Chronicle Editor
JOSEPH Machingura was one of Zimbabwe Saints’ best players in the 1980s and set stadia terraces alight with his pace, dribbling skills, finishing and gamesmanship.
He was among the star players that re-ignited the flame that was losing its glow after a sumptuous 1970s that saw the club land the Nyore Nyore Zimbabwe Furnishers Cup, BAT Rosebowl, Chibuku Trophy, Castle Cup, 1979 Regional League and the 1977 league title.
The star-studded 1970s side had the likes of Musa Muzanenhamo, Philemon Dangarembwa, Gibson Homela, Lucky Rufano, Itai Chieza, Andrew Kadengu, Emmanuel Sibanda, Douglas Maneto, Max Tshuma, Ebson “Sugar” Muguyo and Steve Kwashi. The first four years of Independence had Saints down on the packing order in the Zimbabwe Super League.
Saints were desperately in need of new heroes, need of revival and 1984 saw the arrival of a number of players who would transform Chikwata to a formidable side.
Machingura arrived from Red Seal with Misheck Sibanda and big goalkeeper Ben Phiri. The legendary Ephraim Chawanda came from Black Aces of Matshobana.
Jethro Hunidzarira, now Zifa technical director arrived also from Triangle. He had returned to attend college at Bulawayo Polytechnic where he was doing the theory part of his apprenticeship.
While Phiri with his imposing frame did not make much of a mark as he was along others quickly elbowed out by former Msitheli High School goalkeeper John Sibanda.
Machingura was undoubtedly Zimbabwe Saints’ main man in attack from the onset and did not take too long to be considered for national teams competing for wing positions with the likes of Stanley Ndunduma, Madinda Ndlovu, Boy Ndlovu and Moses Chunga.
Former Wankie defender Mebelo Njekwa who faced Machingura in a defence that had Venacio Ncube, Dick Banda, Ben Soko and Knight Mathe, described Machingura as a gifted player.
“He was a gifted player who knew how to position himself, he had pace, skill, positional sense. He showed that he had gone through right hands in his development. Machingura had stamina, could dribble, he was a difficulty winger to deal with, coupled with that he could shoot with either foot though he appeared stronger on his left,” said Njekwa now head coach of title chasing ZPC Hwange.
Bongani Mafu, one of the highest qualified coaches from Zimbabwe, who coached Chikwata years after Machingura had retired described the former speed merchant as one of the finest players to play on the wing in Zimbabwe.
“He was one of the finest and most effective wingers ever produced in that city. He was a brilliant dribbler, astute reader of the game who used space behind him and in front effectively. He is a legend by any measure,” said Mafu. Hunidzarira had high praises for his teammate, a key figure in Chiwororo reaching the semi-finals of the East and Central Club Championships in Uganda in 1987 and the Chibuku and league triumph of 1988.
On full flight he was unstoppable and very unpredictable with a deceitful step on the ball and burst dribbling manoeuvre that troubled and fooled many defenders. His major advantages were pace, stamina and ability to switch flanks or even man the centre hole in attack.
“He was recruited from Red Seal, with Misheck Sibanda and Ben Phiri. I had just returned from Triangle where I served my apprenticeship and was at Bulawayo Polytechnic. They were recruited by Howard Maviza who was head coach,” said Hunidzarira.
He described him Machingura as the club’s great jester of their era.
“He was a very nice guy who liked to crack jokes wherever we were as a team. He was the clown of the team and show, he liked to tell jokes, some hilarious and others dangerous, hurting the spirits of others.
“On the field of play he would even say ‘handina kumakwa isai bhora’ when standing with a defender knowing well he would beat him for pace, stamina and skill. He was a generous individual, a team player on the field,” said Hunidzarira.
Tshayina, Chinx Benfica Bound were some of his nicknames.
Hunidzarira remembers a sterling performance in 1980s when Saints beat Dynamos 5-2 in the quarter-finals of the Chibuku Trophy.
“He was on fire in that match and there is another game I will never forget about Machingura in 1986. We needed a point to survive out of two matches. On Saturday we played Black Mambas and were beaten 4-0 and the next day we were at Rufaro against Dynamos. Having lost to Mambas, the pressure was on us to at least get a draw against Dynamos.
“Dynamos got a corner kick call. They took the kick and Ephraim Chawanda headed it upfield and Machingura was found on a one-on-one with Misheck Marimo (Chidzambwa). He beat him for speed and headed for goal and beat Lucky Dube for us to emerge 1-0 winners and we survived relegation that season.
“He was an ever present member of the side and contributed immensely to Zimbabwe Saints,” said Hunidzarira.
Machingura had a lump on his thigh so at times he would play around with it as if there are spasm movements before a defender, while the defender is sympathising with him, he would call for the ball and leave them in their wake to set up an attack or score.
Saints has never been the same giant of the 1980s and has been relegated a number of times and even gone extinct.
Lloyd Munhanga has worked hard with other committed Chikwata followers to bring the team back to Division One assuming the status of Ciwu who could not continue with the project.
Machingura was capped many times at senior level and in 1989 attracted the attention of Benfica, the Portuguese football giants. The move however, did not materialise for the Mpopoma bred legend.
Had it materialised he would have been the second Zimbabwean after Freddy Mukwesha to play in Portugal.
Legendary commentator Charles Mabika appears to have been charmed by Machingura’s energy and talent. He says Machingura rates among the very best forwards ever in the local league.
“Undoubtedly on my finest ever Top 10 forwards I watched gracing our fields. We called him ‘Cde Chinx’. He was a devastating menace on the left flank as he waltzed past bemused defenders like a gladiator before setting up tantalising crosses for his centre strikers. Or he could just go all the way and beat central defenders and goalkeeper. He also packed shots with either boo and it is sad he never got an opportunity of playing outside the continent because boy oh boy, he could have walked into any top side in Europe,” said Mabika of the once Benfica bound.
Online Reporter