Tofireyi Sambo’s Highlanders’ dream that never was

Tinashe Waluka

EVERY young football player will always have an attachment or a dream to play for a certain club during their nascent stages in life.
At times the dream becomes a reality or it just vanishes into thin air and one sees themselves strutting out their stuff elsewhere.
Tofireyi Sambo’s dream was to turn out for Highlanders from the time he kicked a ball, even though his peers’ aspirations in the hood were mostly to play for the local Premiership outfit, Hwange Football Club.

All that “Bhashi”, as Sambo is affectionately known in the sprawling streets of Empumalanga high-density in the coal mining town, wanted was to play for Bosso, but the dream vanished within a few days of it coming true.

“When I started playing football as a small boy, I dreamt of playing for Highlanders. I just couldn’t control the feeling I had for Bosso, I loved the club’s style of play and their institutional organisation,” said Sambo.

Kenny Sibanda, who was then the ZPC Hwange chairman and a well-known unapologetic ardent supporter of Bosso, had all but secured Sambo’s move to the black and white sea, only for him to be snatched at the eleventh hour by Dynamos. That was to be the end of Sambo’s dream of donning the black and white stripe.

“I vividly remember the day my dream of playing for Highlanders ended. I had joined Hwange FC from ZPC Hwange and we had gone for a friendly match in Victoria Falls with me expected to sign for Chipangano while on the other hand Kenny Sibanda had told me Bosso was waiting for me. Then it so happened that Big Josh of DeMbare came and told me, I was wanted at Dynamos the following day. That’s how I left together with Artwell Nyoni. Of course Artwell was expected to make the cut because he was a much talented player, but surprising I made it. That’s how I missed out to be a Bosso player,” said Sambo.

The much travelled, Sambo confessed that he still had love for Bosso while he was turning out for Dynamos.
“I remember Makwinji (Soma-Phiri) asking me, which team I liked. I quickly responded and said Highlanders, much to his amusement. He cautioned me not to utter those words while turning out for DeMbare,” said Sambo.

In 2011 Sambo’s dream of finally turning out for his favourite childhood team was rekindled when he parted ways with Mutare-based side, Highway following its relegation from the Premier League. Sambo had guided the team into the elite league in 2008.

His mind then was to retrace his roots to DeMbare or re-join Shooting Stars, a team he had joined after calling it time at the Glamour Boys, or better still go to Bosso. The move to the Bulawayo giants, again failed to materialise as there was no concrete offer for his services, culminating in him having another dance with Shooting Stars.

Sambo said he doesn’t regret the decision he made of going against his dream, as he joined another big club, where he went on to enjoy his game. Ironically his greatest match was when DeMbare pummelled an out of sort Bosso 5-0 in an Independence Cup final.

The Hwange-born and bred footie started his football career while at Hwange Local Board’s run, Nechibondo Primary School, where he made it into the first team at Grade 4.

Sambo did his secondary education at Hwange Government High where he played alongside the likes of defence stalwart Obert “Cobra” Moyo and gritty defensive midfielder Alick Moyo, while the gifted Method Mwanjali was their junior.

At Form 2, Sambo was already playing for long time Zifa Southern Division One side, ZPC Hwange. It is also while plying his trade at the power generators that the crafty player made it, into veteran coach Wieslaw Grabowski’s Under-20 national team.

Sambo also made it into the Warriors’ African Championship of Nations (Chan) squad in 2011 while at Shooting Stars. The squad had the likes of Guthrie Zhokinyi, Benjamin Marere, Gilbert Mapemba, Qadr Amin, Bhekimpilo Ncube, Eric Mudzingwa, Joel Ngodzo, Zephania Ngodzo, Washington Arubi, and Ariel Sibanda among others.

The nomadic Sambo also played for Triangle, helping them to gain promotion into the Premier League. He also played for Gunners, Chegutu Pirates, Power Master, Mangwiro Ngezi, Moto Moto and Empumalanga.

In 2016, on his return to his first professional club, ZPC Hwange, he assisted them to lift their first silverware since. The power generators won the Liquor Hub Wholesale John Landa Nkomo Top Eight Cup after beating Bulawayo Chiefs in the final at Hartsfield Rugby grounds.

Although Sambo, never played much part in the final — he came on as a substitute towards the end of regulation time and received a straight red for head butting an opponent in the first-half of extra-time — the dreadlocked midfielder was one of the reasons his team made it to the final.

Now, Sambo is whiling up time at Empumalanga FC, a team from his hood where he is a player coach.
He has set his sight at getting a coaching badge this year.

“I intend to do coaching this year so that I can impart the knowledge I have for the game to youngsters. I have a passion for soccer so I want to be forever be involved in the game,” said Sambo.