Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
FOR 13 years, between 1995 and 2008, Lancashire Steel FC were flag bearers for the city of Kwekwe in the Premier Soccer League.
The club set alight the domestic football scene, going on to produce some of the renowned players that joined giants like Dynamos and Highlanders.
Nicknamed the Chimbi-Chimbi Boys, Lancashire Steel made their maiden appearance in the modern Premiership in 1995, under the guidance of the late David “Yogi” Mandigora.
Lancashire went on to be regulars in the topflight for 13 years, bowing out in 2009 when they finished 13th on the table and failed to defend their PSL status in the playoffs won by Chitungwiza’s Eagles.
The highlight of Lancashire Steel’s stay in the PSL was in 1999 when they won the Madison Cup, beating Caps United 2-1 in the final. They took home $500 000 with striker Luke Jukulile Petros, who went on to play for Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa, getting the honours for being the first captain to lift the major silverware for the Kwekwe side.
The Madison Cup winning squad had, among other players, Albert Mbano, Isaac Nyabvure, Petros, Sam Mutenheri, Moses Mwafulirwa, Sam Darangwa, Stephen Sande, George Magariro, Willard “Mashinkila” Khumalo and Costa Maradzike.
On their way to the final, they had knocked out Dynamos 2-1 in the semi-finals.
In the mini-league of the Madison Cup, Lancashire Steel beat Amazulu 2-1, clobbered Highlanders, Wankie (Hwange) and Railstars by identical 3-0 scorelines, edged Chapungu 3-2, beat Masvingo United 3-2. Their only defeat in the mini-league was a 4-1 loss to Zimbabwe Saints.
But throughout their stay, Lancashire Steel had one of the best facilities then, Baghdad Stadium which was perfectly maintained, having lush-green fields.
Opponents rarely left Baghdad Stadium, which is located in the industrial area in Kwekwe, with maximum points. The field was compact, close to the terraces such that weak players could be easily intimidated by fans who watched action close to the ground.
All that lush green, well-maintained Baghdad Stadium facility is gone, with the venue, which used to host high-profile matches for 13 seasons, in a sorry state.
Mike Dinyero, the former Lancashire Steel goalkeeper who played for the club between 1995 and 1999 says his heart bleeds every time he takes a walk to the “once to play at” Baghdad Stadium, which had some of the great names like midfield magician Willard Khumalo, Petros who is now Whawha’s coach, ex-national team’s trio of Justice Majabvi, Washington Arubi and Tafadzwa Dube showcasing their talents in Chimbi-Chimbi Boys’ colours.
Dinyero, dark-skinned and still looking athletic, who works at Lancashire Steel administration block, took Saturday Chronicle through a tour of Baghdad.
A look of profound sorrow clouded his face as he revealed that social football teams were maintaining the field whose grass has been burnt out.
Just before getting into the Baghdad Stadium arena from the Lancashire Steel administration block, is a UD 30-seater bus that the club got as a donation from their Botswana branch in 2004.
“The bus came in 2004 from Botswana. By then we had a Lancashire Steel branch in Francistown and they are the ones who made the donation. The bus still works, the only thing that is needed are tyres which have been worn out,” says Dinyero.
Before reaching the turnstiles leading into the stadium is a sand pitch that local clubs use for their physical training.
“Now Boozers play their social matches here. Last week the pump broke down and the boozers’ team repaired it. They also bought sprinklers so that we water the field. These boozers maintain Baghdad Stadium and had it not been for them, this field would not be playable by now.
“If you can imagine that this is the field that used to be plush green, used to host big teams such as Highlanders and Dynamos, then you feel the pain. This is a place where lots of talent was produced. I don’t think Baghdad Stadium will return to its former self. A lot of investment will be needed to turn this facility into a ground that can host PSL games.
“Maybe the fact that there’s no PSL side in Kwekwe has also made it worse for the town and reduced chances of having a stadium that can host PSL games,” says Dinyero.
He has a way of smiling and shaking his clean-shaven head before speaking.
The ex-goalkeeper whose memorable match in Lancashire Steel colours was in their debut season in 1995 when he guarded goal as they won 6-3 against Dynamos.
“I was 20 years old when we beat Dynamos 6-3 in our first PSL season and I was in goals. That same season, I was also in Lancashire Steel’s line-up that drew 0-0 against Black Pool, a club that my brother Masimba Dinyero played for.
“After that, I played many games but those against Dynamos and Highlanders had tension, played with great passion. I remember I had a confrontation with a former Lancashire Steel secretary known as Koffie who assigned people to follow me leading to Dynamos’ games as he alleged, I’ll give away the team’s strategy to my brother (Masimba Dinyero).
“I told Koffie that I can’t hate my brother because we’re playing Dynamos, I told him Lancashire are my employers and even if my brother represented Dynamos, he was my blood but we will never sell out because we’re opponents,” Dinyero says, as he took the crew to the dressing rooms.
His face brightened at the memory as he grinned.
The Saturday Chronicle crew found the dressing rooms locked, with William Mavengere, who looks after the field, getting ready for a training session with junior footballers.
“Besides taking care of the pitch, I decided to set up Kwekwe Academy at the beginning of the year and we have these young footballers coming from Mbizo. Maybe something good might come up from this collapsed Baghdad Stadium, with the boys inspired by stories of great players who shone here,” Mavengere says.
The groundsman has an obvious passion for grassroots soccer.
With no hope of PSL action returning to Kwekwe anytime soon, Dinyero feels that without the business community’s support, the city will keep on missing out on top-flight football.
“The businesspeople in Kwekwe are into mining and they have money but they are not interested in sponsoring football.
They’re just selfish, to say the least. Sorry to say this and sound harsh, but that’s how it is. If they had the passion for football, by now we should be having a team from Kwekwe competing in the PSL because there is abundant talent,” says Dinyero. – @ZililoR
Online Reporter