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The South African kwaito star, Mandoza, — he is still may favourite by the way — released it after his block- buster album called Nkalakatha, but hey, I fell in love with “uHodobaa, odlii dollarr”. You should watch his video once more. His voice was commanding, his lyrics “mcwaa”, his dance moves oozing with confidence, some call it “swag”, his arrogance captivating and yes, you would love to dance to that S’gubhu kuzekuyevalwa, yes, until the cows come home. That is if you are nimble footed like my friend, DJ Heavy D. You might know him by another name and colour in the big city, but deep down in Gwanda when we get down and he gets behind the turntables, he is known as Heavy D.
The singing has been good thus far. The older members of the choir have been trying hard to provide the bass in the backline. The tenor has also been sumptuous, well above expectations, raising hopes that the album might hit platinum come Christmas when we take stock of all 16 albums released under the Premiership stable.
Nonetheless, the soprano has not had that cutting edge, perhaps this is not an opera, and so has been the bass. But the chorister, called upon all the way from Zambia, has been doing just fine. His hands and body moves well choreographed as he takes to the front to conduct his choir, largely made up of new members, to flow like a wave, from the front row, to the middle row and to the back row.
The solo lines have been breath-taking with polished tenor voices from Mthulisi Maphosa and Peter “Rio” Moyo, and some bit of alto from Milton Ncube and some bass from Innocent Mapuranga and Erick Mudzingwa. But you get a feeling that the rhythm of the band might be disturbed once one of the members catches a cold. When two or three members’ voices suffer from burn out, there is a likelihood that the CD will have some scratches. Scratches are annoying and you certainly can’t sell gold or platinum with an album like that!
The choir puts on black shoes, black trousers, white socks, white shirts and a black bow tie. It’s followed wherever it performs because of its new hits and proud history and goes by the name Highlanders Football Club. Its chorister is Kelvin Kaindu and with an unbeaten run in the first half of the season; many pundits have been saying that how they will fair in the second stanza will largely depend on how they perform on the transfer market during the transfer window. Some have said Highlanders have been a marvel to watch and listen to thus far because of the manner in which the chorister conducts his choir. He seems to be having some skill and character to get the best out of the boys, largely unexpected to go for a 15-match unbeaten run when the year started.
Nonetheless, the way Highlanders have gone about their business during the transfer window has left making asking questions if they really want to go for gold come end of season. The Bulawayo giants, who seem to be enmeshed in some dressing room politics, only signed two untested players, Cleopas Dube from ZPC Hwange. I’m told he is nicknamed “Balotelli” after the Manchester City and Italian striker and I don’t know if he is also a crazy boy. Another new signing was Takunda Sadiki. I’m told he is younger brother to former club captain and goalkeeper Tapiwa Kapini and I don’t know if he will learn fast to dance inquzu like his brother, a darling of many Bosso fans.
There have been a number of seasoned players who have been linked to Highlanders whose addition would have been valuable, for a club seriously chasing a championship that is. Former AmaZulu and Monomotapa defender Ndumiso Khanye is a veteran of many battles with a body presence. Mkhokheli Dube is a striker who has seen it all and could have been a worthwhile addition upfront and so could have been Daniel Zokoto and oh by the way, what happened to those Ugandans we learnt were training with Bosso? I’m told they have taken the long trip back home by road, poor boys!
And can someone tell me what really happened with former club stars like Gilbert Banda and star striker Obadiah Tarumbwa? Perhaps Tarumbwa and his handlers had already made up their minds that they will not engage the people’s choir, and maybe that is why Tarumbwa did not even train at Highlanders, only to surface after signing for Harare giants Dynamos. But you get a feeling that Bosso really needed an experienced central striker to add fire power and an experienced central defender to add depth to the defence if they are to continue on the high, despite setbacks from injuries and suspensions that will come hard to any team as the race intensifies in the home stretch.
You get a feeling that Banda has been a victim of football politics, both at FC Platinum, who terminated his contract after just six months, and at Highlanders, who were supposed to welcome him back home like a true son who had gone hunting for treasure after saying goodbye and getting a hug from his parents. At no time did Gidza rebel against the club, no. Even when they blocked his move to Platinum last year, he did not make noise and when the time came for him to leave as a free agent with nothing set to come to the club’s coffers, he offered them about $7 000 they owed him in signing on fees and allowances. Under normal circumstances, that should have been enough insurance for him to come back home any time he wanted, just like a child who often sends his or her parents groceries from Egoli. Now he finds himself having to play Division One football, thanks to Methembe Ndlovu who gave him sanctuary at Bantu Rovers, but I certainly don’t think he is Division One material.
Perhaps Highlanders did not see it necessary to sign any seasoned players who would want more from salaries, even though they come from BancABC, but it had to be serious business for other teams like Dynamos and FC Platinum who want to give it all in the second half as they fight for the league title and the rich Mbada Diamonds Trophy.
After losing goalkeeper Washington Arubi and goal poacher Takesure Chinyama to South Africa recently, Dynamos went for a number of signings, including recalling veteran midfielder Desmond Maringwa to give leadership in the field of play. Apart from Tarumbwa and Maringwa, new registrations were Arthur Kasekoli (Zambian), Cliff Sekete, Malcom Chinhoyi, Blessing Moyo and Manfred Mlingani.
FC Platinum recalled strikers Benjamin Marere and William Manondo, deemed excess baggage at the end of the past season and also registered Hardlife Muvundi, Raphael Muchuviwa, Edmore Tsoro and Obey Hunduza. Muvundi was on the books of Chicken Inn, and they had a swap deal involving midfielder Ntokozo Tshuma, one player who has not yet lived to his true potential because of injuries.
Even little Quelaton and Hardbody were busy on the market. The Bulawayo side, Quelaton, roped in Simbarashe Manwere, formerly with Hwange, goalkeeper Tapiwanashe Marime, Chipo Tsodzo, Thulani Moyo, Khanye, Tatenda Magaisa, and Peace Tshuma. Gweru-based Hardbody, in their quest to survive relegation, added the likes of Stephen Alimenda, Dumisani Mufudze, Davie Mwanza, Owen Motsi, Jacob Muzokomba and Piniel Manhope. Inconsistent Harare giants Caps United will look for a change of fortunes after the signing of a number of players, Shingi Kawondera, Leonard Fiyado, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Lee Ruwidzo, Chris Mverechena, Kith Chikotora and Lawrence Chapanduka.
The second half of the season bursts into life today and what a way to start with a humdinger of a tie between Dynamos and FC Platinum at Mandava, and a potentially explosive tie at Luveve featuring Chicken Inn and Harare City and of course, the Bulawayo derby featuring Bosso and Quelaton, who held them to a one-all draw at Barbourfields not so long ago. May the best song win — we want to know “Bosso kemang”
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Bongani Ndlovu