Webster Marechera, Mucheche’s death is a double blow as the national hero is also his father-in-law.
“I am really saddened. He was my father-in-law. At Dynamos, he helped us a lot first with his car together with the likes of Morrison Sifelani then he would also provide a bus for the team,” said Marechera.
“He contributed to the success of Dynamos and the history of this great club will never be complete without mentioning Mucheche. He also provided buses for our juniors including the likes of Murape Murape in the 1990s”.
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