Fare thee well Maenzanise

Lovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
THE problem with not belonging to a certain generation is that when you talk its like you are boxing in an empty corner with no audience nor opponent. On Sunday God called time on one of his most precious petals – Nqobizitha Maenzanise. To many of later generations of footballers he is the man who with the likes of Ronald Sibanda, Isaac Riyano, Joseph Kabwe and Ferdinand Mwachindalo drove AmaZulu.

Not the friendliest of characters if you were not on first name basis with him. Maenzanise will go in history as having been one of the best talents to emerge from Bulawayo. His weird character probably cost him higher ratings by the media, coaches, teammates and fans but there is no doubt in all who saw him come through the junior ranks that he was a gem on the field.

Despite his small frame Nqobizitha could win balls, dribble past big men and use stamina or sheer stubbornness to extricate himself out of delicate situations and set up a teammate with an intelligent pass or flick. When opportunity arose, he would shoot at goal with devastating effect from his ricketry legs.

I had the opportunity to watch him in his bright teens, when he broke into the Highlanders first team. That he was part of the 1980s squad of brilliant footballers like Tito Paketh, Willard Khumalo, Thoko Sithole, the late Titus Majola, the late Ronnie Jowa, Mpumelelo Dzowa, the late David Phiri and Amin Soma-Phiri speaks volumes of the immense talent he had.

I have always frowned on one fact. Looked at reality that you cannot always get all you want as the Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth designs every living being’s path and activities.

One thing that never happened to Highlanders was lining up a midfield of another bright prospect the late Tutani Moyo with Maenzanise, Paketh, Khumalo or Sithole and even David in one match.

Moyo like Maenzanise was small but very gifted. His character saw him go against advice and seeking greener pastures in Harare where his career unfortunately ended not on the pitch but off the field. I bet if the two had had an opportunity to play for Highlanders together in the then Super League, their combination would have been compared to that of Stanford “Stix” M’tizwa and the late Joel Shambo or David Mandigora and the late Archieford Chimutanda where individualism tended to outshine team brilliance.

I am not surprised that he held audiences at the 1987 Aberdeen Festival spellbound with his skills.
He was a regular at the Chronicle Sports Desk. Speaking in a low husked voice he would announce his presence by saying; “Yes Dzeki (Jeki).”

I have known him from 1987, having met him through another boy who like Maenzanise never reached his full potential – Lazarus Mushambadope who partnered the 25 times capped former Bosso and AmaZulu star. They had been together at St Columbas in 1986 and our first meeting in a soccer match at Crescent was not pleasant.

Our team needed a goalkeeper. I had been introduced to Maenzanise as a colleague of Mushambadope who played volleyball at Inyathi High School.

In a bullish manner Maenzanise had said; “Zwana njengoba udlala ivolleyball uzabamba. Nxa ungafuni awusoze udlale.”
I was stubborn too. I packed my bags and headed home but we were to get closer the following year when we met at Paddonhurst where his elder sister, Nonsizi Ndlovu and family stayed.

But there was always something about Humpty or Jackal. One would not understand his next move or reaction to you. A joke that would get ribs cracking, would pass for a no event with him but when he was in high spirits he would open up.

Throughout his days at AmaZulu he refused to be interviewed by me saying I knew everything about him. For years I have been writing about former stars and it was not easy pinning him down to an interview.

However, last year in October Chronicle published his profile.
I have no doubt that in his promotion to better fields, soccer has lost an intelligent soccer figure in the mould of another – Majuta Mpofu who passed on last year.

Chatting to both one got the feeling that they were soccer minds that were never understood.
He once asked me why people kick the ball. I avoided displaying my arrogance and insisted on being educated on the two reasons why people kick the ball. Deep in my mind it was to defend and to attack but his answer was that people kick the ball to pass and score.
His visit to Chronicle would end up with Maenzanise picking up a bunch of old newspapers to read at home.

He rarely attended local Premiership matches his argument being that it would amount to endorsing mediocrity.
Such was his reasoning but one thing many agree was his intelligence and talent which did not reach expected heights due to his behaviour at times on and off the pitch.

On Monday one of his coaches Cosmas Zulu was able to get us to laugh when he recalled an incident that happened in Scotland in 1987.
Some Scots came fuming at Zulu and grabbed him by the collar ready to beat him up. A bemused coach (Zulu) could not understand what was going on until the mob said one of the players had patted one of their girls on her bottom.

It turned out that Nqobizitha was the culprit.
Following the final whistle on you Nqobizitha, by your Maker, farewell mate. You played your match and to be taken at 45, you just had played one half and we expected the next 45 of yours on the field as a coach, sharing with kids what made you a household name and one of the least understood stars of your time.

RIP Khanka!