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Danai Chitakasha-Special Correspondent
WE still wait for movement with regards to the “reform and restructuring exercise” as mooted by the Sports Commission in conjunction with ZIFA .
I have not read the full report (of the ZIFA Restructuring Committee) but I know topics such as reviving junior structures and grassroots football are high on the agenda. There is also the small matter of “keeping politicians out of football” which is usually very difficult in Africa in general and Zimbabwe in particular. I also understand there is a drive towards penning a new ZIFA constitution, a matter which legal minds are best equipped to tackle.
Today let me focus on grassroots football which is usually the first point of interaction with the game for many fans and aspiring players. Let me share my experiences of heroes who made me and many others fall in love with the game at this level.
The setting: The Zimbabwe Grounds in Harare’s high-density suburb of in the 80’s.
The League (s): There were two leagues sponsored by local businessmen based at Machipisa Shopping Centre in Highfield — The Makomva League and The Mwayera League operating under the auspices of ZIFA. I am not sure how much money was poured in by the sponsors but the leagues were well run. ZIFA provided the referees but the teams were responsible for paying them.
The Teams: There were many teams most of them company sponsored. The accepted wisdom was that companies would get tax breaks for sponsorship of teams ( it was part of their corporate social responsibilities).
Cafenol, Eversharp, Saltrama, Ferco,Gilbro, Cairns Motors and many others had teams. There were Community teams like Lusaka Hotspurs and Chipinge to add to the mix.
The Heroes: There were many heroes at this level but let me pick EIGHT who achieved cult status.
1. Bla Charles (Bla Chale) (Chipinge Stars): He breathed goals and was a super finisher. “Go Bhoraaa!” was his trademark shout after burying yet another chance followed by an exuberant run away from his teammates trying to mob him. He just loved to score!
Bla Chale was happy to play at this level but I think if he had made the step up to the then Super League, he would have made a name for himself. He was a cult hero in Fio.
2. Signs/Science Nyamhuka: Nicknamed “China”, think the modern day Ramos, think “China”. He played football to defend and crunching tackles were his oxygen on the pitch! Taking on “China” one versus one was not for the faint-hearted and usually there was one winner… “China!”
He was a feared defender who played for Lusaka Hotspurs.
3. Mashaka: Nicknamed “Bla Shakes”, he played for Saltrama as a defender. He is another one who lived for a tackle. He would come sliding in, open footed and strikers had to be at their dexterous best to avoid some broken bones. Those unfortunate enough to be caught in the mix would hobble off the pitch for some magical sprinkle of water before limping back to resume the battle. It was indeed a battle when facing “Bla Shakes!”
4.Gake: A defensive midfielder who was tough as nails. Every time I watch N’GoloKante of Chelsea in full flow , I remember Gake. He was a clean ball winner and his ball distribution was flawless. He was the Lusaka Hotspur midfield engine!
5. Noah Kapini: Nicknamed “Chigubhu” (he did not like it), he played for Ferco and he made Ferco tick. He played in the same team with his young brother Itai . Noah was a striker, a very efficient one at this level and his conversion rate was incredible. He rarely finished a match without a goal.
6. Billy Kembo: An elegant defender who could easily play as a libero. He played for Lusaka Hotspurs. Technically astute, he loved to launch attacks from the back and he was also a specialist in the “off-sidetrap”.
7. Patrick Nyahuma: The eldest brother in a family of footballers, who included Givemore Nyahuma, who played for Arcadia United and CAPS United, and Emmanuel “Shumba” Nyahuma, who played for Black Aces, “Bla Petso” played for Saltrama and was a hardworking midfielder. He hated lazy players “vapfanha hamuzi fit!” he used to say.
He was commitment personified!
8. Nelson Matongorere: “Shefu”, captain, midfielder and player/coach for his club Murehwa. I first saw him in 1981 and it is amazing that he is still coaching.
He was a player/coach then . “Socks up” was his trademark instruction and all his players knew better than to roll their socks to ankle high. It would draw his ire!
Others became Super League super stars from these humble grounds, the likes of Emmanuel Nyahuma, Itai Kapini, Shadreck “Waga Waga” Dzvairo, Nyasha Kanogoiwa , Allan Mapila and Mugove “Sugar” Munyorovi to mention but a few.
Yes, Grassroots football is the first point of contact for all who love the game. It is important for the mass participation in football and it nurtures the love of the sport. And with the drugs scourge currently bedevilling the nation, it can save many from this unfolding tragedy.
I am sure all of us have special memories of grassroots football.
It is important to revive it. The challenge might be playing space which was cannibalised during the random sale of housing stands, especially in Harare. I have to thank the Harare City Council for the Zimbabwe Grounds, they are still intact albeit in a sorry state. Pitches in most high-density suburbs have been lost. The ones which remain are neglected. New housing developments must have space for recreation and a football pitch must be integral.
We must create more pitches (in towns and rural areas). There must be community involvement, local business people must give back to the community by sponsoring the leagues and teams. It must be easy for young people to find teams to join both male and female.
ZIFA must ensure that the equipment sourced for grassroots football must reach the deserving recipients, especially in so-called “remote areas”. Like I always say, to create new heroes and new stories, we need to keep playing and this can only be achieved by reviving the structures.
Ultimately when everything is said and done, I hope the football ban by FIFA will come to an end soon so that we can be part of the Football Family again. We must expedite this!
Asante Sana.
Sisonke.
Online Reporter