adminfootball team Mwana Africa struggling for survival in the Zifa Northern Region Division One where they are a lowly 13th in the 16-team league.
But all that gloom vanished for several hours last Saturday, as Trojan Mine and the sleepy environs of Bindura, suddenly came alive last Saturday and such was the hype and buzz at both the mine and the town that one would have been forgiven to mistakenly think that Trojan Mine had re-opened and operating at full throttle again.
The main centre for the buzz, the fanfare and the excitement was the famed Potato Field and the occasion that torched the brief resurrection of Trojan Mine was the Mbada Diamonds Cup first round showdown between Premiership rivals CAPS United and Motor Action.
Mwana Africa’s demotion into Division One has meant that it has been three years since football fans in and around Bindura witnessed a high-level top-flight match at Trojan Mine.
The team that former BNC managing director Fred Moyo had built with the help of the likes of Valentine Utete, Willard Mashinkila-Khumalo, Arthur Tutani, Milton Nyamadzawo, Cuthbert Mutandwa, Gilbert Saika and Fraternity Ndhlela took the Premiership by storm winning the CBZ Cup in their debut year in 2006 and going on a fairy-tale run in the Caf Confederation Cup the following year.
There was no Mwana Africa in action last Saturday but that did not matter much to the fans who packed the Trojan Mine Stadium and turned the Mbada Diamonds showdown between CAPS United and Motor Action into a carnival atmosphere.
It did not matter that some of the figures they had become accustomed to when their team was in the Premiership like Costa Maradzike, Alisara Kondowe,
Benjamin Marere, Lovemore Makwavarara, Thomas Sweswe, Chipo Tsodzo, Alfred Chinodakufa, Daniel Kamunenga and Tawanda Mareya were not action.
But the fans, some of whom brought their entire families, enjoyed every minute at the Potato Field as they took a journey down memory lane.
This time they were watching Shingi Kawondera and Leonard Fiyado leading the CAPS United line of attack, while Tendai Samanja, playing some of his best football in the Green Machine colours, pulled the strings in midfield and Itai Chiwara was back to his confident self between the posts.
Passmore Bernard and, Edward Tembo and Morris Kadzola had appeared to fortify a Mighty Bulls defence that seemed to be holding on and providing enough cover for goalkeeper Ronald Mudimu until a late, late Hardlife Zvirekwi goal ended their resolve and broke the hearts of the Motor Actions fans led by their colourful brass brand.
Despite the fact that the Potato Field — clearly suffering from neglect — is in a terrible state, so hard and bumpy, CAPS United and Motor Action to their credit still fought a close and lively battle in a game that could have gone either way.
Thanks to Mbada Diamonds’ decision to spread the game across the country in line with the miners’ motto: “Harnessing Diamonds for the people’’, the fans in
Bindura were not the only group privileged to watch top-flight action on the opening weekend of the country’s richest knock-out tournament.
There were matches too in Gwanda and Kariba while those in Chiredzi and Redcliff are bracing for the quarter-final ties.
Former Warriors and Lancashire Steel striker Kingston Rinemhota was also part of the crowd at the Potato Field and revealed that “the fans had been anticipating the big game all week’’.
“For the first time in a long time, the people of Mashonaland Central who had become used to Mwana Africa bringing them different top teams were treated to a big game and everyone was just happy. Although the poor quality of the pitch affected play, there was still a good display from both CAPS and Motor Action.
“But what was really striking was that you could see that the people here are starved of entertainment and we hope it will not be long again before such top action returns,’’ Rinemhota.
Chinodakufa, a former Mwana Africa centre-back and now a holder of a Caf B-Licence for coaches, was among those who packed the Potato Field and hailed the decision by both the Premier Soccer League and Mbada Diamonds to bring one of the competition’s games to Bindura.
“It was great having to watching such big teams like CAPS United and Motor Action in Bindura again. There are many benefits that a community can derive from having Premiership football on their door-steps.
“With such games, it brings the people of Mashonaland Central together because some fans travelled from as far as Mukumbura, Guruve, Dotito, and Rushinga just for the football.
“When parents in such areas like Bindura get a chance to watch big games like that, it will help change their perceptions on football and they will allow their children to take part in the sport and in the end it also helps the youth to stay away from social vices and crime and I hope other sponsors will follow the Mbada
Diamonds example and spread the games around the country,’’ Chinodakufa said.
It’s clear the community has been crying out for something like this.
“With the mine having closed for a long while now, the people at the mine and even in Bindura needed something to cheer them up from their troubles and football has shown that it has such power because we were al happy today,’’ said James Kamanga, an avid fan who stays in Chipadze.
But for now the likes of Kamanga, Kondowe and Chinodakufa can only reminisce on the rare sights and sounds of the Mbada Diamonds Cup showdown between Makepekepe and the Mighty Bulls as no Premiership side is using Trojan Mine stadium as its home.
The Mbada Cup took a month’s break and will resume on the weekend of October 20-21 when CAPS United face Buffaloes, Dynamos date Gunners, Highlanders clash against Monomotapa, and Shabanie meet FC Platinum in a Zvishavane derby.
Online Reporter