Chronicle Editor
Lovemore Dube
MARK TUPILA: To some in his Queens Park West neighbourhood of Bulawayo, Tupila is an ambitious young man who is putting on an oversized coat and shoes.
But tastes in life differ.
Another man’s meat is another man’s poison. There are those who look up to him as an everyday hero.
He is a man who is all out to ensure boys and girls in the northern suburbs of Bulawayo realise their potential in sport.
A guy who has given almost 200 youths an opportunity to engage in sport for recreation and sporting excellence at the same time.
He is among the community’s unsung heroes waking up every day to ensure Mountain Climbers survives as a sporting entity and give sanctuary to budding youngsters in netball and soccer.
Born in March 1990 in Bulawayo and raised in Queens Park West Tupila had a dream of being a soccer star. He started playing football while at primary school but got more serious at 16 when he turned out for St Andrew’s Parish of Queens Park while playing for Zim Stars in Division Three.
A wannabe attacking player, Tupila had his dream of playing professional football shattered while on a trial stint at Mogoditshane Young Fighters then a First Division side in 2011.
“In 2011 I got injured while on trials at Mogoditshane in Botswana. That was the end of my football playing career,” said Tupila.
He had started helping out his local primary school Newmansford as a coach in 2007.
A dream came in 2010.
He felt like starting an academy that he would call Dream Academy.
“It just remained a pipe dream but in 2012 its when I started Mountain Climbers Football Club.
“Someone said to me maybe I was not meant to play soccer. God wants me to coach,” said Tupila.
Tupila was worried that children he coached at Newmansford were lost by the game as soon as they finished Grade Seven studies.
That was a big motivation to have a sports project for juveniles and youths within the suburb so that they would stay away from the shops a haven for social ills among today’s generation.
Why call project Mountain Climbers?
“The most asked question is how we arrived at the name Mountain Climbers. Michael Mahachi my brother came up with the name his reason being that in life we face many challenges and even in the soccer journey,” said Tupila.
He said at Mountain Climbers where they have children below the age of 10 partaking in soccer, Under-13s, 15s, 17s, 20s and the senior playing in the Zifa structures, they wanted to develop players to senior podium level, stars who can break into professional football leagues and national teams.
“We want to develop talent from kindergarten level to players who can attend trials at teams like Highlanders or even turn out to be world stars,” said Tupila.
Tupila’s project joined the Zifa structures in 2014 amid fears that it would collapse.
“When I went to Zifa, former board member responsible for development Mkhululi Mthunzi quipped that he was hoping that we would be unlike other teams that spring up and disappear in 2-3 years. I was motivated by Pastor Bismark who once said to me that if you start something make sure you will go all the way and accomplish what you set to achieve,” said Tupila.
It’s been a life of struggle for the Queens Park West project.
“Sponsorship has been our biggest challenge. We once asked parents to assist but only 10 percent came forward. We did not complete fixtures for the 2015 season due to funding issues,” he said.
The following year was no different.
“I began to ask why God would forsake me when I was doing what I thought was good for the kids and the community, trying to keep the kids off the streets and give them a career alternative. Coach Zebediah Sibanda joined us,” said Tupila.
He tagged his former churchmates and teammates at St Andrew’s Parish to come on board. That was Muziwandile Nungu and Christopher Hungwe.
A chance meeting with Thembinkosi Masuku of Melly Mining saw the club get a sponsor in 2017 at the same time when Zifa Bulawayo Province was introducing Under-20s which meant increased demand for finances.
“Just like the Newmansford scenario I found boys outgrowing the Under-17 age group but with nowhere to play. So we added Under-20s to absorb our own boys and later we came up with a Division Two side. The boys did not want to leave for other clubs, we had no choice,” said Tupila.
He said in 2019 they got a Division Two slot but were relegated at the end of the year.
Covid-19 struck in 2020 when they had moved to Zimbabwe Saints Sports Club only for sport to return last year with the club playing in the Zifa Southern Region Division One.
Tupila said 2022 was a very successful year for them.
“Imagine we were literally coming from Division Three and to have finished mid-table was a success. In one game we had the whole Hwange Stadium in silence as we led 1-0 when they were chasing the title for promotion. We eventually lost 2-1 with 10 men. It has been tough for us and we no longer have Masuku as our sponsor.
“For us we never stop believing and trusting. One day we dream of playing against Highlanders in the Premiership. With God everything is possible. We have our boys and girls playing Division One and Two men and women’s football. We are unstable financially but producing good talent to attract other clubs,” said Tupila.
Tupila is delighted that some of his players are beginning to attract attention outside the country.
“We are delighted in that Lameck Mafu is waiting for his work permit in Botswana and there is another Elliot in Namibia. It’s a painful journey but when you see what you labour for bearing fruit against all odds you then see the bigger picture to hold on to and hope someday sponsorship will be available to take the project to the next level,” said Tupila.
He paid tribute to coaches Rogers Ndlovu, Robert Dhadha, Douglas Mapfumba, Peter Moyo and Zebediah for their dedication to the kids and project.
The club is struggling to fulfil its Division One fixtures where there is a lot of travel out of Bulawayo and Tupila is inviting people to come on board as shareholders.
“Someday the pain endured today financially and emotionally will be turned to joy when some of these boys turn professional. We invite people to own the club through investing financial and getting shares. For a small and humble side we have active social media pages for our visibility, our dream being to grow the sports club concept as we have added netball for the girls and a women’s soccer side as we believe in gender equality, inclusivity is all we are about at the club. Every kid in the northern suburbs is welcome,” said Tupila who emphasised that the dream to bring Division One football to Newmansford Primary School lives on.
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