Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, Yesteryear Greats
ARRIVING at a Highlanders side that had won the championship in 1999, presented former attacking midfielder Josamu Matselele with an opportunity to play and dream big.
He was a promising star whose passing game was compared to that of the legendary Ronald Sibanda, the late Archford Chimutanda and Tutani Moyo.
His greatest tool was passing, dissecting defences with just one touch. He never was a clown who dribbled and stood on top of the ball, but a guy who took on opponents to create space and subtract them in their half and let slip a great pass.
Now a coach at Harare Province Division Two side and academy, GG, Matselele said the move was great as many youngsters of his time dreamt of playing for Caps United, Dynamos, Darryn T, Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints.
But Dynamos and Highlanders he said were extra special.
“They had a big following, they featured in almost every cup final. They had players in national teams and so many of them inspirational figures we grew up admiring.
“Being identified and getting the chance to sign for Highlanders is something that even 26 years down the line is still a moment to savour,” said Josamu, young brother to Malvern who was part of the Bosso team that won the 1998/99 league title.
Malvern is remembered for his double that sunk Mhangura at Mhangura 2-0. Before the match he had clutched on to the fence as others warmed up, refusing to do so arguing that anyone run in between by the home players, will not have a good game.
He stunned his camp with a well taken brace and three points that gave Bosso a rung closer to the title.
Josamu says excitement eventually came to a reality check.
The competition for places kept on getting hotter.
“When I arrived, there was the trusted frontline duo of Thabani Masawi and Zenzo Moyo, very talented players who were delivering for the club. Looking at their talents and my passing game, I saw myself supplying quality passes for them to finish off. So in midfield there was Blessing Gumiso, Alexander Phiri, Siza Khoza, Gift Lunga (Junior), Thulani ‘Biya’ Ncube and Mubariki Chisoni arrived at the same time with me.
“Competition for places was high and breaking into the starting 11 was no kid’s play. Not just the 11 but being signed on to be part of the 30 players later on travelling party of 18-20 players. Competition for places drove that team to success,” said Josam.
At the time of his arrival the late Bosso coach Rahman Gumbo said to this writer: “ He is a great passer of the ball, it is hard to play him. We have good midfielders, a plus for him is age.”
Josamu was born on 9 November 1977 in Harare. Growing up, he was inspired by his elder brother Malvern.
He started playing football in 1984 while in Grade 2 at the same time his elder brother was already at Dynamos juniors.
While at Harare’s Kudakwashe Primary School in 1985, Josamu recalls playing against Kelvin Mushangazhike who was at Mbare’s Shingirirayi Primary School.
Josamu pays tribute to Francis Nechironga the elder brother of 1990 co-Soccer Star of the Year George in 1989 who coached and groomed him.
Francis played competitive football.
Josamu moved to Glen Norah 2 High School and starred in the ‘B’ team in 1991.
“By the time I was in Form Two I was sitting on the first team bench,” said Josamu.
A road traffic accident saw him break one of his legs and staying away from the game for a while something that hurt him.
“I loved the game and it was sad to be out there and not playing,” said Josamu.
Josamu signed his first contract at the age of 16, getting onto the books of Fire Batteries.
The club’s owner Lovemore Gijima-Musindo had a knack of identifying gems.
But Josamu wanted the glow that goes with big teams and in 1994 joined the Caps United Under-18s.
“I stayed there for six months and left for Dynamos juniors,” he said.
“I lasted two years at Dynamos and was signed in 1996 by Shack Tauro and Majid Dhana who were in charge of Arcadia.”
Like a true nomad, the following year he found himself at Dynamos playing in the reserve team alongside Murape Murape and Desmond Maringwa who went on to earn legendary status at the club.
At the end of the 1998/99 season which had adopted the August to April league, Josamu found himself trying a new lease of life at Highlanders.
“I arrived at Highlanders at the same time as Joel Luphahla, Makreza Navaya and Mubariki Chisoni. Highlanders had just won the championship in the previous season. I won my first championship with Highlanders in 2000 under Rahman Gumbo and two more with Eddie May. Those were great times at the club, playing before packed stadia.
“But with each season the urge to do better by the club grew and competition never seized with Richard Choruma and Charles Chilufya coming no board and later youngsters like Honour Gombami. Nothing beats the camaraderie at the Highlanders camping and the euphoria at a packed Barbourfields Stadium with Soweto leading the singing and chanting,” said Josamu.
He regards Dynamos as having been the ultimate challenge in local club football with Lovemore Ncube the most difficulty opponent he faced.
“I enjoyed playing alongside Biya, Siza Khoza, Lunga, Masawi, Dazzy Kapenya, Mamba Chisoni and Sautso Phiri. We were a bunch of good players and very competitive,” said Josamu whose task he says is to someday produce the next “big thing.”
His side showed a great attribute at the Marvelous Nakamba Tournament in Hwange — discipline and were adjudged the tournament’s best disciplined side.
Josamu left Highlanders at the end of 2003 and joined Motor Action but was banned for six months after being found to have two contracts.
Perhaps he could have been a better player if he was patient and stayed at one team.
After just 12 months at Motor Action, Josamu found himself at Chimurenga singer Thomas Mapfumo’s Sporting Lions in 2006.
In 2007 he was a Lengthens player under the leadership of Jostein Mathuthu for an entire season.
The following year he played for Air Zimbabwe in the first six months and Caps United up to the end of the year.
“I had a good season with Caps United in 2009 under the guidance of Lloyd Chitembwe and Kennedy Nagoli,” said Josamu.
In 2010 he rejoined Lengthens whom he left for Kiglon in 2011 enticed by Rodwell Dhlakama.
Like a rolling stone that does not gather any moss, in 2012 he turned out for Shooting Stars who changed to Power Masters and played in the Northern Region Division One league.
He recalls a missed opportunity to play in Vietnam.
“I stayed there for three months in 2008 on trial. I worked so hard but still they could not offer me a contract. I am also grateful for the Caps United management who encouraged me to start doing courses in 2008. I did the Level
One back then,” said the former midfielder.
He trained with the likes of Tonderai Ndiraya and Joseph Tangaringofa in 2009.
His coaching journey got a big lift in 2013.
“In 2013 I received a call from one of my big brothers, George Guvamatanga who has turned out to be my benefactor and influence, the conversation saw him assist me to do Level Two and in 2014, we started a football academy called George Guvamatanga Grassroots Soccer Academy. Just last year I attended a Caf C course in Durban, South Africa.
At the academy they have Under-9s, 13s ,16s and 17.
Bongani Ndlovu