Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube,Zimpapers Sports Hub
CHARLES Ndebele, Black Rhinos’ founding goalkeeper says soccer was vital in the ex-combatants’ re-integration to society at Independence.
Ndebele was at Gwayi River Assembly Point where he revived his passion – football.
However, before he could establish himself as a regular for a team that would later play in the Matabeleland North lower division leagues, as Dynamo Kiev, Ndebele was integrated into the Zimbabwe National Army and transferred to Mudzi Barracks (2.2 Battalion) in Murewa in August of 1980.
While at Mudzi Barracks, a call came for budding players to go for trials at the behest of former Army Commander Solomon Mujuru. Ndebele was among the 40-plus players chosen for the team that won the 1983 Northern Region Division One title.
First identified as a winger, Sherperd Murape turned Ndebele into a goalkeeper having been impressed with what he had seen him do before training started among themselves as players.
Ndebele told Zimpapers Sports Hub on Thursday that soccer had enabled them to mix with communities soon after ceasefire.
He said soccer was used for wellness, recreation and as a useful tool of building bridges.
“Naturally communities feared ex-combatants and football helped us re-integrate into society. People got to appreciate that we were human as well,” said Ndebele.
Ndebele said the matches they played as teams from Assembly Points were filled with emotions as some stumbled with their relatives and friends who would have moved to other towns by chance.
“There was always an element of surprise in some instances, people meeting after a long time. Some believing that their brother or cousin did not survive the struggle only to meet when the team visit their areas for matches,” said Ndebele.
Gwayi River Mine Assembly Point played in Dete, Hwange, Kamativi, Lupane and Bulawayo and left many memories lingering with their good football.
Among the notable players was George Moyo who was Highlanders’ goalkeeper alongside Ananias Dube in 1976 after Bruce Grobbelaar had left in 1975 to serve in the Rhodesian Army.
Ndebele had played lower division football prior to joining the struggle in 1976.
