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Lillian Sibanda Sports Correspondent
GROWING up in a football loving family and an obviously soccer crazy nation I heard a lot about the Dream Team, coached by the late German, Reinhard Fabisch. Characterised by chants, ecstatic dance, loud clapping, and cheering by the fans was the order of the day at the giant National Sports Stadium when the senior national men’s soccer team, then known as The Dream Team was in action back in the day.
The atmosphere was electric and breathtaking whenever the Warriors donned their famous green and gold stripe took to the field. Somehow the feeling of confidence was guaranteed and victory was certain.
The type of play and the hunger for goals from each and every player given the responsibility to defend the nation’s pride was the talk of the town.
Affectionately known as the “Dream Team” and rightfully so, the Warriors of the yesteryear won match after match and made sure that Zimbabwe was counted among the 10 greatest soccer playing nations in the African motherland.
What is known to many as the nation’s pride in the form of a Dream Team was made up of the likes of the legendary brothers Peter, Madinda and the late Adam Ndlovu, the late Benjamin “Makanaky” Nkonjera, Mercedes “Rambo” Sibanda, Henry “Bully” McKop, Rahman “Dr Rush” Gumbo, Claudius Zviripayi, Bruce “The Jungleman” Grobbelaar, Vitalis Takawira, Agent “Ajira” Sawu, Ephraim Chawanda, the late Francis Shonhayi, Norman “Nomara” Mapeza, Paul Gundani, Max Makanza, Willard Khumalo, the late Melusi Nkiwane, John Phiri among many others.
These were not just names but they took the bull by the horns and had the fighting spirit. They were hungry for goals, they were proud to don the national team jersey and were eager to please the nation, intent to raise their home flag high, and certainly had a lot of respect for their fans who they made smile each and every time they took to the field.
Fast forwarding to 2014, history is being re-written in the soccer world and more particularly in the history of Zimbabwe. The current crop of the Warriors made the nation proud after reaching the semi-finals of the African Nations Championship for the first time since the inception of the tournament. In recent years football followers had almost forgotten how victory tastes more so on continental competitions but the Ian “Dibango” Gorowa coached army defied the odds and went all the way to the semi-finals.
When I say they defied the odds I refer to the fact that no one especially from their own brethren believed they would reach that stage. The doubting Thomases were, however, put on silent mode and forced to eat humble pie after the world took notice and said indeed there is talent in our beloved nation.
Dibango, as Ian Gorowa is affectionately known among the soccer lovers has rekindled the hopes of Zimbabwe. The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach has gone all the way to the roots, taken what has been known to many as inexperienced players and turned them into a force to be reckoned with. He gave youngsters hope.
The Warriors gaffer is on 13 games unbeaten in open play.
Though it was a first time experience for a bulk of the players they made Africa sit up and take note that there is a lot of talent bred in our nation. They made the world turn around and it is an understatement to say that the Chan 2014 players put the country on the map.
The 2014 performance by the Warriors in the continental tournament is enough to give me and hopefully every Zimbabwean, hope that there is a Dream Team on the rise.The fact that our very own son Kudakwashe Mahachi captured the attention of a highly fancied French team, Monaco as well as other teams in South Africa is enough for me to say our boys, the sky is the limit. Young Mahachi at only 20 years of age is tipped to follow Nsukuzonke’s footsteps after getting onto the soccer stage at an early age with remarkable speed.
Consistency at every match which earned Ndlovu the nickname Nsukuzonke can also be achieved through proper grooming and training. Peter was a permanent name in the soccer star of the year calendar and Mahachi is already making his mark. The Dream Team of the 90s defence was made up of Chawanda, McKop, Rambo and Shonhayi emerged this year in the form of Partson Jaure, Milton Ncube, Hardlife Zvirekwi and Eric Chipeta. Mapeza can look with pride to the rise of Danny “Deco” Phiri who seems to emulate his type of play.
He was the engine room in which the team’s attack was engineered and every opponent’s attack was repelled by the Warriors’ hardman.
It would be unforgivable social injustice not to mention the man behind the defence, Dembare’s own George Chigova who is gifted with magic hands. Equally good were his cover ups Munyaradzi Diya affectionately known as Dali to the Bosso fans as well as Tafadzwa Dube.
Zvirekwi, popular with commentators who failed to pronounce his name showed the world that he can follow the foot steps of Rambo in the field. His ability to guard the right side of the pitch as if it is his own, qualifies him to be ranked among the best right backs that this country has ever produced.
Through their combined efforts they conceded a paltry two goals in the six games they played in the tournament.
Determination, courage, teamwork, consistency, diligence and the desire to be at the top are the qualities that have been lacking on our soccer stadia for a long time. The qualities that were there once upon a time under German born gaffer Fabisch were seen during the Chan tournament.
The rise of all these players make the Zimbabwean soccer lover realise that history can surely be re-written.
Those who witnessed the pulsating performances this year and those who had the privilege of seeing the Dream Team in action can testify that slowly but surely history is repeating itself in more ways than one. The religious can be forgiven to believe that Ezekiel’s dry bones liveth again for what has been dead for a long time riseth yet AGAIN.
Online Reporter