Online Reporter
STANLEY “Samora” Chirambadare has taken harder tackles off the field than he ever did during his five trophy filled years at Dynamos.
His career ended abruptly in 1991, when accusations of insulting then Vice-President Simon Muzenda forced him out of football. The charges were never proven, but the bitter memory remains.
“I had whisky with the Vice-President (Muzenda) that evening. We were just happy, I was also from Masvingo. Never at any stage did I insult him. His security would have dealt with me on the spot if I had,” he said.
“The next day there was a big story about me. I quit the game.”
That exit marked the beginning of a turbulent life outside the pitch. Since then, Chirambadare has lived in constant fights, for his reputation, for his players and for a game he still feels is hostile to its own.
After walking away, Chirambadare focused on his job at the Income Tax Department, now the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra). But Sunday Marimo, later known as Sunday Chidzambwa, pulled him back.
“He said in my playing days I was inquisitive and should be a coach. He gave me books from Brazil, and that’s how I started with kids in Mufakose. Khama Billiat was among the boys,” he recalled.
But even in development, conflict followed. He says Billiat was taken to Aces Academy through his father, bypassing him.
“That’s been the modus operandi ever since. Boys are snatched.”
Chirambadare’s Premiership stints at Dynamos and Sporting Lions also ended in controversy. At Lions, bankrolled by
Thomas Mapfumo, he says politics, not results, pushed him out.
Seeing little investment in youth development, he created his own junior league in Mufakose.
“I started against all odds. When it took off, they expelled me, claiming my boys wore boots that injured opponents. The truth is they wanted to hijack what I had built.”
His boys went on to win the Ten Toes tournament. That success brought more “enemies”, and allegations he was drinking illicit brew in front of players.
“It didn’t bother me. Most coaches are cowards,” he said.
During Covid-19, Chirambadare faced his heaviest blow: sodomy allegations. He was arrested, remanded and lost equipment when his home was burgled.
“They hatched a plan. A boy claimed I sodomised him. Imagine! Friends bailed me out. Eventually, I was acquitted. It was all meant to push me out of football and steal from me,” he said.
He believes Zifa should have intervened. “These are football matters. But they don’t care.”
Now 62, the Rusape born defender still mentors youngsters in Harare, but he feels ignored.
“They said footballers can’t run football. They took it over and ran it to the ground. Even at Under-17 they no longer want local players. No one says anything.”
For all his battles, memories of the pitch remain his anchor. At Dynamos, he filled a channel once graced by Oliver Kateya and Isaac Nhema. He recalls the Castle Cup final in 1991 against Highlanders.
“I hit a thunderbolt Peter Nkomo couldn’t handle. It was the equaliser with two minutes left. We went to penalties and won.
They hated me so much they claimed I wanted to cross. That’s how I deceived Oxo.”
He also remembers a Cup Winners’ Cup tie in Angola.
“We equalised late. The match went to penalties and we won. Guns were fired at supporters. Can’t forget that game.”
Though he never played for the Warriors, partly because of injuries and partly politics, Chirambadare says Dynamos made up for it.
“I enjoyed playing for Dembare. We were paid more than the national team.”
On the academic side, Chirambadare completed his A-levels at the famous Kutama Mission in Mashonaland West Province in 1981. He then went on to join the then Income
Tax Department, a prestigious job based in the capital Harare. Chirambadare, who played in the era of Mike Abrahams, Madinda Ndlovu, Boy Ndlovu, Moses Chunga, Jimmy Mbewe and Mayor Eric admits that wingers of that time were very good.
“During my time, all wingers were bad news. My strategy was to wear them down with my forward runs. This would neutralise them. They would chase back, which they are not wired to do,” said Chirambadare.
