Chronicle Editor
ISAAC Tapfuma who had a colourful career with Bulawayo Polytechnic, Ralymac and Thunder Volleyball Clubs rates among the best blockers the Matabeleland Volleyball Association had.
He was tight on the block and effective in attack as an outside hitter using his near 1,90m height to good effect. He was an often sure bet for a set by Farai Muteveri and a point to record at Tshaka where Court A was also their fortress like Sparrows Thabani, Unit Fairbridge (UFB) and later on Highlanders and Bulawayo Raiders.
It was a common sight and environment to find dead silence broken by the whistle and sound of served ball.
The reason for the silence would be the menacing figures facing the receiving team with Tapfuma, Mwenye Gaunje, Stephen Chikovore, Timothy Mukozho or Tonderai Gwande. With an average height of 1,90m on the front court, ready to thwart the next raid, the tension could be felt engulfing the opposition attackers, the fans and the pensive Dumisani Nkomazana perched on the umpire’s chair ready to blow for foul serve or a violation on the net or the line under.
With the ball flying over the net, the opposition attackers would be in quandary as to who to set for on positions two (2), three (3) and four (4) worse back then in the early and mid-1990s backcourt attacks were alien to the game in Matabeleland.
The centre sets were often a no go area as either Chikovore or Tapfuma would have mounted a fast attack trap and ready for a second tempo, the best bet would probably be on position two (2) where often there would be the shorter guys, setter Muteveri or utility players Tonde Muzavazi, Frederick Ndlovu and Danny Mazikana.
Once Tapfuma and his rotation were high up the net, a watertight seal at times guaranteed safety to back court players.
Bulawayo Polytechnic spearheaded by Tapfuma was a very strong outfit denied podium performances in both provincial and national volleyball tournaments by the fact that they had no coach in charge with better technical know-how. It was a boys’ team, lads at college and some just qualified and entered industry out there to enjoy their passion which was brewed during their school days with some having been to the same schools.
Gaunje, Tapfuma and Ndlovu were former Marist Brothers pupils, where volleyball was big because of the inter-house competitions.
In one match in 1993, Bulawayo Polytechnic took Highlanders to the cleaners with a solid blocking game in which they won one of the sets 15-0. It was not an ordinary Highlanders side as it had Raerburn Ndebele, Vulindlela Moyo, Edson Gift Sibanda, Sikhumbuzo “Mankila” Gwala, Qinisa Fuyana, Fortune Sithole-Ndlovu and Itsa Abu Basuthu.
Highlanders did everything to get a single point, placing with the volley, dig, centre spikes, outside hits and second ball drop, but Tapfuma and his colleagues were just unyielding to head to a deserved 3-0 win on sets.
For the 54-year-old it all started at Kutama Mission a Marist Brothers school in Mashonaland West. He dumped swimming for the serve, receive set and spike sport.
“I started playing volleyball at Kutama College in 1984 when I was in Form One after dumping swimming,” said Tapfuma.
He said in those years Kutama played in the Mashonaland Provincial League and schools front.
“So we dabbled in schools volleyball and higher level men’s volleyball in Mashonaland,” said Tapfuma who moved to Thornhill and continued playing volleyball in the Midlands.
He was part of the Midlands Under-20 and Zimbabwe national side and recalls captaining the legendary David Whitehead centreblocker and fast attack specialist Morgan Phiri.
In 1990 Tapfuma moved to Bulawayo and doubled up as a Sparrows Thabani and Bulawayo Polytechnic player.
He quickly established himself at the college team leading them to successive championships after inheriting the winners’ medal from the 1989 side that had Shearwaters human capital boss Ntokozo Mlilo, Nust lecturer Teddy Dube, Canada-based Molest Gaka and refrigeration engineer Evans Moyo.
Tapfuma was in 1993 instrumental in getting Matabeleland Aids Council to sponsor Railstars Volleyball Club and they changed the name to Raylmac as they sought to educate youths about the dangers of Hiv through peer education and sport.
Tapfuma said he enjoyed playing for Sparrows and reaching many finals with the likes of Mukozho, Silas Nyabadza, Sairota Banda, Jack Dube, Vusa Mpofu, Fios Moyo, Elijah Makacha and the Hit Machine unit of the Makunike brothers Clifford Makunike and setter Sydney Dube.
Among his career heights was playing for Botswana BDF Six (6) in 1994.
“In 1994 myself and Mukozho were the first Zimbabwe volleyball experts when we played in neighbouring Botswana for BDF Six,” said the fabrication expert whose business is headquartered in Harare.
The 23 March 1969 Makonde-born star had been attracted to volleyball after watching all all-Whites team Harare Volleyball Club.
“I wanted to play against them,” said Tapfuma.
Tapfuma won several medals with Bulawayo Polytechnic, Sparrows and Raylmac.
He considers the David Whitehead duo of Nsikelelo Mlauzi and Morgan Phiri as the most difficult opponents he faced.
“Morgan Phiri and I played against each other when I was at Thornhill and he was at Chipembere,” said Tapfuma.
At club level he said the most challenging opposition was: “The toughest opposition I faced was Harare Polytechnic and Autobody Construction in the clubs.”
Tapfuma as provincial chairman of the Matabeleland Volleyball Association had the pleasure of playing host to the All-Africa Games here in Bulawayo in 1995.
During his time Matabeleland had a very strong league with a functional league that ran from February to November with a number of tournaments and clinics.
He was able to bring in league sponsorship with awards at the end of the season for clubs and players.
Matabeleland volleyball has missed that kind of leadership and activity is now at a bare minimum.
In 1997 he moved to Harare and joined Thunder Volleyball Club, Zimre and Tongad and played alongside former Under-20 star Emmanuel Nzuma, Silvernous Mudekunye, Mukozho and Gwande.
He is proud to have played basketball and volleyball with business mogul Kuda Tagwirei.
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