Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube
INDEPENDENCE in 1980 ushered in a new era for Zimbabwe football.
This was the announcement of the first Zimbabwe national Under-20 team teeming with some very exciting talent that went on to dominate local football.
Because of Rhodesia’s isolation from international football, locals were in the blank about inter-country matches and competitions that were available from the youth level.
In fact, people who were around in the 1970s’ glimpse of international football was the 1970 World Cup team that was beaten by Australia after a replay in the final qualifier in Maputo in 1969. The second was the 7-0 annihilation by South Africa in 1970. Prior to that, there had been some rebel tours by Selects and clubs from the UK like Kilmarnock and Lexington X1.
With the return of football to the Fifa family, alongside other disciplines to their international mother bodies, a new chapter was opened.
This meant that from 1980, Zimbabwe could compete in regional, continental and worldwide competitions at both junior and senior national levels.
Zimbabwe, which celebrated her 45th Independence Day yesterday, opened its international campaign with a four-team tournament.
Mozambique, Tanzania, Malawi and Zimbabwe took part in the tournament, which was clearly among the highlight events of Independence Celebrations.
The hoisting of the Zimbabwe flag on 17 April, Bob Marley’s performance and in the inaugural speech by Prime Minister Robert Mugabe had been the most significant events and football just blew the excited nation as Zimbabwe won the event 2-1 in the final against Zambia.
On the morning of 25 April, Zimbabweans woke up to The Chronicle and The Herald carrying a story about Mick Poole calling up a 30-member Under-20 side, a majority of whom were unknown in the local football landscape.
Poole was assisted by Cremio Mapfumo and had trials in Bulawayo and Harare as centres to play host to the exercise of identifying talent for the first-ever Zimbabwe Under-20.
Zimbabwe faced Malawi in the Fifa World Cup Youth qualifiers later that year.
After what appeared to be an exhaustive exercise, the coaches settled for Lucky Dube, a rising goalkeeping star who was with Bulawayo Wanderers and was proving himself the real football deal, competing with Johannes Tshuma, who would also later don national colours.
Dube was called up with Japhet M’parutsa to guard goals for the future backbone of the national team and would play second fiddle for almost 36 months in the junior ranks as the Wanderers’ goal minder at that stage was top of his game.
M’parutsa was at that time a teenager bidding his time as reserve goalkeeper to one of the top three goalkeepers in the land Frank M’kanga at Dynamos.
From Ziscosteel James Takavada, Asani Karigeni and Ephraim Dzimbiri were called up.
Takavada, a great player, an overlapping right back good at marking and overlapping, was a great crosser of the ball, Karigeni a versatile player who could play as right back too, was a skilful and stylish guy, typical of a Bulawayo Wanderers where self-expression on the ball and pitch appeared a pre-requisite.
Dzimbiri, a robust left footer, provided for some exciting folklore stuff where even to this day his 2-3 partnership with Takavada is regarded highly, as is their entire back four with Ephraim Moloi and Benedict Moyo at club level.
Dzimbiri and Takavada played for the junior and senior national teams together with Dzimbiri facing competition from another legend of the game Oliver Kateya who up to about 1988 was the most capped Warriors player with Stanford “Stix” M’tizwa.
Alongside M’parutsa from Dynamos was Edward Matsika who went on to star for Black Rhinos at leftback, Frank Tande, Phillip Machingauta, Alois Bikwa, Dumisani Marowa and Sebastian Chikwature a dependable defender who left his mark in the local game after turning out for Cone Textiles and Darryn T.
Rainos Mapfumo, John Phiri, Anderson Maphosa and Zachariah Chironda came from Rio Tinto who were coached by senior national team coach John Rugg.
Mangula later to change to Mhangura while they may not have returned to yesteryear dominance where in with players like Alex Masanjala, Philemon Phiri, Lovemore Nyabeze, Booker Muchenu, Isaac, Itai, Tendai, Hector, George and Winston Chieza in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but at Independence had a flicker of hope with Kellon Kumbirosa, Douglas Kunguma and Lamison Banda their promising stars.
Another sporting powerhouse in the mines then, Wankie Colliery now Hwange would later provide Machona Sibanda and David Zulu, establishing themselves in the Under-20 as regulars.
Their presence in the national team was a testament to the mines’ influence as leaders of sports development and excellence in Zimbabwe on both sides of 1980.
At Independence Stanley Ndunduma part of the Caps United quartet that had Shaky Tauro, Joel Shambo and M’tizwa setting the local league alight with some breathtaking football in 1979 as they won the Chibuku Trophy, Northern Region League title and the National League Play-off, was the first player from the club to get a national team call up for his club with Denis Jasi.
Ndunduma among the wingers seen on Zimbabwe stadia, he is considered to have been a genius and compared to the likes of George Shaya, Moses Chunga and Wankie’s David Khumalo.
But coaches would rather go for the effervescent effect produced by Mike Abrahams, Madinda Ndlovu, Joseph Machingura, Machona Sibanda and James Mbewe.
In 1980, legendary Madinda Ndlovu became the first player from Highlanders to be called up to the national Under-20 in a year Tymon Mabaleka, his teammate for three years made his debut for the Warriors against Malawi.
Madinda went on to be probably Highlanders’ Player of the 1981-1990 decade with superb performances for country and club, making several appearances on the Soccer Star of the Year calendar. He at times literally carried Highlanders on his shoulders.
Charlie Jones then of Morgan High School in Harare was the first schoolboy call-up and became an instant ambassador for schools sport which would later become the hunting ground for talent with schools like Sobukhazi and Mzilikazi dominating.
Chrispen Mukeri and Banikoro Phiri represented Hippo Valley but never rose to prominence, their junior Weekley Mwale would a year later be the third goalkeeper in camp with Dube and “Short Cat” M’parutsa.
Years after the first national Under-20 players like Joseph Machingura, Boy Ndlovu, Nkululeko Dlodlo, Vitalis Takawira, Mercedes Sibanda, Willard Khumalo, Maronga Nyangela, Allan Jalasi, John Sibanda, Innocent Rwodzi, Agent Sawu, Labani Ngoma, Ronnie Jowa, Abbie Senda, Collins Rusenza, Garikayi Zuze, Cephas Chimedza, Samson Choruwa, Stephen Chuma, Silver Chigwenje, Nesbert Saruchera, Collet Dube, Karim Abdul, Musa Masango, Thulani Ncube, Tostao Kwashi, Obey Murefu, Tichaona Diya, Nqobizitha Ncube, Mthulisi Maphosa, Mtshumayeli Moyo and Eddie Mashiri.
Later Under-20s won several regional titles under coaches like Barry Daka, the late Nelson Matongorere and Phillip Mbofana.
The 1980 Under-20
Japhet M’paruta (Dynamos), Lucky Dube (Wanderers), Canisius Muchena ( Chikwanha Ranges), James Takavada (Risco), John Phiri (Rio Tinto), Anderson Maphosa (Rio Tinto), Dumisani Marowa (Dynamos), Edward Matsika (Dynamos), Frank Tande (Dynamos), Banikoro Phiri (Hippo Valley), Richard Simpson (Italians), Sebastin Chikwature (Dynamos), Rainos Mapfumo (Rio Tinto), Takesure Maverengo (DMB Tigers), John van der Heiden (Callies), Lamison Banda (Mangula), Asani KarigenI (Risco), Kellon Makumbirosa (Mangula), Douglas Kunguma (Mangula), Stanley Ndunduma (Caps), Denis Jasi (Caps), Alios Bikwa (Dynamos), Philip Machingauta (Dynamos), Charlie Jones (Morgan), Zacharia Chironda (Rio Tonde), Samson Phiri (Risco), Madinda Ndlovu (Highlanders), Crispen Mukeri (Hippo Valley), John ReIlanders (Queens).
