Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube [email protected]
WHICH has been the best centreback partnership at Highlanders?
The club has over the past 50 years had some very exciting partnerships at the heart of defence. These have been headed by big personalities who defended the badge like there was no tomorrow, gallant sons who led the club to many successes.
Not much is spoken about defence combinations of the 1960s.
Boet Van Ays and James Nxumalo are among the most spoken central defence partnerships of 50 years ago. There is also the no-nonsense combination of Zenzo Dabengwa and Van Ays as well as the Dabengwa-Nxumalo one.
This was between 1973 and 1975, a time two very committed and talented defenders came on to the scene, Douglas Mloyi and Ephraim Moloi who partnered each other and the experienced “Mr
Fixit” Lawrence Phiri and Dabengwa before the split that formed Olympics at the end of 1976.
In 1976 Dabengwa had partnered Moloi and Mloyi at the heart of defence.
What they said about Bosso central defence partnerships:
Cephas Sibanda, a former Super League player who turned out for Highlanders and Olympics before ending his career at Red Seal Rovers, said he liked the Douglas Mloyi and Alexander Maseko combination at the centre.
One of the best centrebacks of the last two decades and a half, Herbert Dick, says with his captain Gilbert Banda gave a decent account of itself and praised the Dazzy Kapenya and Thulani Ncube partnership.
“I think we were not so bad, Gilbert is among the best that I watched and played with at Highlanders, but there was Thulani and Dazzy ahead of us,” said Dick.
Lloyd Munhanga who had a stint with the Highlanders-Under18s, better known as Liverpool in the early 1980s, put his vote on long serving centreback Mloyi and Richard Ndlovu. Until the emergence of Alexander Maseko in 1984, Mloyi and Ndlovu had asserted themselves as the best centrebacks paired for the club ahead of combinations involving William Mabika and Macdonald Silongwe.
Footballer turned boxing trainer and manager Anderson Sibanda was charmed by the Maseko and Cleopas Dlodlo.
They complimented each other well. Just like in the combination with Mloyi, Maseko read the game well and was a ball playing centreback, starting attacking moves right in front of his own goal-line while Dlodlo nicknamed Sadam was handy for troublesome opponents.
Legendary Highlanders and Zimbabwe winger Madinda Ndlovu, said: “Dazzy Kapenya and Bekithemba Ndlovu, Douglas and Richard and Alex with British (Mloyi), for me these were the most outstanding partnerships.”
Ndlovu said Simon Ncube a 1987 Warriors call up had a defining moment in Highlanders colours in 1988 and 1989.
Ncube partnered Maseko as Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints shared all silverware competed for that year.
Darlington Choto who played for the Young Warriors, CAPS United and Cone Textiles described the Maseko and Mloyi combination as having been the best for Highlanders.
“To me they were the best. That pair was amazing, Alex very good with the ball, British was the physical one, I would say those two,” said the Canada based former youth international.
Tendai Kaseke, whose promising goalkeeping career was cut short by opting for academics, was among those singing the Mloyi-Maseko and Maseko-Dlodlo choruses.
“I put my money on Maseko partnering Dlodlo and Maseko with Mloyi,” said Kaseke, brother to former Zimbabwe international Noel.
Insiza councillor, Kembo Nkomo had this to say: “I will never forget our yesteryear star Alexander Maseko and Douglas Mloyi.”
Nkomo said Melody Wafawakanaka with Kapenya and Ncube were great combinations and gave fans something to savour during James Mangwana-Tshuma’s tenure as chairman.
Former national volleyball setter Dumisani Vundla said he had two combinations to vouch for.
“Alexander Maseko and Richard Ndlovu was too good as was one pitting Dazzy Kapenya and Thulani Ncube. I really enjoyed watching these guys, they were hot,” said Vundla.
Ireland based Highlanders card-carrying member Raymond Bhebhe put his bet on Ncube and Kapenya.
Highlanders’ life member, Lovemore Fuyane who confesses to have watched Bosso from the early 1980s, was impressed with Maseko and Dlodlo and Biya’s partnership with both Kapenya and Wafawanaka.
“There were others that played with Maseko some better than Dougie, but Mloyi had charisma and beat them to it,” said Fuyane.
Keutsepilemang Ndebele a founding Railstars coach and later an instructor had this to say: “Tough one this. Alexander and Dougie were very combative and calculative, Alex being cool and skilful and Dougie being solid and crude with unbeatable marking skills and solid mentality. We then have Biya — a leader of note, playmaker with no nonsense attitude and uncompromising zeal to win at all costs and Dazzy who was extremely confident that he could have the Soweto fans’ hearts in their hands.
“You may never bet that he didn’t get a few fans at Mpilo Hospital with cardiac arrest but he never messed up. Then Cleopas with Alex. And that was a crazy one. Both ruthless on the ground and agile in the air. Cleopas always out jumped everyone and seemed to float in the air with ability to acrobatically change direction in mid-air.”
Others felt the combination of Peter Muduhwa and Mbongeni Ndlovu was outstanding as did Bekithemba Ndlovu when called up to partner Ncube and Kapenya at the heart of the Highlanders defence.
From the 1960s era there is mention of one Edward “Magungubala” Dlamini whose work-rate, never-say-die spirit made up for his lack of skill but was effective for Highlanders.
