Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
FORMER Zimbabwe international goalkeeper Japhet “Shortcat” Mparutsa has paid tribute to Highlanders supporters for transforming Barbourfields Stadium from an intimidating venue into what he describes as his “second home ground”.
Mparutsa, who spent years facing Highlanders at the iconic Barbourfields Stadium, said the team’s passionate fans initially made life difficult for visiting players, particularly goalkeepers stationed at the Swimming Pool End.
He, however, eventually learned to embrace the intimidating atmosphere and turned the pressure from the terraces into motivation to produce some of his finest performances.
“Barbourfields Stadium was not always a happy place for some of my former players whenever we had to face Highlanders.
“It wasn’t necessarily because Highlanders were impossible to play against, but because of the incredible atmosphere created by their passionate supporters,” Mparutsa said.
He recalled how the noise from the terraces could initially get into his head.
“At first, the noise could get into your head. Then one day, I stopped and thought to myself: ‘All these people have paid their money to come and watch me play. So, I am the actor on this stage.
From that moment, everything changed. I stopped listening to the insults, the shouting and the pressure. I told myself that my job was to perform,” said Mparutsa, writing on his Facebook page
The change in mindset paid dividends as Mparutsa began producing commanding performances between the posts.
“Save after save, I could hear the same supporters who had been intimidating me beginning to clap and cheer every time I made a save.That feeling was something special.
From that day onwards, Barbourfields Stadium became my second home ground. What was once an intimidating place became a place where I felt loved and respected,” he said.
Mparutsa also recalled the words of former English goalkeeper Roy Kane, who once remarked: “Enfield was not a good place to be.”
For Mparutsa, those words resonated with his experiences of playing in front of hostile supporters and helped shape his attitude towards intimidating football grounds.
He said the passion of Highlanders supporters ultimately became one of the things he cherished most about playing at Barbourfields.
“To all the Highlanders supporters at Barbourfields, thank you. You made those moments incredibly special for me. The noise, the passion, the pressure, the applause — I will never forget any of it.
“Football gives you many memories, but some moments stay in your heart forever.
“Barbourfields is one of those places for me.
“Thank you, Highlanders supporters. You made me feel like the actor, and Barbourfields was my stage.”
Mparutsa’s tribute comes as a reminder of the unique relationship between footballers and supporters at
Barbourfields, where the famous Highlanders following has for decades been credited with creating one of the most vibrant atmospheres in Zimbabwean football.
