Online Reporter
IF the question of the hottest strikers to ever play in the Super League and Premiership is thrown randomly, the name Maronga Nyangela would not feature in many’s list.
At times the answer to such a question is sentimental more than statistics. It is just like the debate on who should lead the national team strikeforce at any given time.
In the past it has been a popularity contest with no bearing on figures hence the likes of the evergreen Nyasha Mushekwi rarely came in for consideration despite scoring regularly in China.
Zimbabwe had a gem in its ranks for almost a decade and a half in Mbare-born and bred Nyangela who consistently scored for fun from his debut season in the then Super League which became the Premiership in 1993. With over 200 career goals at the highest level of competition in the country, no doubt he is in the top 10 on the list of scorers when all results are collated.
Born in Mbare, Harare on 6 July 1961, Nyangela attended nearby Nharira Primary School. It is the same school attended by Edward Katsvere, Sunday Masauso, Danny Jambo and Langton Mutimba.
“Back then as soon as parents were satisfied you could read and write a letter home or to town, some never bothered to send you beyond primary school. So I ended my education at Grade Seven. I started playing amateur football for Lobels and then moved to Zifa lower division side Screentone.
“At primary school I played as a defender, at the heart of defence. I think it was because of my towering height that the teachers felt I was best. Our coach was Allan Hlatshwayo, a former Dynamos player and sports journalist of note,” said Nyangela.
At Screentone he played alongside Joseph Muchineripi, Kenny Kanyeza and former Dynamos defender Garnet Muchongwe.
Surprisingly he was played as a defensive midfielder or one of the two midfielders in a 4-2-4 formation and the one who did not venture forward a lot in a 4-3-3. In 1982, a chance arose for him to have a trial at Black Aces in 1982. “Moses Chunga was among the trialists, after 10 minutes with the reserves, remember those days it was four laps and then 11 v 11, I pounded Brenna Msiska with four shots that he either parried for a corner or spilt for a second bite of the cherry.
“The coaches Clever Hunda, Shadreck Ngwenya and Zoom Rambayi appeared impressed with me. I then trained with the first team and I was signed. It was Hunda and Ngwenya who converted me to a striker feeling that with the hard shots I was letting go, I would rather be closer to goal. As they say the rest is history and my career as a forward took off,” said Nyangela who was called up to the national Under-20 team that year. But he would make a larger announcement of his arrival on the scene with a scorcher that made him a household name and earned him the nickname The Bomber. “It was a Sadc tournament in Swaziland (now Eswatini). I saw the goalkeeper off his line and I let go a screamer that beautifully nestled at the back of the net, much to the applause of my team and even neutral fans at the stadium,” said Nyangela.
His teammates and coaches were amused with the quality of the goal.
Nyangela speaks highly of his Under-20 days and the great players he was with. He reckons that his strike-force of Boy Ndlovu and Madinda Ndlovu on the wings with burly Joseph Machingura and him at the centre was one which he enjoyed playing along.
“These were quality, the supply from the wings was superb, all four of us complemented each other well in attack under our coaches the late Peter Nyama and Ashton Nyazika,” said Nyangela.
His other Under-20 teammates were Felix Ntuthu and Lucky Dube, the goalkeeper. At Black Aces he had found Msiska, Moses Chasweka, Peter Manyara, Aces Academy boss Nigel Munyati and Boniface Mahuruzo. He had been inspired by Aces’ loss to Dynamos and that challenged him into believing he could do better for the Highfields lads.
“I just told myself that if I leave Screentone I will make it at Aces after their 6-0 loss to Dynamos. I did not doubt my capabilities. In the past players would have guts to go and challenge for a position at a club,” said Nyangela. He scored his PSL debut goal from distance at Ross Camp against Zimbabwe Saints that same year and is no longer sure who was in goal between Alban Mafemba and Ben Phiri.
“It was no ordinary Saints side, it had Ephraim Chawanda, the two Josphats, Munetsi and Humbasha and then Misheck Sibanda, Gibson Homela was still playing too,” said Nyangela.
Nyangela marked his entry into the Super League with 13 goals and followed that up with double figures in 1983. In 1984, Nyangela made the great leap, a move to Black Rhinos.
“I had been consistently scoring for Black Aces and Nyazika who was assistant to Peter Nyama in the Young Warriors had joined Rhinos and knew me very well from the Under-20s and he lured me to the army side,” said Nyangela.
He described the Rhinos set up as probably similar to what obtains today where footballers concentrate full-time on training and the game.
“There was everything at the club including transport to training, the equipment was there and the Zimbabwe National Army supported the club very well. We were a motivated lot and ours was just to play football. I hit the ground running and scored lots of goals as we won the league and cup double in 1984,” said The Bomber.
He said the talent at Rhinos made any player left out of the final 16 get into tears because reclaiming a place was hard as there was cream at the Shepherd Murape and Nyazika’s disposal.
“I remember the tension that always existed when the final team was announced. Others would be in tears when they did not make it to the final 16. Reclaiming your jersey was difficult as the competition was fierce. As players and a team we were united and our resolve being to win every match on our way,” said Nyangela.
He was part of the Rhinos team that took part in the Africa Champion of Champions tournament now the Caf Champions League and reached the quarter-finals after beating Power Dynamos of Zambia 3-0 on aggregate in 1985.
Nyangela took the stuffing off the Zambians’ challenge when he scored the solitary goal that killed the visitors’ chances of revival at Rufaro Stadium. Rhinos had not only stunned Power Dynamos in Zambia but the whole continent as the northern neighbours champions had a formidable side with Peter Kaumba, Boyd Chilembo and Alex Chola in their line-up.
“They were no pushovers and a very compact team with flair. We played our best football and some of the players in that side we had in previous years played against them in the Under-20 and 23 sides,” said Nyangela.
The Rhinos regulars at that time were Japhet Mparutsa in goal, Simon “AK” Mugabe at right-back, Eddie Matsika at left-back, Lovemore Chikunha and William Chikaura at the centre of defence, Langton Mutimba, the workhorse of the team in front of the centre-backs with Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa, Stanley Ndunduma, Hamid Dhana, Jimmy Mbewe, Jerry Chidawa and Nyangela in attack.
They were a nightmare to opposition defenders.
Goals never dried up for Nyangela as he kept his consistency with double figures and in 1986 in a season Moses Chunga was crowned Soccer Star of the Year and top goalscorer with 30 league goals, The Bomber scored 28. He recalls a nine-goal haul in the preliminary rounds of the Zifa Cup in which they played a lower division side.
“I scored my highest tally in competitive football when we won 16-0 and I scored nine of the goals. The competition for the top goal scorers gong was always high, the same as in the national team where we had Shaky Tauro, Moses Chunga, Charles Chirwa, Max Makanza, Gift Mpariwa, Rahman Gumbo all laying a stake for a starting place,” said Nyangela.
Nyangela who finally retired in 1996 to take up coaching with Buffaloes in Mutare, continued to be consistent and was voted among the Soccer Star of the Year finalists thrice between 1990 and 1994, proving his legendary status at a time when most of the players he was with in the age group teams were retiring or had called it quits.
The Bomber, a true legend was top goal-scorer in 1987 with 29, 1990, 1991 and 1994.
Nyangela retired from the army in 2006 and held several coaching jobs and now he spends his time coaching at his academy in Budiriro 5.
“I have a Caf C licence, we were the last group with the likes of Joel Luphahla. Sadly I do not have resources to go and do a course outside the country.
“My passion for the game is still there hence I am coaching children from the age of seven up to Under-18. With funding for my project I have no doubt I can develop very good talent. My plea is for sponsorship so that I can take this football project to the next level,” said Nyangela.
Of the local football scene, Nyangela tipped FC Platinum for the title and he believes Highlanders’ Kelvin Kaindu is up to something with what he saw in the match against MWOS.
