Online Reporter
Tobias Mandoreba
“Kenduro” flame now lighting up emerging and promising boys and girls’ football careers!
Brian Chibaya’s love for the world’s most beautiful game away from playing turf to being a sponsor of the game (Italics)
THE common adage “Dynamite comes in small packages” cannot be taken literally when observing the body stature of 58-year-old soccer fanatic Brian Chibaya, who is lanky and pencil-thin and far from being short by all standards.
His body frame earned him the nickname “Kenduro” (candle) during his playing days in the Midlands town of Kwekwe, in the Super League era, while playing for the then formidable Ziscosteel FC.
Rewinding to before the Ziscosteel era, Chibaya has a decorated footballing history dating back more than four decades, beginning at the tender age of 10 when he featured for the Under-10 squad at Globe and Phoenix Primary School.
This early start culminated in a burning passion to contribute to the nation’s “No To Drugs” crusade, using football sponsorship to empower young boys and girls.
Brian, born on 30 March 1968, is the first-born in a family of six. He attended Globe & Phoenix Mine Primary School for his primary education and Kwekwe High School for his secondary education.
At Globe and Phoenix, Chibya played in the first team that were losing finalists in the Coca-Cola Trophy. He was also a key member of Kwekwe Secondary School’s first team, competing alongside players such as Kennedy Nagoli (Manunure High School), Isah Phiri (Drake Secondary School), Kaumba Mbewe and Kuda Muzah (Amaveni Secondary School) among others.
Chibaya’s football journey continued as he played competitively in Division Two with Globe & Phoenix FC, then in Division One with Steward & Lloyds and subsequently in the Super League from 1989 to 1990 with Ziscosteel, where he played alongside the likes of Jonathan Boriwondo, James Takavada, William “Bhedzo” Banda, Kennedy Nagoli and Langton Marizani.
The nickname “Kenduro” became especially prominent at Ziscosteel, where Chibaya would weave past defenders as if slicing through butter, with animated fans chanting “Kendurooo, Kendurooo” as the lanky figure glided past opponents at will.
Fast forward to his post-playing days, the “Kenduro” light still shines brightly, bringing smiles and hope to the girl child in his home area of Zhombe through his sponsorship of Zhombe Chibs Queens and Zhombe Chibs FC.
Thanks to a sound capital injection and behind-the-scenes efforts, the rural community of Zhombe is now enjoying Zimbabwe’s Netball Premier League this year — an achievement made possible by Chibaya’s benevolence, aimed at empowering young girls and protecting them from economic vulnerabilities.
The journey of Zhombe Chibs Queens began in 2023, marked by hard work, dedication and perseverance, culminating in the team’s earning a berth in the Netball Premier League this year.
The Chibs FC men’s football brand started in Zhombe in 2016, beginning in Division Three and progressing to Division One. Later, Chibaya took his passion to Hwange, where he is employed as Site Manager at J & C Engineering, a South Africa-based company, at Hwange Power Station.
In Hwange, the project started with Madumabisa Chibs FC in 2021, leading to the formation of Chibs FC in 2026, a Division Two franchise.
Chibaya states that football is in his DNA: he “eats, drinks and talks football.”
His ultimate dream is to establish another Premier League team in Hwange, in the mould of Chibs FC, which currently competes in the Zifa Matabeleland North Division 2A League.
He has not minced words, recently declaring his readiness to move mountains to own and sponsor a team in the national league within a few years.
Time will tell, but where there is a will, there is a way. With the current trajectory of football administration and resource injection by Chibaya, it all points to a dream becoming reality — the “Kenduro” flame continuing to burn brightly for generations to cherish and savour in the game of football.
Can Chibaya carve a lasting legacy both on the field and as a reputable sponsor of football, without the support and co-operation of his wife, Mrs Martha Chibaya?
Behind every successful man is a woman and Chibaya pays tribute to his wife Martha for her unwavering support, from his playing days to now as a sponsor, sharing his vision to transform lives through sport.
Martha manages the family business in Zhombe District, some of whose resources have positively impacted the football and netball scenes.
One thing is certain: Chibaya is building a lasting sporting legacy that will endure long after he is gone.
