Vusumuzi Dube
Lovemore Dube
PHINDA Mzala was an exciting football excursion that never reached its final destination.
It was destined to go far and introduce an all-Under-21 side in the Premiership if young Charles Mhlauri’s script had gone according to plan.
Mhlauri, a former banker, had just opened a commodity broking company and even had central business district offices where his Nicator also accommodated the club. He was in the league of Lovemore Gijima-Msindo and Francis Zimunya, who already were aware that soccer is beyond recreation but a business that should strive.
Young players were an investment for the future to be disposed of and sold to run the institution and also a livelihood for all those associated with Phinda Mzala.
Mhlauri, barely in his mid-20s, was a visionary, who had been involved in the formation of AmaZulu after buying the franchise of Hollies, who were run by Holiday Inn. He had started the project with the likes of Ezra Sibanda, then a Radio Two DJ and Highlanders player Cleopas Dlodlo in 1994.
Mhlauri had severed ties with AmaZulu at the end of 1995 when the club was taken over by Delma Lupepe after paying a handsome amount of money. Former Phinda Mzala forward Michael ‘Para’ Zivira believes Phinda Mzala could have gone far with funding.
“Charles Mhlauri was a shrewd coach and businessman, who had an insight into what the football business entails. He did not have money, but he had the brains to make a change in Zimbabwean football. He had pioneered what many in Bulawayo and the region had not seen about football, which is grooming young players for the market. He just needed a bit of funding to make dreams come true,” said Zivira.
“We were a bunch of young, enthusiastic stars who had been motivated by a generation of stars that had won three championships in 1988 (Zimbabwe Saints) and Highlanders in 1990 and 1993. Those were our heroes, our brothers we met regularly and they were a source of inspiration that we grew up admiring,” said Zivira of the likes of Mercedes Sibanda, Ephraim Chawanda, Rahman Gumbo, Madinda, Peter, Adam, Henry Mckop and Agent Sawu.
Zivira had played for Mthala and Zimbabwe Saints juniors.
Mhlauri had recruited the next generation of stars and got them to his Phinda Mzala project. Zivira said with a young and energetic crop of 16, 17 and 18-year-olds, Mhlauri was poised to go far with his approach had sponsorship been there.
“We played for a song; we were very promising stars that needed just a platform to excel and Mhlauri had given us the opportunity to. We played for the future and our coach; we were enjoying every bit of the fun and travelling as age mates.
“Sadly, Mhlauri was recalled to AmaZulu in 1997 and Phinda Mzala collapsed with all the talent heading in different directions. We had no money as a club. We struggled along with our coach, but it was a great time where we even beat AmaZulu in a Zifa Southern Region in the year they were promoted 1-0 at Barbourfields Stadium,” said Zivira.
When AmaZulu disbanded, Zivira joined Blue Swallows, where he played just one game.
Online Reporter