adminBongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
AFTER impressing at the Umahlekisa cameo in March this year, Highlanders goalkeepers’ coach Cosmas Tsano Zulu thought he was ready for the big stage in comedy but alas – fans had a different reception to his jokes.
Tsano’s debut performance at Umahlekisa Comedy night on Friday was as disappointing as his team Highlanders’ loss to Tsholotsho FC the next day.
Iziqholo zeZhwane beat Bosso 2 – 1 at Barbourfields Stadium, derailing the Bulawayo giants’ Premier Soccer league title aspirations.
Tsano was one of the headline acts where comedians Babongile Sikhonjwa, Clive Chigubhu and Ntando Van Moyo performed at Rainbow hotel. In the crowd was Highlanders coach Erol Akbay who has been nicknamed Mkhabayi by the Bosso faithful. He had come out to support his goalkeepers’ coach.
Tsano, buoyed by the crowd’s response during his cameo outing in April at the same venue, tried his level best to find the crowd’s funny bone.
His 20-minute set started off fairly with friendly advice for men to love their women and treat them well. Tsano reprimanded men who ill-treat their women, saying when he was young they were taught to treat women with respect.
Interestingly, as Tsano delivered his jokes, which were mostly in vernacular, Akbay was left teary eyed as he would laugh at each of them. It seems that Akbay, while unable to speak a local language, understands or has heard Tsano’s jokes.
Tsano’s jokes were mostly taken from WhatsApp groups that he would translate into vernacular with some in the crowd laughing at them. What he lacked was the fluidity to deliver seamless jokes that can captivate a crowd that has been accustomed to watching comedy shows.
What could have helped Tsano was to talk about the most hilarious and embarrassing moments in his coaching career and churn them out in a comical way.
As Tsano’s set wore on, people started getting impatient with others in the crowd sarcastically laughing when he cracked his jokes.
Whistles of disapproval started to come from the audience – the same that Bosso fans do when their team is playing boring football.
At this juncture, Tsano told his last joke and left the stage amid applause and Ntando Van Moyo, who was the MC, thanked the gaffer for his effort.
Immediately, Tsano with Akbay in tow left the venue saying they had to go back to camp to strategise against Tsholotsho.
Thereafter, the comedians took over the set and got people laughing again with up and coming jester Marcus dishing out one of the standout performances of the night.
He was crude and cynical in a humorous way, with his content being a form of social commentary as he touched on politics, the First family and bond notes.
Clive Chigubu was at his eccentric best and had the crowd in stitches with his jokes and Babongile Sikhonjwa was his usual crude self.
After the show, Ntando Van Moyo thanked Tsano for trying his hand at comedy.-— @bonganinkunzi
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter