How Highlanders survived splits

HIGHLANDERS has weathered many storms in its existence, ranging from sponsorship and boardroom woes, to the field of play, where two major splits nearly obliterated a legacy started by the grandsons of King Lobengula, Albert and Rhodes Khumalo.

The Khumalos had some among them, notably the Hlabanganas and Ngcebetshas when they formed the club. One of Zimbabwe’s most decorated football personalities, the late Barry Daka, on January 13, 2016, spoke of one of the club’s darkest times when it lost almost the entire first team at the end of 1976.

The split gave birth to Olympics Football Club, who at first had wanted to use Highlanders colours and had called themselves Highlanders Olympics. The reaction from fans, which was very hostile saw them eventually drop the name Highlanders and the black and white colours.

That split, apart from the first breakaway in 1963 that gave birth to Cobras, was the most severe, which shook the inner spirit of the Bosso faithful who rose up to clamour: “Ayisoze Yabulawa.”
Highlanders could not be brought to extinction. That clarion call has been the guiding torch in dark moments for the institution even up to this day.

This has often been expressed by the presence of yesteryear fans in the late 1960s and above in numbers at watershed elections when they feel it is time to defend club values and bring in leadership that understands that Highlanders is no ordinary football club.

In the interview, Daka said money was the cause of problems at the club in the run-up to the end of the season. Tempers, he said, had long been simmering and that the decision to leave the Rhodesia National Football League by Highlanders, allegedly frustrated by the administration of the late John Madzima and Peter Nemapare, dismissing speculation that they did not want to play in a lower league enmasse.

Highlanders formed the South Zone Soccer League and endured playing at unfashionable venues like Nguboyenja Ground, Matshobana and schools where sacks would be used as cover and for gate takings collected.

“Money is always the root of all evil in society. It is not true that we were reluctant to go and play in Division One after Highlanders said the club would quit the Rhodesia National Football League to form the South Zone Division One League.

“That was far from it. There were simmering tensions before the club made that decision to go to a lower league. These were all around remuneration and that problem had surfaced in 1974,” said Daka.
Highlanders, having overtaken Wankie FC as the glamour club of the Southern region with numerous accolades like the Chibuku Trophy in 1973, regional league titles and one national play-off gong of 1974, had played in the zonal league in 1973-1975.

In 1976, they played in a national league won by Dynamos, but not without controversy that left a bitter taste after the national association awarded Dynamos a walkover over Bosso and left them out of the BAT Rosebowl despite being national runners-up and regional champions in 1975.

It rained in Bulawayo the whole week, rendering Barbourfields Stadium unplayable. There was communication with the RNFL to that effect, but Dynamos travelled and Bosso were in a no-show. That walkover decision earlier in the year was the difference between Bosso winning the title and the title going to a Dynamos side that won the Southern Africa Club Championship in the same year, beating Orlando Pirates of South Africa in the two-legged final.

Dynamos, who had in the off-season played Highlanders and also threatened to form another league in the Northern Region, changed their minds. They had come up with a set of grievances too.

Daka said they were not happy with the pittance allowances Highlanders were paying while their counterparts in Harare would earn as much as $40. Highlanders who were playing well and reaching later stages of tournaments were getting just $10.

What made matters worse was that out of Bulawayo, players just like locals would stay the whole off-season without any earnings and without formal jobs, life was a struggle despite the fanfare and glamour associated with the Bulawayo kings of the game.

“It was hard for most players to survive. I had a job as a sports assistant at Bulawayo City Council, so I was able, from time to time, to assist teammates like Isaac Mafaro.

“So, when we got to the end of 1976, we were not happy with the remuneration issue. The breakaway idea had been simmering for a long time, and when they said they were going to the lower division, we resolved we would stay in the premier division as Highlanders Olympics with the same colours,” said Daka then.,

The former attacking midfield star said the idea to retain the name Highlanders was shot down by club officials, with threats made against the rebels by fans.

Among the players who stayed in the top league with the rebel team were Daka, Stanley Nyika, Isaac Mafaro, Itai Chieza, Peter Zimuto, Sebastian Sibanda, Chutika Tembo and Ephraim Moloi, with additions coming from other clubs. Among arrivals from other teams were Cosmas Zulu, Rabson Chisango and Lovemore British.

Daka admitted that the dream of self-governance soon became a nightmare as there were no crowds and funds to sustain the club. They were, however, lucky to get city businessmen like Stanford Sakupwanya, Stanley Bazaya and Ambrose Mtungwazi coming on board to administer and financially support the club.

“The realities of the ill-timed decision began to show and haunt the players and one by one they started deserting Olympics with Itai Chieza joining Zimbabwe Saints, Nyika moving to Rio Tinto and Mafaro going to Harare’s CAPS United. Tembo returned to Wankie as we were now in a worse off financial position,” said Daka.

Daka laboured on as coach, and in 1980, when a new national Super League was launched, clubs like Black Horrors, Black Chiefs and Olympics were unlucky not to make it to the premier division and hence had to revert to Division One action.

The talented Daka, who doubled up as a coach and player, having cut his teeth as a juniors’ gaffer under Jack Meagher at Hwange, was able to assemble a formidable side. Among his finds were Boyce Malunga, Tito Paketh, Patrick Ncube, Ben Makadzange, Philemon Dangarembwa, Fortune Zengeni, Felix Ntuthu, Amin Soma-Phiri, Eddie Juba and Mike Mhlanga, guiding the team to the 1982 Rothmans Shield in which they beat Caps United 3-1.

In his playing days Daka lined up alongside Lawrence Phiri, Billy Sibanda, Bruce Grobbelaar, Ananias Dube, John Vella, Peter Bepe, Tennyson and Douglas Mloyi, Josiah and James Nxumalo, Benjie Mpofu, Daniel ‘Dididi’ Ncube, Chris Bha, Benjamin Mpofu, Jeffrey Mpofu, Edward Dzowa, Andrew ‘Scrupata’ Jele, Chieza, Cavin Duberley, Boet Van Ays, Tommy Masuku, Martin Kennedy and many believe if he had not left, he would have been in line for the Highlanders Player of the 1970-1979 accolade with Tymon Mabaleka. But his decision to rock the bought cancels him out.

As a coach at Highlanders, he redeemed himself, guiding the club to several pieces of silverware, working with the likes of Alexander Maseko, Peter Ndlovu, Makwinji Soma-Phiri, Gift Lunga (Senior), Douglas Mloyi, Richard Ndlovu, Netsai Moyo, Tito Paketh, Tobias Mudyambanje, Dumisani Nyoni, the late Mercedes Sibanda, Dumisani Ngulube, Willard Khumalo, Tutani Moyo, Rahman Gumbo, David Phiri and Titus Majola, helping them realise their full potential.

It should be noted that those who were not tempted to leave Highlanders were stalwarts like Billy Sibanda, Josiah Nxumalo, Tennyson Mloyi, Kainot Luphahla, Willy Luphahla Lawrence Phiri and Tymon Mabaleka, in a move that saw a number of young players thrown into the fray as replacements, among them Yona Malunga, Collin Dube and Builder Nyaruwata.