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Danai Chitakasha-Special Correspondent
JUST like Reverend Khumalo in Cry The Beloved Country by Allan Paton, who prayed without ceasing for the restoration of Ndotsheni, I often find myself groaning in prayer for the restoration of our football stadiums.
From Cam and Motor, Torwood, Maglas, Gwanzura to Rufaro Stadium, these once glorious stadiums are crying out for a miracle, a miracle which can resurrect them and restore them to life.
Every football narrative begins with local heroes and local stadiums. For many Zimbabwean football fans, they are being deprived of the latter because of the neglect of these facilities. Forget Anfield, forget Old Trafford, yes forget the Bernabeau or even the Nou Camp. Many of us will only see these on television. But these local stadiums we know, they are our own Theatres of Dreams!
Will there be a restoration? Well time will tell but for that to happen we need more than prayers, we need the will to change the narrative. Hopefully the powers that be will find that will.
In this article let me focus on Rufaro Stadium, the ceremonial home of local football and one which many fans accept as the spiritual home of Zimbabwean football. Let’s revisit the special nights at Rufaro, for indeed football under floodlights was always special. Something happened, special moments which are ingrained in our football memory bank. I will go with 10, my usual number.
Here we go.
1. Zimbabwe v Congo Brazzaville — During the then All-Africa Games hosted by Zimbabwe in 1995, a special match was played under floodlights at Rufaro. It was a tense match full of drama, a match which the host nation needed to win to proceed to the semi-finals of the tournament. Congo Brazzaville scored first and held on to their lead until the last two minutes of the match.
The talented group of the Young Warriors who had in their ranks the likes of Gift ”Umbro” Muzadzi, Vusi Laher, Lloyd Jowa, Alois Bunjira, Stewart ”Shutto” Murisa, Chamu Musanhu, Chris Kahwema, the Muteji twins Cain and Abel and George ”Zambia” Mbwando, among others, had to conjure some magic.
Two minutes to go, the scoreline remained the same. The players were desperate, the fans were losing hope, then from nowhere Alois Bunjira grabbed an equaliser.
Still it was not enough. If it ended 1-1 Zimbabwe were out.
We needed a win. Chamu Musanhu, who had come in as a substitute, then went on a run from the right flank. He sent in his trademark deep cross which was met on the volley by the technically astute Englebert Dinha. There was pandemonium in the stadium. The fans who had left tried to rush back but by the time they settled in, the match was over.
The Young Warriors had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, 2-1 the final score.
I think this was one of the matches of the 1990s, the tension, the drama and eruption of joy at the final whistle.
Rufaro Stadium had delivered again!
2. Dynamos v CAPS United – 1987: Dear reader, you can call this the emergence of Gift Mudangwe, the speed merchant and dribbling wizard for CAPS United. Jahoor Omar, the then Herald Sports Editor was blown away. He wrote: “The name Gift Mudangwe might not be a household name in the Zimbabwean football fraternity, but ask Dynamos fans who watched him yesterday, they will admit they now know him!”
Mudangwe, the 19-year-old winger had a blinder of a game. He ran the likeable Dynamos right-back Garnet “Ganza” Muchongwe ragged as CAPS United beat their rivals 3-1.
Mudangwe was a special talent and he announced himself to the watching world with that blockbuster performance at the floodlit Rufaro Stadium.
What a player!
3. Dynamos v Arcadia United — The declaration, “Tell them that TNT is back!”, was made by feisty Arcadia United striker George ”TnT” Rollo.
In a match against Dynamos, he hit a 30-metre drive which flew into the nets and through the nets.
The match officials had to inspect the nets before awarding the goal. Indeed, the ball had ripped the nets. Arcadia United won this match and again Rufaro Stadium had produced something special, a goal of such ferocious power it tore the nets!
4. When teammates turn on each other — This happened during a match between Dynamos and perennial arch-rivals CAPS United. It was a cup game and the exciting match was heading for a draw. Then something magical happened. A harmless looking header from captain Joel ”Jubilee” Shambo ended up in the Dynamos goal. Goalkeeper Leo Ntawantawa had fumbled the seemingly innocuous header. His teammate Eddie “Major Murefu” Muchongwe was far from impressed. It is claimed by many that he slapped Leo. The man himself, “Major Murefu”, recently disputed this version of events. “I did not beat him, I just patted him, maybe a bit forcefully, but no, I did not beat him!” he asserted.
Well whatever version you choose to believe dear reader, Rufaro Stadium at night had delivered again!
5. The storm before the harvest of goals — CAPS United 10, Wankie 0 – “CAPS United had gone to Wankie the weekend before and lost. The following Wednesday, the two teams met again in a cup game. There were two storms, the heavens opened before the match and when the rain stopped, there was the Shackman Tauro storm,” said Munya Murombe the man I call “The Football Fox!”. I consulted him heavily for this article. “Tauro scored five goals as CAPS United got their revenge. It was indeed a double portion. The performance of CAPS United gave rise to the mythical belief that they would never lose a night match, especially when it rained!” he added.
Indeed, the 10-0 chastening of “Chipangano” was another special night at Rufaro Stadium. “Vakarohwa nezveusiku…”, my friend chuckled.
6. Rufaro Rovers v Dynamos — This is one match which legendary defender Henry Chari will not want to be reminded of. He was faced with the dribbling wizardry of David Malunga of Rufaro Rovers.
He was given a torrid time and to date this match is still being talked about. For many fans Rufaro Rovers was a small team but for some reason, it always raised its game against Dynamos. It was the Dynamos bogey team and David Malunga remembers fondly the night he embarrassed the respected “Beefy!”
7. CAPS United v Arcadia United — “A star is born!” declared Herald Editor Allan Hlatywayo in his article. He was talking about Takaiteyi Muskwe who we knew then as Taka Muswe.
Takaiteyi was a teenage prodigy who had found his chances at CAPS United limited by the presence of Stanley ”Sinyo” Ndunduma on the right wing.
One night, however,” Sinyo” was injured and Taka got his chance. Wrote the respected Hlatywayo: “The performance of the young man will give coach Obediah Sarupinda a headache in his future selections. Taka kept the Arcadia defenders busy the whole night…!”
Reading this made me realise that something special had happened as CAPS United beat Arcadia in a league match.
Unfortunately, Taka did not stay too long at CAPS United. He went to Mutare Teachers College and this forced him to play mostly lower league football in Manicaland.
He is currently heading a school in Mufakose. It would be nice to find out why he never reached the dizzy heights predicted by the veteran journalist.
On that night, however, he was unplayable.
8. Dynamos v CAPS United — Lloyd Chitembwe’s moment of shame! Dynamos v CAPS United matches always produce something special, drama galore. In a match when Dynamos beat their rivals 2-0, Lloyd Chitembwe would like to forget this match forever.
With Dynamos leading, Chitembwe was unhappy with a decision. He protested and when the ref showed him a yellow card, he responded by spitting at the ref. He was duly shown the red card.
Even the most die-hard CAPS United fans agreed, the midfield linchpin had crossed the line. Spitting is a terrible offence in football.
9. CAPS United v State House Tornadoes — This is the match which set CAPS United en-route to the final of the Chibuku Trophy Final in 1987, “The Thriller at Rufaro” I call it.
In the semi-finals, they massacred State House Tornadoes 5-0, according to my consultant for this article, Munya Murombe.
It set them up for a final against Black Rhinos, in fact it turned out to be two finals both thrillers. The semi-final was therefore a harbinger as CAPS United’s attacking prowess was evident for all to see!
10. Dynamos v CAPS United — This was the match that never was but once again Rufaro Stadium had delivered the unexpected.
Around 1982, the then Super League teams were unhappy with the share of gate takings I think. They decided to go on strike.
To drive their point home, they waited for one of the biggest matches in the country, Dynamos v CAPS United.
Rufaro at night was packed, the fans waited patiently for the teams to arrive. Arrive they did but at 8 o’clock, the kick-off time, the teams did not get onto the pitch.
After about 30 minutes of waiting, the fans realised that something was amiss. Some decided to leave, some decided to protest. I do not think there was much damage done but ZIFA chairman Nelson “Jumbo Jet” Chirwa was not amused by the teams decision.
After a few meetings, he banned the teams “sine-die.” This was my first time to hear that word “sine-die” and had to wait for my English teacher, Mr Mombeirere to explain it to us. Then it hit home, the teams had been banned indefinitely.
As young fans, we could not envisage a life without CAPS United, without Dynamos. Football would lose its meaning for us!
Fortunately, following some political interventions, the ban was lifted and we were all happy again. However, that was a scary moment, a moment of madness by the ZIFA leaders, a moment when they almost deprived us of our football oxygen by banning the capital’s most supported teams.
And yes, it had all started that night at Rufaro when the two teams put their foot down and refused to play!
Yes, Rufaro Stadium at night has always conjured something special. Maybe it was the effect of the floodlights, we were certain, something extraordinary would happen.
Online Reporter