Online Reporter
Robson Sharuko
Metros Editor
IT’S another year that ends with the number SIX and, if you are a fan of the domestic Premiership, you probably know that there is always something special.
Go back 60 years ago and you will come across Father Anthony Davies and his trailblazing St Paul’s Musami team – the only club from a rural area to be crowned champions of Zimbabwe.
Jawett Nechironga, Felix Mbidzo and Josiah Nxumalo were some of the stars of the team.
The late Jesuit priest was also acknowledged as the man who unearthed a gem called George Shaya.
For fifty years, St Paul’s Musami were the only club from outside Harare and Bulawayo to be crowned champions.
Go back 30 years ago and you will meet Steve Kwashi’s Green Machine – Alois Bunjira, Stewart Murisa, Joe Mugabe, Lloyd Chitembwe, Farai Mbidzo, Morgan Nkathazo and company.
They even had two central defenders who were called Bhonzo and Dealer – the other an artist, like Rio Ferdinand, the other a master of brute force, like Nemanja Vidic.
Go back 50 years ago and you will come across a Dynamos side acknowledged and celebrated as the greatest Glamour Boys of all-time.
That vintage collection of stars thrashed Zimbabwe Saints 8-1, in the final of the Castle Cup, to complete a League and Cup Double.
They hammered Chibuku 8-0, in the Nyore Nyore Shield final at Rufaro, and won five of the six knockout tournaments, including the BAT Rosebowl. They were crowned the champions of Southern Africa after a stunning comeback crushed Orlando Pirates.
Go back 40 years ago and you will come across a Highlanders side, which set a benchmark of success for Bosso.
It was also a vintage class and in 1986, Highlanders won the BAT Rosebowl, Independence Trophy, Heroes Cup, Chibuku Trophy, Rothmans Trophy and the Natbrew ZIFA Cup, under the guidance of the late coach Barry Daka.
The only piece of silverware they failed to win that season was the league championship.
Go back 20 years ago and you will come across Methembe Ndlovu and the Highlanders’ Class of 2006 – the last generation of Bosso stars to win the league championship.
Go back 10 years ago and you will come across Chitembwe and the CAPS United Class of 2016 – the last team, among the Big Three, to win the league championship.
Welcome to 2026!
It’s the year Bosso are celebrating ONE HUNDRED YEARS of existence.
On Sunday, their cathedral, officially known as Barbourfields, and fondly known as Emagumeni, will host the biggest match in this landmark year for Highlanders when their biggest rivals, Dynamos, roll into town. Given what has traditionally happened, in every year that ends with the number SIX, this showdown should be a special battle.
It was quite special when its first edition was held at Rufaro, a few months ago.
The football gods probably decided that it should not be spoiled by a result which would favour one of these two giants.
It ended in a 2-2 draw – a point to each team, smiles all over the stands and handshakes all over the field. And, a new name was added to the conversation of the domestic Premiership.
Mongameli Tshuma!
The 24-year-old with a baby face, playing his first game at Rufaro, found a way to barricade himself from all the noise, and emotions, to produce a moment of sheer magic.
The goal he scored, faking a shot with his left and fooling Collin Mujuru to fall for the trick and, as he lay slumped on the floor, there was a cruel reward for him – a ring-side seat to watch the final act as Mongameli rolled the ball into an empty net.
If the first edition provided four goals, including a beauty, what will the second edition on Sunday provide?
It’s easy, in a year that ends with the number SIX, to be seduced to believe that this battle will also be special.
Which side will evoke the spirits of their greatest generations which, in the years which ended with a SIX, left memories which will have refused to be washed away by the passage of time?
Will it be DeMbare or will it be Bosso?
We will know on Sunday.
