Online Reporter
Robson Sharuko
Metros Editor
IT’S the 50th anniversary of the most significant abandoned match in the history of the domestic Premiership.
A game whose consequences were so severe it even sparked a rebellion.
Highlanders versus Dynamos!
The latest edition of the Battle of Zimbabwe is set to exploded at Barbourfields on Sunday.
The clock will mark that half-a-century has passed since a battle between the two giants was abandoned at Barbourfields, without a ball being played, with considerable repercussions for the top-flight league.
Some historians even claim that was the moment that the rivalry between Dynamos and Highlanders really started.
With the two giants trapped in a fierce and close battle for the league championship, their showdown at Barbourfields was abandoned under farcical circumstances.
It had rained all week in Bulawayo and, given there was no drainage at Barbourfields back then, Bosso claim they were told by the football leaders that the game had been abandoned.
They decided not to go to the stadium.
DeMbare came and the Rhodesia National Football League awarded them the game on a walkover.
It’s a result which became significant when the Glamour Boys won the league by a two-point margin.
DeMbare finished the season with 27 points, from their 18 matches, while Bosso were second, on 25 points, from their 18 games.
“We were devastated that the league was stolen from us,’’ Bosso legend, Douglas “British’’ Mloyi, told blogger Lovemore Dube, an authority when it comes to the Highlanders history, who also works for Zimpapers Sports Hub.
“We had worked hard, it rained the whole week and (the) Rhodesia National Football League’s boss John Madzima was advised that Barbourfields was waterlogged.
“There was no drainage then.
“On Sunday we did not go to Barbourfields but, surprisingly, Madzima came with Dynamos on Sunday and we were walked-over and pipped to the title by a solitary point (two points).
“It denied us our first title and consequences thereafter hit hard on Highlanders.’’
Silas Ndlovu, who was the team manager from 1972 to 1977, also feels Highlanders were given a raw deal.
“Dynamos were handed the league title on a silver platter. It rained cats and dogs in Bulawayo the whole week,’’ said Ndlovu.
“Peter Nemapare, who was Madzima’s deputy in the Rhodesia National Football League, who had flown from South Africa, inspected the pitch with us and Bulawayo City Council, and concurred Barbourfields could not host the match.”
It’s a sore wound Bosso carry to this day.
But, to their credit, the Class of ‘76, a vintage collection of Glamour Boys, led by George ‘’Mastermind’’ Shaya.
They thrashed Zimbabwe Saints 8-1, in the final of the Castle Cup, to complete a League and Cup Double.
There was another eight-goal demolition, of Chibuku (8-0), in the Nyore Nyore Shield final at Rufaro, on March 7, that year, with Daniel “Dhidhidhi’’ Ncube scoring five of DeMbare’s eight goals.
Shaya and his teammates won five of the six knockout tournaments, including the BAT Rosebowl, during that season with their only failure, for a clean sweep, coming when they lost to Zimbabwe Saints, in the semi-finals of the Chibuku Cup.
They also demonstrated their pedigree, beyond the country’s borders, when they staged a stunning comeback, to overhaul a first leg 3-5 defeat to Orlando Pirates, in Johannesburg.
They thrashed the Buccaneers 4-1 at Rufaro to be crowned the champions of Southern Africa.
Given that this was probably the greatest Dynamos team of all-time, the pain for Bosso to lose the title race by just two points, thanks largely to the Glamour Boys getting maximum points from their game which was never played, was just unbearable.
Bosso staged a rebellion, claiming that the game’s leaders were biased towards Dynamos.
They were also unhappy with what they felt to be unfair distribution of gate revenues.
Highlanders went on to lead the way in the formation of the South Zone Soccer League.
Ten years later, in 1986, a vintage Bosso side won the BAT Rosebowl, Independence Trophy, Heroes Cup, Chibuku Trophy, Rothmans Trophy and the Natbrew ZIFA Cup, under the guidance of the late coach Barry Daka.
The only piece of silverware they failed to win that season was the league championship.
Highlanders’ last league championship was also won in a year that ends with a six, 2006.
And, whether another one will be won this season, in the year they are celebrating the 100th anniversary of their founding, remains to be seen.
