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Lovemore Dube
HIGHLANDERS FC assistant coach and club legend Madinda Ndlovu says the selection of Andrew Mbeba and Ariel Sibanda as part of the country’s 11 best players for the 2023 season is something to be proud of as the two were part of an impressive defence this season.
Sibanda, who has been the number one goalkeeper for Bosso for more than a decade, was also voted Goalkeeper of the Year.
“To have Ariel and Mbeba among the Soccer Stars of the Year is something to be proud of. They have had a very good season at the back alongside Mbongeni Ndlovu and Peter Muduhwa,” said Ndlovu.
The former Zimbabwe international who was Mr Highlanders in the 1980s, said he was surprised that Mbongeni was not voted among the 11 after a very good season. He said as for Muduhwa it may have boiled down to his suspension for his alleged role of inciting violence in the ill-fated league match against Dynamos.
“I am surprised Mbongeni was not selected, he was very outstanding in defence with Muduhwa. As for Muduhwa it could may be the case of the suspension,” said Ndlovu.
However, Muduhwa was eligible for selection as his suspension is not covered in the category of misdemeanours that are counted. Ten yellow and three red cards disqualify a player from consideration as does match-fixing and doping. However, Ndlovu is happy with the way their defence executed their duties in 2023. Speaking of Ariel, he said he first saw the goalkeeper when he was still at school where he played alongside his son Lance.
Years later Sibanda joined Bosso and was part of the squad that camped at the Streaks Enthokozweni Farm in Inyathi and the boy showed character and that forced the coach to advise the executive that the youngster would be the team’s number one goalkeeper.
“I first saw Ariel in Plumtree when he was still at school, he was playing with my son Lance. He came to Highlanders years later when we went to camp at the Streak Farm. He was still fresh in my mind that I knew him from Plumtree. It was hard training there and he showed guts despite being young. I set up an appointment to brief the executive that he would be the first choice goalkeeper and he was jittery at first but as time wore on he became the great goalkeeper he is today,” said Ndlovu.
Sibanda has the second highest number of appearances on the Soccer Stars of the Year calendar after the legendary Japhet Mparutsa who did club duty for Dynamos and Black Rhinos. Mparutsa has six appearances and Sibanda four and has been a beacon of hope for the club in the last 14 years after his first team break in 2009. Madinda also spoke glowingly about Mbeba’s development.
“When I returned to Highlanders in 2019 I took a number of players from Bosso90. Mbeba was among the players I promoted from Bosso90. Others were Daniel Msendami, Vincent Moyo and Mbongeni. I am happy he has stood above the rest. It’s a pity coaches see differently, we let Msendami go as soon as I left and now he is shining elsewhere whereas he should have been doing that at Highlanders,” said Ndlovu.
Msendami is playing Caf Champions League football for Jwaneng Galaxy who are the defending league champions in Botswana and have qualified for the group stages of the continental club competition. Ndlovu made several appearances on the Soccer Stars of the Year calendar as he was one of the hottest properties in the Super League and wound up his playing career with a league title in 1993, 13 years after making his debut at that level. He made four appearances and could have had more if it was not for being disqualified in 1984 after a red card decision in a match against Dynamos that he clashed with Lucky Dube.
Online Reporter