adminContinued:from lat week Sports Correspondent
FOOTBALL may not have been the common element for the couple but they had a rare sense of common destiny which took them safely through the highs and lows of the often tumultuous and emotionally engaging profession. One dream that the couple shared was to use the resources that were at their disposal to educate their children. In 1961, professional soccer was introduced in the then Southern Rhodesia. Obie and many others who were playing in the city based leagues were given the opportunity to join the multi-racial teams, Salisbury City and Salisbury United. At Salisbury City, Obie teamed up with Amato Dzvene, Maziti, Richard Chiminya, Jimmy Finch, Danny “Bricks” Thomas Yaledhi and Josiah Akende. In the same year, Obie began his journey to become a person of many firsts. He became the first black person to be capped by the Rhodesia National Team. He played well against the touring Leicester City and his performance paved the way for other black players such as Josiah Nxumalo, Jimmy Finch, Freddy Mukwesha and George Shaya to play for the national team. Obie went on to be appointed captain in 1965 when the national team squared up against the touring Middlesex Wanderers, an English team. In that game he scored a spectacular long range goal that lingered for many years in the memories of those who were fortunate to watch the match.
The Southern Rhodesian professional league collapsed at the end of 1962. This disappointed Obie and the other black players. However, they did not give up. The black players from Salisbury United and Salisbury City came together and agreed to form a team. They named it Dynamos Football Club, a name they derived from a Russian club, Dinamo Kiev that was taking Europe by storm then. J.K Walker from the Tobacco Sales Company and Sam Dauya assisted the players form the team. Among the trail blazing players were Josiah Akende, Danny “Bricks” Thomas Yaledhi, Lovemore Ben, Sydney Dick, Thomas Karungaire, Alois Meskano, Patrick “Amato the Devil” Dzvene, Lovemore Chandiyangana, Jimmy “Daddy” Finch, Freddy “Mark Makwesha” Mukwesha, Jairos Banda, Lameck Mlambo, Bernard “Magitare” Marriot, Richard Chiminya, Allan Hlatywayo and Simon Machaya. Patrick Amato Dzvene stayed for a season and he went on to become the first black player to transfer to a foreign team when he joined Ndola United in 1964.
Obie was handed Dynamos’ first sponsorship package consisting of a ball and fifty pounds by J.K. Walker from the Tobacco Sales Company. He was named player-coach at the age of 31. There were certainly other better players than Obie, even when he was at his prime, but his leadership skills and his drive were always up there with the best of them. It was those attributes in a centre back that helped him land the post of player coach. During the first competitive year, 1963, the team won the coveted double, of the league championship and the Austen (FA) Cup. The success drew multitudes of black supporters to rally behind the team.
The team was nicknamed Haina Ngozi or Glamour Boys because of the attractive short passing attacking football they displayed every weekend. The sight of Obie, Mukwesha, Amato, Dzvene, Maziti, Meskano, Mlambo, Ben, Dick, Akende, Marriot, Banda, Finch, Machaya and Bricks out thinking, out-scoring and out playing some white teams, such as Salisbury Callies, gave confidence to many young black people to take up professions that were reserved for the white people. In 1966, Dynamos toured South Africa and played 10 games. They won eight games, drew one and lost one. In the same year, Freddy Mukwesha became the first black Rhodesian player to sign for a European team, when he left to join Sporting Braga of Portugal.
Obie retired from playing at the end of 1966 and became a full time coach for the club. At the same time older players started retiring or moved on to join other clubs. For example, Peter Nyama joined Tornadoes, Mukwesha went to Portugal, Finch and Marriot moved to Arcadia United, while Akende started coaching the Dynamos junior teams to ensure continuity.
This meant Obie had to draft in younger players such as Willard Sarupinda, George Shaya, Ernest Kamba, Reeds Johannes, David Phiri, Simon Sachiti, Ben Zinyama, Isaac Nhema, Simon Sachiti, George Yoyo and Stephen “Faka Simbi” Chimedza to keep the team going. It became the norm for Dynamos to win at least one trophy each season.
As a coach/trainer, Obie produced teams that played some breathtaking attacking football that was characterised by a never say die spirit. In 1966 Dynamos managed an incredible and memorable come back. In an away league game against Salisbury Callies, the team came back from a 3-0 deficit with two minutes to full time. With five minutes to go the multitudes of dejected Dynamos fans left the Callies Ground. When they arrived home they heard on the 6pm radio news bulletin that Dynamos had managed to force a draw with a brace from Freddy “Mark Makwesha” Mukwesha and another goal from Jimmy “Daddy” Finch.
From then on the fans’ belief in the players grew in leaps and bounds. This comeback made the Dynamos supporters to believe that in Dynamos they had a team in which they were entitled to believe. The Dynamos “Haina Ngozi” spirit was further enhanced in 1969. The visiting Scottish team Kilmarnock thrashed the national team 4-0, but a week later the top European stars were shocked 2-1 by Dynamos. Dynamos’ home venues became the places where football’s heart beats.
During his first reign as Dynamos coach, Obie won four championships and several trophies that included the Chibuku Trophy, BAT Rosebowl and the Nyore Nyore Shield. The team also contested in several finals, including the epic Castle Cup final against Wankie in 1973 which they lost 7-6 on penalties after the replay ended deadlocked at two all.
Along the way, Obie also discovered talented players like David Phiri, Ben Zinyama, Isaac Nhema, Forbes Katongomara, Canaan Mpariwa, Joseph Mafunga, Ernest Kamba, George “Mastermind” Shaya, Reeds Johannes, Stephen “Faka Simbi”, Charles Gwatidzo, Shaw Handriade, Kuda Muchemeyi and Clever Hunda.
In 1972, the club had five out of the 11 finalists for the soccer star of the year competition. These were George Shaya, Daniel “Dhidhidhi” Ncube, Shaw “Kojak” Handriade, Simon “Tangwena” Sachiti and Ernest “Nyamuzihwa” Kamba.
Obie was supported by a strong executive committee that included Morrison Sifelani, Ben Mucheche and Robson Rundaba. The executive was instrumental in bringing Daniel “Dhidhidhi” Ncube (Bingadadi) from Eastlands FC of Bulawayo, Raymond Makhanda from Matabeleland Highlanders, Cremio Mapfumo from Metal Box, Colsen Mabeza from Matabeleland Highlanders, William Sibanda from Mashonaland United and Shadreck Ngwenya from Chibuku. In addition, the executive committee made great strides to run the club along professional lines.
Winning the title in the 1960s and early 1970s was harder. You needed to match and outwit great teams such as Salisbury Callies, Arcadia United, Eastlands, Umtali United, Mashonaland United, Matabeleland Highlanders, Sables, Wankie, Metal Box, Rio Tinto, Mhangura and Chibuku Shumba. Then you needed a team that could match Arcadia, Callies, Metal Box and Highlanders for muscle and yet outplay silky sides such as Mhangura, Rio Tinto, Mashonaland United (later renamed Zimbabwe Saints), Highlanders, Wankie and Chibuku (later Black Aces).
The Dynamos teams that Obie sent out to play were masterful at both. He proved he could change the formula according to what the competition was presenting to him. It was arguably accepted George “Mastermind” Shaya became the banner for Dynamos during Obie’s 12 years as coach. If that was true, then Obie was the wind that made Shaya to flutter through his motivation. People expect the coach to make tear-jerking speeches to his team at decisive moments, but Obie never went overboard.
In December 1975 after 12 years at the helm of the Glamour Boys, some misunderstandings at the club led to Obie’s brief retirement. He did not try to hang on because he was one person who believed that the team was bigger than individuals. By then Dynamos had developed into a massive institution and was attracting the attention of many people, good and bad.
Obie left a blossoming side that included George Shaya, Shaw Handriade, Kuda Muchemeyi, Cremio Mapfumo, Simon Sachiti, Clever Hunda, David “Broomboy” George, Daniel “Dhidhidhi” Bingadadi, Ben Zinyama, Shepherd Murape, David Phiri, and Willard “Chitundumusere” Sarupinda. Players such as Shaw “Kojak” Handriade, Kuda Muchemeyi, Isaac Nhema, Canaan Mpariwa and John Revayi had graduated from the development structures under the direction of Josiah Akende.
One thing that was evident in Obie’s first 12 years as coach was that he had an eye for talent. He created teams, from the star studded one that started the journey in 1963 to the one that he left at the end of 1975 that had a spine of players who had started at Dynamos as members of the junior teams. The culture and youth system Obie and his technical team had put in place in the late 1960s would bear unprecedented fruit. After Obie’s departure, David “Yogi” Mandigora, Edward Katsvere, Enock Pakamisa and Andrew Nkosi also graduated into the senior team.
As the saying goes, you can’t keep a good man down. In 1977, Caps Rovers who had just been promoted to the Super League engaged the services of Obie. Maurice Kramer, the Caps Holdings general manager wanted a coach with an experience and a big personality. In the first season under the guidance of Obie, Caps Rovers reached the Castle Cup final in which they lost 0-1 to a star-studded Zimbabwe Saints in controversial circumstances. The all-conquering Saints were awarded a dubious penalty in the late stages of the game. To those who were observant, an all attacking team had arrived on the scene. The team finished in a respectable sixth position in the league and Shacky Tauro emerged as one of the leading goal scorers.
The cup final defeat in 1977 was the foundation that Obie used to rebuild Caps United into the major force. He was bold enough to draft in young players such as Stanley Ndunduma, Joel Shambo, Salad Twaliki, Bofan Chingwalu, David Gwanzura, Todd Chitimbe, Takaitei Muskwe and Solomon Kaseke. Although silverware eluded the team in 1978, the team finished in the top six. The team was also one of the highest scoring teams in the league with Shacky Tauro and Peter Agastinho scoring most of the goals. Caps Rovers were renamed Caps United in early 1979.
At the start of 1979, Wasu welcomed Ashton “Papa” Nyazika and Lovemore Nyabeza as members of his technical team. Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa, William Chikauro and Dixon Ngwanya were signed from Glens Strikers. Friday Phiri, a bustling and skillful goal scoring left winger arrived from Mutare United and Kainos Chindungwe was signed from Meikles to add experience and depth.
During that season the Caps United juggernaut indeed rolled onto the local football landscape to take its place among the elite clubs. Zimbabwe Saints were thrashed 5-2 in the Chibuku Trophy replay at Barbourfields Stadium with Tauro claiming a hat-trick. Caps United also beat Zimbabwe Saints to the league title when Kainos Chindungwe scored a late goal at Rufaro Stadium in the championship decider against Saints.
During that season, arguably the best midfield combination in the history of Zimbabwean football emerged. The Stix Mtizwa-Joel Shambo midfield axis gave Caps United the edge in many titanic battles that the team was involved in.
When you are walking through life’s journey you never know you are making history. From 1977 to 1983, Wasu led Caps United to the title of Undisputed Cup Kings of Zimbabwe. Caps United reached most of the cup finals and came out winners in the majority of the finals. Driven by a keen sense of sportsmanship, Wasu contributed to the transformation of Caps United into Dynamos’s main rivals on the local scene while playing a brand of attacking football that stunned many of the opposing teams. Caps United won more than 10 trophies in five years and established themselves as a major force. On two occasions, Caps United reached the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup Winners Cup. Only dubious refereeing in West and North Africa denied the great Caps United side of its rightful place among the continent’s elite clubs.
With Caps United, Obie now respectfully nicknamed Wasu, scaled heights many thought he would not achieve with this modest club. What Wasu achieved in the seven years with the club was comparable to gate crushing into a presidential party without a shirt.
At the end of 1983 Stanley Ndunduma, Stix Mtizwa and William Chikauro moved to the Black Rhinos, an army team. Wasu had to rebuild in the wake of the departure of the trio who were part of Caps United’s backbone.
By the beginning of 1984 Caps United was now one of the top four clubs in Zimbabwe with a strong fan base in Harare and other cities. Wasu became a victim of his own success. The supporters and the club executive had become accustomed to success that any defeat was not acceptable. When the team lost a game against Arcadia United at the beginning of the 1984 season, Wasu was shown the exit. He took the setback in his stride and agreed to step aside.
Wasu left a legacy at Caps United. They had a huge array of talent coming through the club’s junior structures. Joel Shambo was now arguably one of the dominant midfield gladiators, while Shacky “Mr Goals” Tauro and Friday “Breakdown” Phiri were already living goal scoring legends. The trophy cabinet was getting full with each season. Caps United were now known for playing crisp and inventive football, with deft midfield touches and deadly finishing.
The departure from Caps United did not put Wasu down, but rather strengthened him to author yet another chapter in his coaching career. In football, the effects of victory are never as profound as imagined. The stuff of the game is its onward flow. The next challenge always blots out the previous one.
Wasu understood this more than anyone else and did not burn his bridges. Barely a week after his departure from Caps United, the then Dynamos chairman, Lincoln Mutasa approached him with an offer to take control of the club with the assistance of Sunday Mhofu Marimo (Chidzambwa).
Wasu did not hesitate to take up the challenge. Coincidentally, the first game Wasu took charge of was against Caps United in the semi-final of the BAT Rosebowl. The press dubbed it the home coming of Wasu. As he led the team on to the pitch, Wasu received a standing ovation from the estimated 40 000 fans that thronged Rufaro Stadium to the rafters for the much hyped home-coming of Wasu.
Dynamos thrashed their city rivals 6-2 and Wasu had made a point to his former employers without saying a word. Dynamos won the BAT Rosebowl and the Rothmans Trophy that year. In the same year, Dynamos reached the quarter finals of the African Champions League where eventual winners Jet of Algeria knocked them in controversial circumstances after a penalty shoot-out in Tizi Ouzu.
During Wasu’s second reign, Dynamos won the league title in 1985 and 1986 and several trophies such as the ZIFA Cup, Rothmans Trophy, BAT Rosebowl, Heroes Trophy and the Africa Day Trophy. In 1985 Dynamos won the double.
In 1986 Dynamos lost to eventual winners, Zamalek of Egypt, in the second round of the Champions League.
In 1987, they were eliminated in the quarter finals of the African Champions League by Canon De Yaoundé of Cameroon. During this spell, players such as Kenneth Jere, Elvis Chiweshe, Biggie Zuze, Clayton Munemo, Stanley Chirambadare, Gift Mpariwa, Henry Chari, Lucky Dube, Leo Ntawatawa, Allan Mapila, Edward “Madhobha” Katsvere, David Mandigora, Stanley Manyati, Memory Mucherahowa, Peter Fanwell, Garnet Muchongwe, Eddie Muchongwe and Allan Mapila, Angirayi Chapo, Misheck Marimo, Ernest Mutano, Kembo Chunga and Moses Chunga became household names. Wasu maintained the culture of attacking football built on defensive discipline. On his second coming at Dynamos, Wasu was viewed as unifying father figure, a leader of men and a winner. He was famed for his ability to motivate and inspire his players.
From 1984 to 1988, under the tutelage of Wasu, Dynamos accumulated more than 10 trophies. This was keeping with Wasu’s reputation as winner. In early 1989 there were in-house problems at Dynamos and Wasu decided to step down. Even before the dust had settled at the troubled Dynamos, Wasu was recruited by Caps United as the manager. He was given the role to advise the technical team led by Freddy Mukwesha. A few months after his appointment, Caps United met Dynamos in the ZIFA Cup final. Caps United triumphed 2-1 through a Never “Maswerasei” Chiku late headed goal. Once again the older and wiser Wasu had made an impact.
Further additions were made to Wasu’s collection of silverware during his last hurray at Caps United in 1990 and 1991. During this spell with Caps United players such as Tobias Sibanda, Never Chiku, Gift Mudangwe, Cheche Billiart and Joe Mugabe came to the fore.
Wasu was affected by a stroke in June 1992 and decided to call time to his involvement in football. He suffered another stroke in August 1993 from which he failed to recover fully. He passed on in December 1993 from the effects of the stroke. The nation was shocked at the news of the death of the man who exuded a commanding presence on the field of play and sparked excitement by his mere presence at the stadia across the country. Tributes poured from politicians, former team mates, current players and football administrators. He was described as a rare breed that transcended the ordinary but one who was never arrogant or aggressive. Many close associates described him as a dedicated person who was always fair and gentlemanly. Many acknowledged his story telling nonchalance and sense of humour.
One of Wasu’s key attributes was his swashbuckling oratory, which he used to full effect as he narrated rib-tickling stories to attentive audiences wherever he socialized. He was an unparalleled comedian, who managed to crack jokes even before kick-off of crucial games. One word summed up Wasu more than any other- winner. For more than four decades he remained at the top because he moved with the times, and adapted his management, techniques and tactics accordingly. Many agreed that as a coach he brought the best out of the legends and toilers alike
Wasu earned the respect of the young and old, because of the magical soccer he helped his teams to play. For the way he talked to players, fans and journalists and behaved on and off the field of play, people described him in a thousand different ways. To most he was a big, easy going friend. He was warm hearted, a real joker and he always cast himself as an ordinary person, just as happy with a humble plate of sadza and his favourite mutikiti (pumpkin leaves relish) as a plate of hotel cuisine. He created “big family” environments at both Caps United and Dynamos during his reigns at both clubs. Most players testified that he would listen to their problems and made an effort to maintain open communication with them.
Through the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, it would have been impossible to talk about Zimbabwean football without mentioning the name, Obadiah Sarupinda. His soccer knowhow, desire, commitment, hunger, his will and longevity were staggering. He outlasted Presidents, Popes and dictators while combining the charisma, drive and zeal of all three.
The history of Dynamos, Caps United and Zimbabwean football as a whole will never be complete without of the mention of the name Obadiah “Wasu” Mutikiti Watambarara”, “Mapuranga”, “Ford V8”, Tauraineni Sarupinda. He lived for the game he loved so dearly. He left behind a message that this game is a language which breaks all barriers, be they social, political or racial. His dream was to develop a sense of sportsmanship among the youth as well as a sense of commitment to the game. He worked tirelessly and selflessly to promote the dream. His death was seen as a celebration of what was achieved and a sadness that it was, at last, no more. When great dynasties come to an end, there is always fear of what will follow. You know it is inevitable at some stage, but when it happens few can believe it. – ONLINE
Online Reporter