Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
HIGHLANDERS is celebrating 100 years of existence this year and today we look at some of the best players ever to don the black and white strip.
Sunday News reached out to former players and other soccer personalities to get their views on who have been the most outstanding players pre-Independence and post 1980.
United Kingdom based Dynamos and Zimbabwe football legend Memory Mucherahohwa added his voice. He chose to dwell on the generation that he played with, naming some players that were at the heart of the side that made a huge impact in local football sweeping a number of pieces of silverware on their way to legendary status.
It is guys who were at Highlanders between 1983 and 1994.
“That’s a tricky question actual. I played with different generations and also my second team. I used to support them when I was a kid. So my selection will be mostly of those I used use to support.
Mucherahohwa found favour in the following as the Best Highlanders X1 after Independence, 1. Peter Nkomo, 2. Mercedes Sibanda, 3. Netsai Moyo, 4. Willard Khumalo, 5. Alexander Maseko, 6. Fanuel Ncube, 7. Madinda Ndlovu, 8. Titus Majola, 9. Douglas Mloyi, 10. Peter Ndlovu, 11. Morgan Phiri
Lovemore Fuyane who confesses to have followed Zimbabwe football strongly after 1982, has the following as his best, Peter Nkomo, Alexander Maseko, Willard Khumalo, Douglas Mloyi, Tito Paketh, Tutani Moyo, Madinda Ndlovu, Rahman Gumbo, Titus Majola, Tymon Mabaleka and Majuta.
“I wish Chuchu (Elvis Chiweshe), Onias Musana, Boy Ndlovu and Joseph Machingura had also played for us,” said Fuyane who is a member of the Highlanders 100 Years Celebration Committee.
Black Rhinos’ founding goalkeeper Charles Ndebele named the following players as the best before 1980 and immediately after, Bruce Grobbelaar, Billy Sibanda, Edward Dzowa, James Nxumalo, Boet Van Ays, Tymon Mabaleka, Zenzo Dabengwa, Tommy Masuku, Josiah Nxumalo, Itai Chieza, Isaac Mafaro.
“These would be the substitutes Ananias Dube, Peter Zimuto, Tenson Mloyi, Chutika Tembo, Barton Mwalukuka, Lawrence Phiri, Barry Daka. After 1980, Peter Nkomo, Mercedes Sibanda, Dumisani Nyoni, Alexander Maseko, Douglas Mloyi, Titus Majola, Tito Paketh, Willard Khumalo, Madinda Ndlovu, Adam Ndlovu, Peter Ndlovu, Majuta and Mark Watson,” said Ndebele.
Ndebele said there were other outstanding players like Tobias Mudyambanje, Ernest Sibanda, Netsai Moyo, Makheyi Nyathi, Lovemore Ncube, Makwiniji Soma-Phiri, Amin Soma-Phiri, Zenzo Moyo, Thabani Masawi, Mubariki Chisoni, Methembe Ndlovu, Boy Ndlovu, Summer Ncube, Fanuel Ncube, Gift Lunga (Senior), Gift Lunga (Junior) and Johannes Ngodzo.
Highlanders card carrying member and football administrator Bekezela Ngoma has Tapuwa Kapini, Mercedes Sibanda, Dumisani Nyoni, Thulani Ncube, Alexander Maseko, Willard Khumalo, Benjamin Nkonjera, Richard Choruma, Madinda Ndlovu, Adam Ndlovu and Peter Ndlovu.
Radio soccer analyst and Harare based marketer Joseph Nkani, a self-confessed Zimbabwe Saints fan, said there were players before Independence who caused his team problems.
“Peter ‘Oxo’ Nkomo wrapping the ball on his chest in a green jersey and black short with a bandaged knee, frustrating multiple Saints attempts at goal, the Lawrence ‘Lofty’ Phiri. I watched him as a neutral football fan who enjoyed his play. He just had this presence on the pitch, his lanky frame and the ability with the ball. For me he never did anything wrong with the ball – no errors in my view. An inspiration to me I guess at the time,” said Nkani.
Post-Independence Madinda Ndlovu with his mazy runs down the wing, his exciting duels with Josphat ‘Mazhambe’ Munetsi stuck to Nkani’s mind.
“Mercedes Sibanda with his runs down the pitch, lighting up the crowd still linger in my mind. His ferocious shots and general comic antics that worked the crowd made him memorable. He just had both the football efficiency and entertainment element which made him unforgettable,” said Nkani.
Former Highlanders striker Phineas Mabaleka, at one time the only Black player in the Matabeleland junior team in 1973 which played Mashonaland, gave his list of the best players to play for Bosso, a grouping of 17 extremely talented players who gave good service to the club.
He has Peter Nkomo in goal, Mercedes Sibanda at rightback and Peter Zimuto on the left, Alexander Maseko and Douglas Mloyi at the heart of the defence.
In midfield of the famous 4-2-4 formation he placed Willard Khumalo and Barry Daka with the four forwards Peter Ndlovu, Adam Ndlovu, Tymon Mabaleka and Majuta Mpofu in a system that could also convert to 4-3-3. On the bench are Benjamin Nkonjera, Titus Majola, Stanley Nyika, Isaac Mafaro, Madinda Ndlovu and Boet Van Ays.
Highlanders legend Amin Soma-Phiri named Barry Daka and Tymon Mabaleka as his most outstanding player before 1980 and David Phiri and Tito Paketh as the best players for the period after Independence.
Respected Dalubuhle Bhebhe, a coach who enhanced his education in Brazil, has a mix of the 1980 team and a number of players from the 1998 squad that won four championships on the trot.
Peter Nkomo, Mercedes Sibanda, Dumisani Nyoni, Alexander Maseko, Thulani Ncube, Charles Chilufya, Mamba Chisoni, Adam Ndlovu, Peter Ndlovu and Willard Khumalo are Bhebhe’s pick.
“Before 1980 I might not know most of the Highlanders players. British Mloyi made such an impression in me. Willard Khumalo, Mercedes ‘Rambo’ Sibanda, Benjamin Nkonjera knew how to win balls. I remember Madinda Ndlovu for his goal against Dynamos with permed hair. Adam and Peter set the local scene on fire,” said Albert Chiwandamira the man behind the two documentaries on George Shaya and Tymon Mabaleka through his company Buff Media.
Darlington Choto who is based in Canada, played for CAPS United and the young Warriors in the mid 1980s alongside Willard Khumalo and Mercedes Sibanda has Lawrence Phiri, Majuta Mpofu, James Nxumalo, Bruce Grobbelaar, Peter Ndlovu, Douglas Mloyi, Khumalo, Sibanda, Benjamin Nkonjera, Peter Nkomo, Abraham Mbambo and Rahman Gumbo in his best ever Bosso players.
Former Highlanders secretary Andrew Tapela listed Tito Paketh, Majuta Mpofu and Peter Nkomo in his list.
Bruce Grobbelaar, Stanley Nyika, Isaac Mafaro, Zenzo Dabengwa, Josiah Nxumalo, Lawrence Phiri, Itai Chieza, Barry Daka, Billy Sibanda and Nhamo Shambira were Lucky Dube a United Kingdom based civil engineer’s best Bosso players before 1980 while Willard Khumalo, Tito Paketh, Tanny Banda, Morgan Phiri, Douglas Mloyi, Rahman Gumbo, Lazarus Mwambopo, Adam Ndlovu, Titus Majola, Madinda Ndlovu, Alexander Maseko, Benjamin Nkonjera, Nqobizitha Maenzanise and Peter Nkomo have been his stand out players since 1980.
Bulawayo lawyer and Chicken Inn legal affairs secretary Tawengwa Hara listed Peter Nkomo, Mercedes Sibanda, Gift Lunga (Jnr), Thulani Ncube, Willard Khumalo, Lovemore Ncube, Peter Ndlovu, Madinda Ndlovu, Adam Ndlovu, Zenzo Moyo and Siza Khoza as the best Highlanders players he watched.
Sadly a majority of the former administrators, benefactors and players especially those that were active before Independence and early 1980s are no more as the club celebrates its 100 years of existence.
