Maphosa: the workaholic anchorman

DALUBUHLE Maphosa may be forgotten to some just like the two teams he played for Njube Sundowns and Quelaton but some may remember the rugged anchorman for his toil in the Premiership.

He was a workaholic who put in a good shift week in, week out. He played football as if his very life depended on every match as he was a born winner who wanted to achieve more on the field.

The 40-year-old Zifa Level Three coach started his football journey as a primary school team player. He turned out for Collen Bawn Primary School where he played as a striker and believes he may still have a record for the most goals scored in a match as he netted 11 in a 23-0 win over some rural Gwanda school.

“I believe I may still hold a record at Collen Bawn for the most goals scored in a match by a player. I started off as a winger then the teacher saw my instincts and played me as a centre striker and at times the old Number 10. I played alongside Xolani Ncube who went on to play for Chapungu and Ishmael Phiri who had a stint at Hwange FC,” said Maphosa.

He paid tribute to his former coach at the school, Polite Sibanda. “That man made me the professional footballer I got to be. He taught me everything at a tender age,” said Maphosa.

His footballing career also got a big lift from his Collen Bawn PPC FC coach Doubt Ngwenya.

“He was a very good coach, qualified and very passionate about the game. He also taught me a lot and I got to be what I became in the Premiership because of him,” said Maphosa.

From Collen Bawn Primary School, Maphosa proceeded to the secondary school within the compound where he finished his O-levels in 2002.

His football journey towards a professional career got some etching in 2004 when he was in Form Four when football legend Godfrey Paradza who was coaching Jahunda All Stars identified him.

“We had some schools games and unbeknown to me Paradza and Mathemba Sibanda who was a Gwanda businessman who loved football were watching. I impressed them and they invited me to join their project,” said Maphosa.

Sibanda was at some stage among Morrison Sifelani and Silas Ndlovu, Zimbabweans holding the Football Association of England coaching badge and died about a decade ago. He contributed immensely to Gwanda football from the 1990s.

“On the day I was identified by the two, I scored a hat-trick in a 7-0 victory,” said Maphosa.

Maphosa took a sabbatical from the game to concentrate on his secondary school education as he proceeded to Gwanda High School for his A-levels. In 2004 he was lured to ZRP Gwanda in Division Two a team he helped gain Division One status. He missed out on joining Hwange in 2005 after failing trials having gone there with Ntokozo Tshuma and Ishmael Phiri.

As he kept working harder in 2006 he attracted the attention of Sundowns coaches Danny Ndlovu and Gibson Homela.

“It was the five of us from Gwanda and after the trials in December of 2006, I was the only one to make the grade and I joined Sundowns in 2007,” said Maphosa.

He made his debut in the Premiership in a match against Monomotapa and came out with flying colours. Maphosa remembers the match visibly and was awestruck with Ronald Sibanda’s second-half performance in the 2-1 loss.

“When he was introduced everything changed. It is the match I made my debut and I had to deal with Daniel Zokoto and Charles Chiutsa. They were at the top of their game and I had good comments from the team after the match for a good debut performance but Ronald stole the show that afternoon,” said Maphosa.

Maphosa was among a number of boys making their debut as Sundowns had brought other youngsters on board Evans Chikwayikwayi, Thabani Kamusoko, Brian Mbiriri, Talent Maphosa and Frank Mvula. Ndlovu and Homela were fired and in came Beavan Gwamure who did not play Maphosa as the club fought relegation.

In 2008 Philani Ncube came on board as coach and appeared to favour veterans Jabulani Ngwenya, Mathias Webb and Have-a-look Dube something that prompted Maphosa to ask for a loan move to Quelaton a club that he helped to the Premiership in 2011. He paid tribute to Tawanda Ruzive for treating players as kings.

“He took good care of us as players. He paid us handsomely up to 2012 before things took a financial bite on him as well. He used to pay us better than Highlanders. We were already on foreign currency in 2008 and when the rest of the country got to use foreign currency in 2009 we were already a happy lot,” said Maphosa.

Maphosa who had moved from striker at junior level was now a rated anchorman who made life hard for strikers and midfielders.

His teammates called him “Boxer” because he made life difficult for the opposition as a destroyer.

He recalls the road to the Premiership for Quelaton.“Ruzive brought in experienced players like Chipo Tsodzo, Patrick “Mboma” Mpofu, Njabulo Ncube and Rodrick Mutuma who was unknown back then and we became a potent force in Division One leading to us winning the Zifa Southern Region Division One League in 2011,” said Maphosa.

He had a good 2010 season scoring for fun as a midfielder.  Maphosa said the most challenging opponents he faced were Leo Kurauzvione and Stephen Alimenda. “These guys always wanted to boss opponents on the field and I would always be on my best. Another good player was Danny Phiri, very tough, he would put his foot hard, he was extremely talented,” said Maphosa.

The former midfield destroyer also had problems with Chikwayikwayi at Sundowns training sessions. 

“He was pacey and he helped me improve”.

Maphosa said the quintet of Tendai Ngulube, Kamusoko, Heritani Masuku and himself is the best midfield he ever played with.

A Bosso supporter, he says said Andrew Mbeba is his favourite player whom he described as intelligent, technically gifted and excellent on the ball. Growing up he admired Thulani Ncube and Benjamin Nkonjera, a player whose play he wanted to emulate. Maphosa has coached Zim Leopards and Lupane State University and is currently job hunting.