Njube’s unsung sporting hero

FOR what he failed to achieve as a footballer, Morris Mukwiti has made it up by being involved with some of Bulawayo’s best talents.

Among players he can raise a hand and claim is Marvelous Nakamba at Njube Sundowns juniors.

Mukwiti was a gangly midfielder/cum striker for the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) in the Bulawayo lower division ranks in the 1980s. Hailing from Njube suburb, comparisons were often drawn with the likes of the late Rahman Gumbo, Ndabitsho Moyo and the late Majuta Mpofu. However, he was not in that bracket.

But because of his imposing figure and job as an inspector, a job many envied at ZUPCO, that man with the power to demand one to disembark if he did not have a ticket, Mukwiti was idolised by kids and peers.

Any of the three — driver, conductor and inspector in pre-independence times and early to mid-1980s, were decent jobs in the passenger company that plied all the routes in the country’s major cities like Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Mutare.

Mukwiti even made more visibility for himself with his commanding presence on the field of play.

Years after leaving the Second Division team, Mukwiti worked with a team that was called Barcelona and it played under the Bulawayo Amateur Football Association (Bafa). One of his success stories there was coaching Max Ruza who established himself as a key member of the Shabanie FC midfield supplying assists for Thomas Makwasha and Asani Juma to finish off.

After Barcelona, Mukwiti appeared at Njube Sundowns among the club’s bouncers. That he said robbed him of his real passion which is coaching the youngsters.

“It was a team from my neighbourhood, I was assisting but my passion always was coaching,” said Mukwiti.

Once Sundowns collapsed, Mukwiti retraced his steps to what he likes best, which is coaching. He did a lot of volunteer service coaching a number of schools and teams.

“I may have not made a name as a player but I am happy with the positive returns from coaching. It is a calling for me and when I see a player that I would have tried to help become a better player rising to play in the Premiership, I have that sense of feeling that I have made a positive impact in football,” said Mukwiti.

One of the greatest soccer players to emerge from Njube/Lobengula, Francis Chandida played under coach Morris at Amakhosi.

“Chandida and Ruza stand out for their generation but I have been lucky to work with other very talented footballers,” he said.

In 2018 when Bulawayo Province won bronze at the Zimbabwe National Youth Games held in Hwange, he was part of the technical team.

That team had some standout players who have graced stardom years later. These being Tafadzwa Dliwayo a professional footballer based in the United Arab Emirates, Lexington Mujokoro, Dominic Jaricha, Junior Lunga, Archford Faira, Andrew Mbeba, Daniel Msendami and Matriples Muleya.

Former CAPS United and Dynamos leftback Brendon Mpofu was in Mukwiti’s Youth Games teams.

“They were part of a good team made up of talented players. Way back in 2017 I had these boys and when I look back I say I was lucky to work with stars, am proud to have seen and harnessed their talents into one team that represented Bulawayo well,” said Mukwiti.

Mukwiti appears to have struck the right chord when he moved to Lloyd Munhanga’s Mpumelelo and Chiwororo projects where he coached some very talented players and won silverware.

Aaron Ngwenya now Nkayi United bound, Highlanders’ Brian Mlotshwa, Mongameli Tshuma, Faira, Shepherd Mhlanga and Njabulo Ngwenya were with him at Mpumelelo.

Malvin Hativagone who left Highlanders for Bulawayo Chiefs in December was at Mpumelelo among Mkuwiti’s most trusted defenders at one stage.

Arthur Ndlovu who has just left Highlanders for Manica Diamonds, Brian Jaravaza were with him at CIWU.

Nkayi United’s Future Gumbo was a standout star for Mpumelelo and Chiwororo FC as was Kelvin Chigonero.

Highlanders’ eight-goal hero last season Reason Sibanda worked with Mukwiti at Njube Academy.

“It has been a pleasant decade for me seeing some boys that I have coached rise to recognition even in set up as Bulawayo select and Cluster teams for schools, you look at Highlanders goalkeeper Reward Muza and FC Platinum’s Mbongeni Ndlovu I worked with while they were in the Mpopoma Primary Schools Cluster team,” said Mukwiti.

He treasures the Benjani Mwaruwari Trophy he won in 2013 with Mpumelelo and getting Chiwororo promoted to Division One.

“While for any junior development coach producing players for professional ranks is the aim, I am happy to have bagged the Benjani Mwaruwari Trophy and winning promotion to Division One with a modest Chiwororo side,” said Mukwiti, a 60-year-old, Zifa Level Four coach.

The Bulawayo Province Division Two side Corn Cob coach also boasts a Level C certificate.

In summing up, Mukwiti says he has had a far bigger number of players than these that he has mentioned here, some of whom are playing Division One football or were frustrated by lack of meritocratic opportunities.

The trick with junior football he says lies in identifying, grooming and exposing young players at the right time to good ideals and competition with technique key.

Asked about his best of the basket, Mukwiti said everyone selected to play for his starting 11 is the best and only destiny determines one’s future.

A hugely uncelebrated football hero, Mukwiti is among many such who deserve their flowers while they are still alive.