adminAnniversary in July where outstanding players and personalities in the game will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Zifa Village in Mount Hampden.
Jonathan Mashingaidze, the association’s chief executive officer, confirmed that the association will be celebrating 50 years in July. He said a number of activities have been lined up for the big event to be held a month before the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly meeting to be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Zambia in Victoria Falls and Livingstone.
The July events will come up for discussion at the Zifa Board meeting in Harare tomorrow.
“We are celebrating 50 years of the association’s founding. A number of things have been lined up and on Wednesday the issue will come up for discussion at the board meeting.
“We are hoping to establish a committee to work on that and along the way it will establish a panel to work on the selection and research modalities of the most outstanding players and administrators in the last 50 years.
“It is going to be an evening where we will also honour the most outstanding corporate organisations that have helped by sponsoring football. It is important to recognise such partners. Even media practitioners will be honoured for their role in the sport, it is going to be a day when everyone about soccer is honoured,” said the Zifa chief executive officer.
Once the committee is commissioned, Mashingaidze said, it will start co-ordinating the voting or nomination process which he said would not be restricted to people who are in Zimbabwe only.
“There will be nomination online and by short message service on mobile phones. The process will be wide and involving so that we come up with the best nominations per category,” said Mashingaidze.
The Zifa chief executive said the Hall of Fame will be housed at the Zifa Village. He said anyone visiting the place would have a fair appreciation of the history of the local game.
“Our football needs archiving and all will be there eventually as we will work with many stakeholders who will give a hint of where the sport has come from,” said Mashingaidze.
He said clubs would also be honoured. He said they would establish teams’ successes to date from 1963 to the present day and come up with a top 10.
Dynamos, Highlanders, Zimbabwe Saints, Caps United, Metal Box, Salisbury Callies, Sables, St Pauls Musami, Mhangura, Rio Tinto, Arcadia and Black Aces are some of the clubs expected to dominate the list.
An exciting development will be the assembling of the Best X1 players for the last 50 years. The country has had its own generations of players outstanding and each decade is expected to come up with 11 players.
George Shaya, Fred Mukwesha, Stephen Chimedza, Paul Tsumbe, Mwape Sakala, Tendai Chieza, Daniel Rendo, Rex Sheasby, Rob Jordan, Gibson Homela, Adolf Mutuma, James Nxumalo and the late William Sibanda represent the stars of the 1960s.
In the 1970s Amos Rendo, Posani Sibanda, Bruce Grobbelaar, Ernest Kamba, Sheperd Murape, Kevin Sheridan, Peter Nyama, Homela, Sibanda, Itai Chieza, Stanley Nyika, Barry Daka, Daniel Chikanda, Sheperd Murape, David Muchineripi, Ebson Muguyo, Max Tshuma, Josiah Nxumalo, Joseph Zulu, Robert Godoka, Shaya, Shaw Handriade, Topsy Robertson, Alick Masanjala, Tymon Mabaleka, Chutika Tembo, Rodrick Simwanza, Chita Antonio were some of the outstanding stars that shaped the local game.
The final team will not be easy to compile as it was a generation of very talented players.
Sunday Chidzambwa and young brother Misheck, Ephert Lungu, James Takavada, Ephraim Dzimbiri, Boy Ndlovu. Tito Paketh, Alexander Maseko, Douglas Mloyi, Willard Kumalo, Moses Chunga, Stanley Ndunduma, Rahman Gumbo, Stix M’tizwa, Graham Boyle, Oliver Kateya, Japhet Mparutsa, Ephraim Chawanda, Madinda Ndlovu, Mercedes Sibanda, John Phiri, Joel Shambo, David Mwanza, Elvis Chiweshe, Godfrey Paradza and Friday Phiri were among the best in the 1980s.
The 1990s saw the emergence of Peter Ndlovu and his late brother Adam, Agent Sawu, Tauya Murewa, Claudius Zviripayi, Alois Bunjira, Stewart Murisa, Paul Gundani, Wilfred and William Mugeyi, Memory Mucherahowa, Francis Shonhayi, Joe Mugabe, Collins Kabote, Nkulumo Donga and Benjamin Nkonjera.
Unfortunately for earlier generations, their brilliance on the pitch was not met with moves abroad for most. They are believed to have been a rung higher than recent players.
The cast of the new millennium would not be complete without the likes of Benjani Mwaruwari, Esrom Nyandoro, Desmond Maringwa, Zenzo Moyo, Thabani Masawi, Norman Komani, Noel Kaseke, Clemence Matawu, Honour Gombami, Richard Choruma, Tapuwa Kapini, Thulani Ncube, Blessing Makunike, Thomas Banda, Energy Murambadoro, Albert Mbano, Francis Chandida, Ronald Sibanda, Dazzy Kapenya, Lazarus Muhoni, Cuthbert Malajila, James Matola, Maxwell Dube, Method Mwanjali, Obert Moyo, Sageby Sandaka and George Magariro.
Mashingaidze said it was Zifa’s wish to see players, referees, coaches and clubs honoured in their respective provinces, towns and regions.
“We should have this concept of Halls of Fame around the country. We have localised heroes and those that were outstanding countrywide, so Zifa wants these museums around the country,” said Masingaidze.
In women’s soccer Ndumiso Gumede, Elizabeth Langa, Rose Mugadza are expected to be honoured. Haverson Masilela could get due recognition for reviving women’s soccer in the 1990s to the brand it is today.
It will not be easy for the panel to come up with the best, but Zifa will have to be applauded for the initiative.
Online Reporter