adminPeter Phiri Sports Correspondent
FORMER Zimbabwe Saints striker Mlamleli ‘‘Kenny Daglish’’ Ncube remembers how in 2002 his colleagues at Hillside Teachers’ College chided him after Chikwata had nearly derailed Highlanders’ chances of winning the league championship. Then under British coach Eddie May, Highlanders were on top of their game and marching towards their fourth league championship in a row but a super-charged Zimbabwe Saints ambushed them at Barbourfields Stadium.
Highlanders were stunned 2-1 with Chipo Tsodzo and Nqobile Ncube on target for Chikwata while Sautso Phiri scored for Bosso.
That defeat put a dent on Bosso’s title aspirations and Ncube, a feared striker before his career was cut short by a knee injury, became unpopular at college.
Those were the days of the Bosso fans’ song, “Sathenga uEddie May, sathenga uEddie Nyika, sathenga uEddie Dube, sekusele ukuthi sithenge uEddie Murphy, Highlander, ithimu yezwelonke.’
The defeat derailed Highlanders’ campaign and Ncube was a student then at Hillside Teachers College and Chikwata’s victory invited the ire of Highlanders supporters at the college.
‘‘I remember my college mates saying we were only in the league to disturb Highlanders. That was not the case, I grew up supporting Highlanders and I still do because my blood is black and white. At Zimbabwe Saints, I was just doing my job as a footballer. Their argument was however understandable because Highlanders were gunning for the championship but we stunned them,’’ said Ncube.
Born 37 years ago at Mpilo Hospital, Ncube attended Fusi Primary School in Luveve and Bulawayo Adventist Secondary School in Suburbs for his secondary education.
At Fusi, he rubbed shoulders with Thulani ‘‘Captain Biya’’ Ncube and Edmore ‘‘MaMkhwebu’’ Sibanda who went on to become household names at Highlanders.
‘‘I never played football at Bulawayo Adventist High Secondary School because I used to run away from school to train with the Highlanders juniors under the legendary Ali ‘‘Baba’’ Dube. The atmosphere was great at the Bosso juniors since I played with some of the most gifted players of my generation,’’ he said.
‘‘At Highlanders juniors, I played with Captain Biya, Pope Moyo, Wonder Mpofu, Mkhuphali Masuku, Master Masiku, Kelvin Maseko and the enterprising Siza Khoza. These were quality players and I had to raise my game since the competition for places was stiff,’’ he said.
Ncube, however, had to move to Zimbabwe Saints juniors who were under one called Mukoma Juju, Lazarus Zimangi who is now late.
‘‘At Zimbabwe Saints juniors I found equally good players such as Sikhumbuzo ‘‘China’’ Banda, Themba Ndlovu, Simon ‘‘Doinky’’ Sibanda, Dumisani Dube, Richard Choruma, Mlungisi Ndebele and Reuben Chandata. Our coach was Mukoma Juju, a shrewd tactician who used to bring the best out of us. I remember having some exciting battles with the Highlanders juniors,’’ said Ncube.
After graduating from the juniors, Ncube headed for Division One outfit Kango Football Club in 1999, who were coached by the late former Zimbabwe Saints and Warriors goalkeeper John Sibanda.
One of his memorable games was in the Kango colours when he scored five goals against East Rovers at Luveve Stadium in 1999.
‘‘This was more of a grudge match and besides, East Rovers wanted to survive relegation but we showed them no mercy when I went on the rampage scoring five goals. I remember their goalkeeper by the name Themba had a nightmarish afternoon picking the ball six times from the back of the nets,’’ said Ncube.
In 2000, Ncube packed his bags and headed for Botswana to play for Notwane Football Club who were coached by veteran Zimbabwean coach Paul Moyo.
‘‘Notwane FC were a good side and had Zimbabwean Paul Moyo as head coach. Former Hwange player Fabian Zulu was already a big name at the club. I also remember three players, Dipsy Selolwane, Innocent Ranku and Antony Manteng who were turning out for the Botswana national team and were Notwane players,’’ he said.
Selolwane went on to play in the US and was in the Absa Premiership last season.
Ncube had to come back home in 2001 and rejoined Zimbabwe Saints while enrolling at Hillside Teachers College because he needed something to fall back on after his soccer career.
Zimbabwe Saints then had players such as Chandata, Earnmore Hamandishe, Themba Ndlovu, Banda, Thubelihle Ncube, Mutambi Zemura, Butholezwe Mahachi, Mlungisi Ndebele, Dumisani ‘‘Dunga’’ Dube and Eddie Mukahanana, who is now based in Canada.
Chikwata were coached by Cosmas ‘‘Tsano’’ Zulu, Max ‘‘Shaluza’’ Tshuma and John Sibanda.
Highlanders under May, had Edmore Sibanda, Melusi Sibanda, Bekithemba Ndlovu, Biya, Dazzy Kapenya, Simon Sibanda, Melody Wafawanaka, Phiri, Zenzo Moyo, Thabani Masawi, Choruma, Nyika and Eddie Dube.
This Highlanders team dominated the local football scene with ruthless efficiency winning the league championship in succession four times.
‘‘Although we beat them, however Bosso had one of the best teams on the local football scene and they went on to win the championship,’’ he said.
Asked why he opted to become a teacher while he was at the prime of his career, Ncube said the life of a footballer is unpredictable.
‘‘Sometimes soccer players make the mistake of not pursuing studies, forgetting that there is life after football. I had to enrol at Hillside Teachers College while still playing for Chikwata. The life of a football player is very short and unpredictable and you have to make hay while the sun still shines. This is also my advice to youngsters,’’ said Ncube.
Ncube is puzzled why his Saints could not finish high on the table despite beating top guns.
‘‘I don’t even have answers because we could beat all the best teams in the league but failed to win the league title. I remember how in one season we beat Highlanders, AmaZulu, Dynamos and Caps United but failed to land the league title. We used to raise our game when we were playing the big guys of the league and falter against the smaller teams. That was the funny thing about Zimbabwe Saints but we were a great team. I believe we could have won the league with such a team but it eluded us,’’ said Ncube.
His worst game in Chikwata colours was against Hwange Football Club in 2002 at Barbourfields in a league match.
‘‘We had beaten Chipangano 3-1 in the reverse fixture at the Colliery and I scored in that match. Somehow we crumbled at Barbourfields due to complacency when we lost 2-0. Actually, we had a very bad day in the office and that defeat still haunts me to this day,’’ he said.
Ncube’s soccer career was however cut short in 2002 when he sustained a knee injury in training and his football dreams crumbled like a deck of cards.
He rates Thabani Masawi and Andrew Kamanga as his favourite players because of their silky skills and Biya while on the international scene he goes for Luis Suarez of Liverpool.
Ncube once taught at Hwange Secondary School and is married to Philiswa and the couple has two children Unathi aged nine and Aqhama who is nine months old.
He is now a human resources manager after studying for a degree in the relevant field in South Africa.
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