Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
ONE of the most celebrated footballers to come out of rural Masvingo, Godfrey Dondo cut an unassuming figure as he sat to help scout talented youngsters in the Africa Mineral Ventures Under-16 schools tournament at Gutu High last Sunday.
Here and there, sitting by side with veteran junior development coach Lloyd “Mablanyo” Chigowe, he jotted names down, together with some notes against the names The vigour, enthusiasm and football passion was unmistakable. Yet he is quick to point out two moments when drawn for a side interview on his football career reflections.
Former Masvingo United captain Dondo has had two heartbreaking moments in his storied career. Two moments that could have changed his status. Two moments that still live with the 48-year-old up to this very day.
It was apparent, he still thinks about them even without being asked anything about them.
Two times, he was 90 minutes away from being crowned a league champion. Two times, and painfully so, Dynamos stood in his way.
And on both occasions, late goals broke his heart.
In 2005, Masvingo United needed just to beat Dynamos at their home Mucheke Stadium on the last day of the season to win the league championship. They were two points behind leaders CAPS United, who were on 58 points going into the final push.
But they ended up losing and surrendering the title to CAPS United, who had lost their own final game 3-0 to Black Rhinos at the National Sports Stadium.
CAPS United, deserted by some of their key players on a UK sojourn, were basically waiting to learn about the worst after losing to Black Rhinos.
The helicopter, bellying the Premier Soccer League trophy, was stationed at Garwe Stadium in Chivhu waiting to fly to either the capital or the ancient city.
All Masvingo had to do was win.
Dondo recalls that before that game, the city of Masvingo was full of life, with the air filled with absolute anticipation.
“Masvingo was buzzing. The whole town was alive. Everyone was talking about the title. Everyone believed this was going to be our moment,” recalls Dondo.
“Then came the day, Mucheke was full. People came from everywhere — from Gutu, from Chivi, from Mwenezi, from everywhere in Masvingo. They wanted to witness it all.
“But at the sound of the final whistle, everyone broke down, players and the fans alike. I felt heavy and my teammates were all crying.”
It was painfully cruel and Dondo can never forget that. Yet, Dynamos wanted a win for themselves to escape relegation, while Masvingo United wanted to win and land the league title.
It was a strange game on a rain-drenched, water-logged pitch in which the teams were fighting at the extreme ends of the table.
Dynamos were fighting to keep their Premiership status which they would lose for the first time with a defeat while Masvingo United were fighting to be champions they would win for the first time with a victory.
After going down to Clive Mwale’s goal, Dondo returned Masvingo United’s hopes after scoring the equalizer.
But then came the moment that still haunts Dondo and Masvingo.
An attempted reverse pass from Cyprian Muchabaya stuck in a muddy, waterlogged spot and Elliot Matsika ran up to it to beat stranded goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube in what became the winning goal for DeMbare.
“That goal still pains me,” says Dondo.
“We had fought so hard. We had equalised. We believed we were going to win. Then the ball got stuck in the mud. That is football. Sometimes football is cruel.”
Six years later, in 2011, as the captain of FC Platinum, Dondo also lost the title on the final day of the season.
But it was the penultimate game against eventual champions Dynamos, the same Glamour Boys, that defined everything at Mandava Stadium.
Three points ahead of Dynamos, FC Platinum needed to avoid defeat and then just draw their final league game to win the title.
He recalls the air again in Zvishavane, the anticipation, and the disappointment after FC Platinum lost the game 1-0 following a Daniel Veremu own goal.
“Zvishavane was like Masvingo in 2005. Everyone believed we were going to be champions,” says Dondo.
“We were three points ahead. We just needed to avoid defeat against Dynamos. Then we would just need a draw in the last game.”
Dynamos overtook FC Platinum on goal difference and both teams won their last game of the season and Dynamos won the league.
For Dondo, 2011 felt like 2005, with the same opponent stabbing his heart through a late goal involving a fellow defender past the same goalkeeper-Tafadzwa Dube.
But the irony of it all was that Dynamos had come close to signing Dondo in 2006, which means he could have won the league title with them in 2007 and possibly in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
He didn’t sign for Dynamos or CAPS United, as well as Motor Action who both wanted him, because Masvingo United owner Tanda Tavaruva gave him a house, that Dondo eventually lost due to some technicalities after Tavaruva’s death. Had he also signed for Motor Action, he might have possibly won the league with them in 2010.
“I could have been a Dynamos player. I could have won the league with Dynamos in 2007. I could have won it again in 2011. But I stayed loyal to Masvingo,” says Dondo.
“Tavaruva gave me a house. He looked after me. I felt I owed him loyalty. I stayed.
“But after his death, I lost the house because of some technicalities. That pains me too.” But Dondo’s story did not start with those near misses and could-have-beens, it started with painful losses.
Dondo lost his father, a soldier, when he was in Grade 5 at Inkomo Barracks Primary School.
He then went to stay with his mother in Gutu, Masvingo but he had to fight for everything before being helped out enrol at Drifontein. Things weren’t all sweet, but he was then got scouted by a teacher at Domborembavha School Henry Man’oro who was in good books with Gibson Homela of Zimbabwe Saints.
He was a midfielder then. Homela turned him into a defender before loaning him at some Division One team.
Then in 1999, Masvingo United got promotion and Tavaruva went straight to Dondo and signed him.
It was the start of a love story between Dondo and Masvingo.
Masvingo United won the Independence Cup and the ZIFA Cup, which are some of Dondo’s career highlights.
Those trophies matter to him but the league title still eluded him.
Although he won the Central Region Soccer League title with Mimosa (FC Platinum), Dondo wants to win the league title as a coach after failing to do so as a player. He is now into coaching and mentoring Masvingo City in Division 2, with the team set for Division One promotion this year.
“I am now coaching Masvingo City. We are in Division 2, and we are set for Division One promotion this year,” says Dondo.
“I want to win the league title as a coach. I failed as a player, but I still have the dream. I still believe I will lift that trophy one day, even if it is from the bench. “Those two days — 2005 and 2011 — they still hurt. But they also made me stronger. They taught me that football is about small moments.
“I tell my players that. I tell them to fight until the final whistle.
Because I know what it feels like to lose a title in the final minutes.” The man, affectionately known as
“Mai Mahofa” never won the Premier Soccer League as a player but he has not given up on winning it
