INSPIRED BY ZAIRE, POWERED BY LOVE. . . a little town madly in love with its football club

Robson Sharuko

Editor

WHEN the Democratic Republic of Congo made history as the first sub-Saharan African side to qualify for the World Cup, the Leopards probably didn’t know their legacy would still be inspiring football sides on the continent – FIVE decades down the road.

The country was called Zaire, back then, and their finest hour in football came in 1974 when they made it to the World Cup in Germany.

The Congolese’s moment of glory came on the 40th anniversary of the first appearance, by an African nation, at the World Cup when the Pharaohs of Egypt competed at the 1934 World Cup in Italy.

Only 13 African nations – Cameroon (18), Morocco (6), Nigeria (6), Tunisia (6), Ghana (4), Algeria (4), Senegal (3), Egypt (3), South Africa (3), Cote d’Ivoire (3), DRC (1), Angola (1) and Togo (1) – have taken part at the World Cup.

Almost 50 years after the Congolese danced with the game’s aristocrats in Germany in ’74, their Cinderella tale is still inspiring football clubs across the continent.

One such club is Chegutu Pirates, who stand on the verge of writing of domestic football’s greatest fairy tales should they complete their mission on Saturday and qualify to play in the local Premiership.

Their fans call them Zaire.

And, it all dates back to the impact which the Congolese made when they became the first sub-Saharan African side to qualify for the World Cup.

“The fans who were there at the beginning, when Pirates were formed, wanted a team which would be a prime model, when it comes to success, of what their team needed to be,” a lifelong fan, Matthew Manomano, told H-Metro.

“So, Zaire was that model club, after what they did, not only to qualify for the World Cup in 1974, but also to win the AFCON in 1968 and 1974.

“They beat Zambia in that 1974 AFCON classic final, which had to be replayed, and it had a significant impact on football across Africa.

“The kits, which Zaire used at the ’74 World Cup, were green-and-gold in colour but, on the black-and-white TVs, which were the majority then, the colour came out as white-and-black and that explains why our colours are also white-and-black.

“The Orlando Pirates colours and also white-and-black and there is a similarity in our club symbols but Zaire, more than the Buccaneers, had the big impact on us.

“I doubt there is a community team in Zimbabwe that is as loved, by its people, as Chegutu Pirates.” Chegutu Pirates are also affectionately known as Dzinza (Ancestors).

“Dzinza came into existence when four Mujaji brothers – Fradreck, Steven and Alexio – used to be part of Pirates’ first team,” another fan.

“So, the fans just started saying this was a team of the ancestors, yedzinza rekwa Mujaji and yemadzinza evanhu veku Chegutu.

“The other nickname is Sugar Mutape, it came because of former Pirates midfielder, Sam Mbatata, who is now a Chegutu Municipal Police Sergeant.

“Every time the team would win, he would say this tastes as good as sugar and that started the Sugar Mutape, Sugar Malaga nickname.”