‘One of the greatest’

discussed by their fans — about 20 years after he last kicked a ball for them.
Aalst, who are now playing in Belgium’s Second Division after surviving a tempting period in which they plunged into liquidation, will this season honour Chunga for his services to the club.
Chunga left Aalst in 1993 but the Belgians have never forgotten their hero who arrived in Europe in ’87, as an unpolished diamond, and exploded into one of the best players to play for the club.
The president of Aalst, Frank De Roose, last week personally wrote to Chunga and described him as “one of the best players who has ever played for our team Eendracht Aalst.”
Crucially, Roose advised Chunga in his letter, “the fans still talk about you.”
The former Warriors’ captain broke new ground when he became the first Zimbabwean footballer, after Independence, to join a European club at a time when gates to such greener pastures were not as wide open, for African players, as is the case today.
Freddie Mkwesha and Bruce Grobbelaar had led the way, during the pre-Independence era, but it was Chunga’s landmark move that gripped the attention of a euphoric nation still bathing in the sunshine brought about by freedom from the colonial yoke.
Prior to his deal in Belgium, Chunga’s talents had attracted the interest of English side Nottingham Forest, just a few years after the club had been crowned European champions, and the forward had trials under legendary coach Brian Clough.
While Chunga impressed during his trials at Forest, his failure to stick to the orders of the coach, and famously choosing to dribble past a cluster of defenders when ordered to pass, forced Clough to reconsider hiring him.
The talented forward first went to Aalst on loan, but the Belgian club decided to turn the deal into a permanent transfer after paying Dynamos around US$100 000 to secure his services.
Chunga quickly established himself in the team and helped Aalst to gain promotion into the Belgian top-flight league and, by 1991, he had become the star of the side.
When Aalst were relegated at the end of the ’92 season, they decided they couldn’t afford to keep Chunga within their ranks, given his value, wage demands and increased interest from other clubs, and chose to sell him.
The Belgian club put a US$140 000 price tag on Chunga.
“He is the star of the team and has been for the past five years and it was Moses who helped us come back into Division One last season,” the then manager of Aalst, Patrik Orlans, revealed, in May ’92.
“It’s just that we can no longer afford him.
“We are going back to Division Two and took a decision three or four weeks ago that all three of our professionals were not going to be kept as we are reverting to being a semi-professional side.”
Ironically, Chunga had struggled that season, with the knee injury that would eventually bring his career to a premature end, and without the services of their talisman, Aalst failed to compete in the top-flight.
Chunga returned home the following year and, after protracted battles between Aalst and Dynamos, with the Belgian club insisting that they be paid a fee for the forward, he rejoined the Glamour Boys.
But the Belgians have never forgotten Chunga. Last week, Roose wrote to Chunga:
“We are happy that the Consulate of the Kingdom of Belgium in Harare has brought us into contact. We trust that you’re well,” he wrote.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors of your former club, Eendracht Aalst, we would like to invite you to come back once to give the kick-off of a home game this season.
“Since last season we invite for every home game a former player. The fans, still in great numbers, appreciate it enormously.
“It will be an honour to welcome you back in Aalst after all those years. You are still one of the best players who has ever played for our team Eendracht Aalst. The fans still talk about you after more than 20 years.”
The Aalst president said Chunga will also be treated to a dinner at the club restaurant.
“We will arrange a great programme for your visit. We invite you to have dinner with us in our club restaurant, there is the kick-off, an interview for our sponsors and VIPs, an autograph and photo-session with the fans and, off-course, we introduce you to the players and the staff,” he wrote.
“Sharing your great experience will certainly be valuable for the team. We will also send an invitation to your teammates of then.
You can see our competition calendar of the new season at the following link: http://www.eendracht-aalst.be/seizoen/wedstrijden/competitie. Let us know Moses if you see the possibility to come over to Aalst.
“Two years ago we (were) promoted from the third division. Last year we had a nice first season in the Second Division. This year we have a lot of new players but we are doing well.
“We are looking forward to meet and greet you in Aalst.”
Chunga, who has won a league championship with Gunners and faces a tough battle to save them from relegation, said he was overwhelmed to be honoured by Aalst.
“For me, words alone cannot describe how I feel right now to be honoured by this team which means a lot to me and my family,” said Chunga.
“They gave me a chance, when I was still young, to play in Europe and they took a gamble, because there were not many African players in Europe then, and the only player from Zimbabwe the world knew back then was Bruce Grobbelaar.
“I think their gamble paid off because I did my part to help the team and we had some great times and we established a good relationship and I never thought, after all these years, they would come back and invite me to visit that place again.
“It will be emotional, really, there will be tears, especially among the fans who saw me play, but this shows you that the world is still a nice place, really, because there are some good people who appreciate out there.”
Chunga said he would try to use this chance to establish contacts to boost his coaching credentials and also open windows for the local players to try their luck in Belgium.
“It’s a business trip, when you look at it, and you have to use it to establish the right contacts and maybe we can open some doors for the boys here,” said Chunga.
“Obviously, right now my focus is on trying to ensure we survive relegation as Gunners but, after our season is over, I can then make the arrangements to go there and I think it will be a bit of fun, going down memory lane and doing the ceremonial kick-off of a league or cup match.
“I’ve seen that being done by many African players who are honoured by their clubs but I am yet to see a Zimbabwean doing that so, maybe I will be the first, and I won’t be the last.”