Mugove Chigada
Zimpapers Sports Hub
PETER Ndlovu has been part of something special in Harare — Scottland trying to conquer Africa.
The former Coventry City player is in charge of players’ welfare, with Norman Mapeza as head coach.
Clad in trendy trousers, and sometimes with a hat that betrays the signs of an ageing legend, you might take him for an ordinary man.
Yet his name is much bigger than that impression. He is hiding in plain sight, more like Poe’s purloined letter.
“King Peter,” a voice shouts from the VIP section. He does not miss the opportunity to turn and wave back.
That is who he is.
But beneath that name, Ndlovu is a football legacy that is difficult to ignore. And he could just be one of the lucky charms for Scottland when they face Angolan giants Petro de Luanda at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The 20-time Angolan champions are also seasoned campaigners in the CAF Champions League.
Bookmakers will give little chance to Peter’s Scottland, who won the Castle Lager Premiership title in their debut season and have gone on to sign some of the most decorated players from this part of the world.
However, expectations are high among locals.
Although Scottland are two points better off than they were last season in the league, on 61 points with four games to go before the end of the season, their recent form is not inspiring much confidence.
“We’re not giving up yet. It’s still game on. We have to forget about this game and focus on our game against Petro de Luanda on Sunday,” said Mapeza after their 1-0 defeat at Nyamhunga at the weekend.
The Angolan side may have made light work of UD Songo in the preliminary first round, but in Scottland there is a belief that this will be a real showdown.
By far, Mabviravira do not follow the “way of the leaf,” but do fight back at any opportunity, led by veterans Knowledge Musona and Khama Billiat.
The sight of Peter around the team going about their business adds to the confidence that something big could be brewing.
And it could not have come at a better time than when the legend’s former club Coventry City seem to have also just found their feet.
It is at Coventry where Peter announced himself as a football god of sorts, and he remains very much a part of the club’s history — one of the icons.
He may be 8 400km away now, but that English club is starting to turn back the hands of time.
The 4-1 victory over Newcastle United was a statement victory.
Yesterday, BBC Sport noted that the last time Coventry City won at home in the English Premier League, former Spice Girl Emma Bunton was top of the charts with What Took You So Long?
“The title could not be more fitting as the Sky Blues ended their 25-year wait for a top-flight goal and victory in front of their own fans.
“Baby Spice’s song may not live long in the memory, but Coventry’s thumping 4-1 win over Newcastle on Monday night will stick with the home supporters.”
Jack Rudoni’s penalty, Sidiki Cherif’s first Sky Blues goal and late strikes from Ellis Simms and Stephen Mfuni lifted them out of the relegation zone in style.
It is exactly the kind of magic Scottland will require to try and take a healthy first-leg lead before a possible nightmare in the reverse fixture in Angola.
More pronounced was a piece of record that also relates to the Zimbabwean legend.
Peter Ndlovu was 19 years old when he scored his first Premier League goal for Coventry City on 2 September 1992.
But now there are new heroes in the Premier League era, but nothing to downplay the former Warriors captain.
At 19 years and 301 days old, Cherif is regarded as Coventry’s youngest goalscorer since Robbie Keane against Middlesbrough in April 2000 (19y 282d) in the Premier League era.
Those are parallels worth noting.
Yet as Peter goes down memory lane and watches his Coventry City from a distance, here he has a mammoth task — another chance to make history.
He may now be sitting in the dugout, but the Scottland players know exactly what he represents.
He is King Peter, after all.
