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FORMER Hwange central defence kingpin Taboniswa Ncube has spoken of his delight in meeting Wankie and Highlanders defence supremo of the 1970s, Chutika Tembo.
Chutika joined Highlanders in 1974 as Silas Ndlovu sought to build a machine to run over all opposition. He had been a vital cog in the Wankie defence with Amos Rendo and shone in the marathon penalties Castle Cup win of 1973 against Dynamos.
He arrived the same year with Bruce Grobbelaar, Isaac Mafaro, Itai Chieza, Peter Zimuto and the returning from Wankie Barry Daka. Tendai Chieza and Chita Antonio could have been other additions had the late Peter Nemapare not diverted them to Zimbabwe Saints.
It was a Highlanders that had won the regional league and finished as runners-up to Metal Box in the national league play-off and the Chibuku Trophy, the club’s first major trophy. Tembo now lives in Jambezi in the Hwange District.
He was in Hwange’s Lusumbami suburb last weekend for a relative’s funeral where he met Ncube who was at the heart of the team’s defence with Brian Njobvu in the mid-1990s before breaking his leg after clashing with Gift Lunga Jnr in 1997. That was to be the end of his career which was reaching its peak.
“My predecessors made me what I got to be as a player. I have enough respect for all the legends and former players who prepared the way for me and my generation to find Wankie competing in the highest league in Zimbabwe. It was a team with a place in Zimbabwe soccer history and legacy,” said Ncube.
He said with the history bare, it was good motivation to want to conquer the best in Zimbabwe. “These legends pushed me to compete against the best in the land. I appreciate what they did for the team and the game,” said Ncube.
Ncube appealed to the soccer loving community not to forget those that thrilled them. “These legends deserve a better place in our hearts and lives,” said Ncube.
Vincent Pamire who stumbled on Tembo’s picture on social media, said: “They don’t come any better than Chutika. He was a very good centre-back for both Wankie and Highlanders. He is a true legend of the game, we must create halls of fame around the country in honour of these great heroes.”
Tembo was part of the great trek to Olympics in 1977 but did not stay long returning to Hwange where he found it hard to dislodge Austin Ncube from the centreback position he competed with Mwelo Longwe to partner Rendo. A number of former Wankie and Hwange players were employees of the mine after retiring from soccer.
Online Reporter