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Danisa Masuku
Lawrence Phiri was popularly known as “Lofty” during his playing days because of his height and the nickname grew as his profile gained prominence in football circles.
And when he became Highlanders coach he also earned the moniker Major Dyke mainly because he was strict to the players. He discovered his footballing talent when he was doing Grade five at Lozikeyi Primary School at Nguboyenja in Bulawayo. His father was a staunch Highlanders supporter and loved legendary goalkeeper Jonny Walker. In addition, his uncles, Mackabeeze Poya and Charles Phiri turned out for Northern Rhodesia (Zambia). Growing in this family set-up of staunch football followers inspired him to be a soccer player.
“My father used to take me to football matches at a very tender age. He loved Jonny Walker which is why I also developed an interest in goalkeeping and I became a goalkeeper as well. While I was at Mgandane (Mzilikazi High School), I sharpened my goalkeeping skills. While at school, I played alongside Tsumbe Dzowa (later to be known as Paul Tsumbe), Barry Daka, “Billy the Kid” Sibanda, and Kenneth “Sparks” Ngulube,” he told Sunday Life.
But he always felt that he could prove himself in either defence or in the middle of the park, and sometimes even in the frontline. He joined Highlanders and adjusted to its settings as he hooked up with his child hood friend Ananias Dube who hailed from Mzilikazi.
He made his debut in Bosso squad when Ananias Dube’s performance had taken a dip.
“I was selected into the first team when Ananias was going through a bad spell and I never looked back and gave my all. And became the first choice goalkeeper,” he shares.
He attributes his success at Highlanders to former Bosso coach Silas Ndlovu.
“I had never played in the reserve team even in a friendly match, but Silas Ndlovu had enough confidence in me to throw me into the first team. I took the opportunity and put maximum effort not to disappoint him which helped to boost my confidence,” he revealed.
He is also grateful to the then Highlanders board that paid his secondary education fees and conveyed his deepest gratitude to his benefactors.
Lofty describes second match against Bulawayo Rangers as akin to a ‘baptism of fire’
“The match against Bulawayo Rangers goes down as the worst game of my career. We were trounced 6-0 and the blame fell squarely on me. The coaches and senior players did not mince their words as they went at me saying ngidlisile,” he recalls.
He revealed that he did not take the sentiments lightly and confronted his coach Silas Ndlovu and told him that he no longer wanted to be a goalkeeper. Lofty said the coaches tried to convince him to stick to goalkeeping but he refused.
“The coach tried to explain to me that such things happen in football but I wouldn’t take any of that. After a week he accepted my proposal and he turned me into a utility player,” he says.
He says even though he enjoyed being a utility player he was not satisfied because he wanted his own position. His gods smiled at him after Nehemiah Dube, who was a right back got injured.
“Nehemiah got injured and I volunteered to play his position. I added value and overlapped quite often, provided an assist and that was a plus for me to permanently take up that position. When he recovered he became a super –sub,” he says.
He called time to his career as a player in 1982 and was seconded to the coaching department. When the executive hired expatriate Bobby Clark in 1983 as head coach he became his understudy.
“When Bobby Clark joined Highlanders he introduced his own brand of football refusing to use juju and, as a result, the team went for a number of games without tasting victory, which sparked anger among supporters. After one match at Barbourfields, a group of supporters camped at the dressing door baying for our blood and I had to intervene to quell the tension. The executive blamed us because we had refused to use juju,” he said.
During the same period, he was involved in a physical clash with one of the executive member.
“I was involved in a fist fight with one of the executive member. As a result the executive felt I needed to be punished severely for assaulting the executive member and they slapped me with an indefinite suspension. Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu, who was then my assistant took over the reins and remained working with Bobby Clark,” said Lofty.
He spent all of 1984 in the cold and was asked to assist a Division One outfit Red Seal during that year.
“This gave me an opportunity to use the new knowledge I had acquired during the short stint I had with Bobby Clark and it helped in the success of Red Seal as we gave big teams like Zimbabwe Saints a torrid time,” he said.
After Bobby Clark’s departure, he made an appeal for reinstatement which was successful. At this point Ndumiso “Yours Truly” Gumede had been elected club chairman.
“When I bounced back at Bosso, I was appointed taem manager /coach while Barry Daka was the head coach and Cosmas “Tsano” doubled up as the team fitness and goal keepers’ coach. This team spent 10 years working together and later on we were joined by Roy Barretto,” he says.
*Next week we will continue with Lawrence “Lofty” Phiri focusing on his coaching career and his career ambitions and also his life in Botswana.
Fact file
He was born at Luveve but grew up in Nguboyenja suburb. He had to spend part of his childhood life in Mzilikazi suburb.
He is the second born in a family of five boys and two girls.
He is married to former Miss Highlanders and Miss Bulawayo.
The couple is blessed with three children namely Clarence who is an IT specialist, and Kelvin who has just completed his doctorate (molecular biology) and Clive who is a Masters holder. The family worships at Open Baptist church.
Online Reporter