Sunday relives Bosso triumph

Lovemore Dube

FORMER Dynamos and Zimbabwe captain Sunday Chidzambwa says the 1980 Heroes Cup was an emotional experience even for footballers.

“It was quite significant in that we were celebrating the holiday for the first time. We had just attained Independence and we were remembering those unlucky not to return alive from the war. As players we were well aware of the importance of the cup final and the holiday and we gave our best to the game. It was a very special game to play and what else against a star-studded Highlanders that was playing well with great players,” said Chidzambwa whom many knew as Marimo.

He is regarded as one of the best centre-backs ever and a natural leader who was chosen ahead of Charles Sibanda, Ephraim Moloi and Ephert Lungu to captain the first national team in 1980. That squad participated in a four-country tournament and won 2-1 over Zambia. Chidzambwa looking back at the 1980 Heroes Cup final said the two sides had paraded very good teams. He said the talent was of a higher value and fans were guaranteed their money’s worth as no one could doubt the talent on display.

“Kwakuchirinebhora (There was still brilliant talent and exciting). Look at the talent Highlanders had and what we were as Dynamos, very strong and exciting sides,” said Chidzambwa a holder of many firsts in the game.

He also coached Zimbabwe to their first appearance at the continental Africa Cup of Nations finals held in Tunisia in 2004. Going into the cup final, Dynamos were 1978 league champions and were favourites for the 1980 league title which they eventually won.

Highlanders had that season been already to two cup finals, the Chibuku Trophy final which they won 4-0 beating a talent-laden Rio Tinto side coached by John Rugg.  The second cup final, in the Rothmans Shield  was a humiliating first leg defeat of 4-2 by Caps United with all goals scored in the first 31 minutes when coach James Nxumalo appeared to have had his act wrong.

With Peter Nkomo out in Moscow, then Soviet Union for the Olympics, Nxumalo instead of regular substitute goalie Rob Lambert, he opted for untested Marko Ncube. In the second leg with the trusted Wuzu or Moscow as Nkomo got nicknamed upon returning for the Games, Caps showed no respect firing another quad goals against Bosso’s solitary strike for an 8-3 aggregate win. On paper the match looked an evenly balanced affair.

“We went to the final as underdogs as Highlanders were playing very good football and we were wary of the danger in Majuta Mpofu, Tymon Mabaleka and Mark Watson. Talking of Majuta, he was a skillful player, you had to prepare hard for the game as he was unpredictable. Tymon was talented and a workhorse. He would be all over the pitch dictating their attack. He was such a fantastic player,” said Chidzambwa who nearly became teammates with Highlanders Player of the Decade (1971-80) who nearly joined DeMbare in 1979 when he was on a temporary transfer to Harare.

Instead Whitehorse as Mabaleka was affectionately known opted for fashionable Black Aces where he played with Simon Mudzudzu, Rodrick Muganhiri and David Muchineripi. He said he vividly remembers his Dynamos lining up with a young Japhet Mparutsa in goal, Misheck his younerg brother, Shaw Handriade and Oliver Kateya in defence, in midfield he said they had Kuda Muchemeyi, Edward Katsvere, David George and Kembo Chunga.

“We had won the championship in 1978, in 1980 we had a team that won the league in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983. It was a great side very strong in all departments,” said Chidzambwa a sure Hall of Fame for Zimbabwean football when sense eventually wins over and the idea is operationalised.

To reach the final Dynamos beat Caps United 4-3. The then pharmaceutical boys boasted Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa, Stanley “Sinyo” Ndunduma, Shaky Tauro and Joel Shambo in one of the best attack formations.

Highlanders still smarting from their 4 by 4 defeats by Caps in the Rothmans Shield were lucky to scrape through against a Wankie side that was propelled by David Khumalo, Rodrick Simwanza, Nyaro Mumba and young David Zulu.

In the rearguard Austin Ncube and Amos Rendo were expected to tame Majuta, Mabaleka and Watson’s charge that was illuminated by the industry of hardworking and brilliant duo of Ernerst “Maphepha” Sibanda and Stanford Ntini.

The final was expected to be a spectacle between two sides whose rivalry was brewed by the 1976 league championship in which Highlanders FC felt hard done by the Rhodesia National Football League decision to award a walkover to Dynamos.

In a March 1976 fixture Highlanders did not go to Barbourfields Stadium having allegedly advised the league that the stadium was waterlogged. It would appear Dynamos were not advised and flew all the way only to find Bosso not at Barbourfields. From that date Bosso viewed Dynamos as the league favoured guys.

So from 1976 the two teams had only met in the reunification match and the first round of the 1980 league race.

So much was at stake for the match between two teams with a big following for the bragging rights.
Dynamos were out of sorts and in a bid to clear a Majuta shot Misheck handled in the box and referee Godfrey Kandawasvika pointed to the spot allowing David Mhlanga to put Bosso in command in the 43rd minute.

Mabaleka would follow with two headed goals in the second half, before David Mandigora, the year’s most outstanding player pulled one back in the 88th minute.

At the end Mandigora was quoted by Chronicle’s David Ncube as saying: “We were never in it.” Since then the tournament has had several formats at one time it was an inter-provincial contest used for exposing talent to national selectors. Preparations have begun for the 2023 Heroes Celebrations.