Online Reporter
Robson Sharuko
Metros Editor
COVENTRY City are back in the English Premiership after an absence stretching for a quarter-of-a-century and their return, inevitably, brings back memories of a past when the Sky Blues were good enough to win the FA Cup.
That victory came at Wembley in 1987 when Coventry beat Tottenham 3-2 to lift their only piece of silverware in their 143-year history.
The nostalgic conversations will certainly include one unforgettable day at Anfield in March 1995 when Peter Ndlovu struck a superb hat-trick in a 3-2 victory over Liverpool in a league match.
It was an historic moment for the Zimbabwean star who became the first visiting footballer to score a hat-trick at the home of Liverpool in three decades. He remains the only African star to score a hat-trick at Anfield.
He is also the first African star to play in the English Premiership.
In 179 games at Coventry City, Ndlovu scored 41 goals and left memories, including some stunning solo goals, which will last a lifetime.
He was courted by both Liverpool and Arsenal, who wanted to pay a British record fee for his services, but Coventry City held on to their man.
Many analysts have argued that this was a huge missed opportunity for the Zimbabwean forward.
It’s ironic that Coventry City have returned to the English Premiership exactly 30 years after Ndlovu’s relationship with the club started to show the first signs of coming to an end.
Ron Artkinson’s decision to leave his post as manager in November 1996 was the beginning of the end of Ndlovu’s stay at Highfield Road.
His replacement Gordon Strachan gave Ndlovu limited opportunities and by the end of the season, in June 1997, the Zimbabwean star left Coventry City.
But, the memories remain.
“Silverware is often an inducement for greatness, but a lack thereof should never tarnish a player’s claim for the same status,” wrote Ryan Plant on the thefootballtimes website.
“One such player, whose romantic enchantment with the ball at their feet, irrespective of their medals haul, is often the reason why zealots the world over fall for the beautiful game and serves to prove that a stocked trophy cabinet is not always a reliable signature of a timeless footballer.
“With that comes an introduction to Peter Ndlovu: Zimbabwe’s export to English football who, akin to his compatriot, Bruce Grobbelaar, was predictably unpredictable any time he had the Mitre Ultimax in his possession in the Premiership.
“Ndlovu proved, though, that African players were skilled enough to compete in the early chapters of the Premiership, amidst dreams of an opulent, lavish domicile for England’s elite looking to leave the abominable scenes in football away from the confines of pitch far behind whilst improving the standards on it.
“His thaumaturge on the English game as the cardinal African player of the Premiership era is as seminal as his finishing was adroit.
“He made a generation of African stars of European football realise making a career in their betrothed was not beyond peradventure in a new, overabundant, puissant force.”
Coventry City have been to hell and back in the 25 years they have been out of the English Premiership. They were even on the brink of collapsing in 2007, they slipped into administration, they were docked points, suffered two relegations and they were hit by fan boycotts, angry pitch invasions and the team were exiled from their own city, twice. But, somehow, they fought back and their return to the limelight casts the spotlight back on the likes of Peter Ndlovu.
For the man, who the Coventry City fans called ‘Nuddy,’ the journey continues.
He is back home as the team manager of champions Scottland and tomorrow they have a massive battle against Dynamos at Rufaro.
Their primary colours are both blue – of course, a different shade of blue to the Sky Blues of Coventry. But, blue all the same.
