Chronicle Editor
Mercedes Sibanda had a brilliant 1986 season scoring spectacular goals from range and brilliantly taken free-kicks alongside Willard Khumalo.
Bosso swept all silverware except the league title.
In 1988, a year after being crowned Zimbabwe Footballer of the Year, he guided Highlanders to cup glory as Bosso won the Independence Trophy, Heroes Cup, Castle Cup and Rothmans Shield.
They lost the Chibuku Trophy to Zimbabwe Saints who scored a solitary goal through Jimmy Phiri.
Sibanda was still on top of his game in 1990 when Bosso won the league and cup double.
His experience and presence was still vital when Tshilamoya won the inaugural PSL title in 1993 and the BP League Cup in 1994.
That was the last of a great generation of players who helped keep the Bosso brand ticking in a decade of great football by Arcadia United, Black Rhinos, Caps United, Dynamos, Black Aces, Olympics, Bulawayo Wanderers, Rio Tinto and Zimbabwe Saints.
Sibanda died in 2002 at the age of 37.
He was considered the best right back in Africa at some stage.
Imposing, charismatic on and off the pitch, he was a darling of the crowds.
Agent Sawu a former Warriors teammate said:
“He was a hard tackler, dedicated, gifted, box-to-box wingback, very effective venturing forward from his defending position.”
Chabuka Mwale a former Wankie FC player: “Mercedes Sibanda nicknamed Rambo was one of the greatest ever footballers produced in Zimbabwe.
“He started his football career just like any other footballer from the juniors until he reached the highest level with ease. He was a natural footballer, which we are yet to identify a similar player like Rambo, it’s still remains elusive.
He had everything it took to be a complete football player, stamina, pace, ball control, ball distribution, vision, passing the ball, power in his legs, and the list is endless.
He was a team player, co-ordinated very well with his team mates, be it at club level or national level. He played soccer with passion, the football fraternity in Zimbabwe would not be the same again without the likes of Mercedes “Rambo’ Sibanda.”
Johannes Tshuma a former Bulawayo Wanderers, Fredda Mine, Wankie and Highlanders goal-minder said Rambo was influential in his move to Highlanders.
After shutting out Bosso in a league match played at the Colliery in 1994, Sibanda, Cleopas Dlodlo and Melusi Nkiwane convinced him to come to Highlanders to replace Peter Nkomo.
After speaking to him they took him to head coach Roy Barreto, like they say the rest is history.
Tshuma was to be part of the Highlanders team that won the BP League Cup in 1994 beating Dynamos in the final.
When the Ebola scourge was at its peak in 1995, the Warriors foreign legion refused to travel to Zaire now the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sibanda and Tshuma were part of a hastily assembled team of locals who were thrashed 5-0. Tshuma was man of the match and Sibanda played a role in motivating the younger players.
“We did not camp or train. We assembled in Harare and flew in a charter plane to Kinshasa after assurances from authorities (see video),” recalls Tshuma.
Nesbert “Yabo” Saruchera was in the second next generation of Young Warriors after Mercedes Sibanda and Willard Khumalo’s group of the mid-1980s.
“May his soul Rest In Peace. He was a marvel to watch, he had qualities of modern wing backs. For me he was the best of all time, he could pack powerful shots, he could cross quality deliveries, he was complete. Great talent and Africa 11, I would put him on the right back position.”
Renowned talent scout and junior development coach Dumaza Dube who played for Zimbabwe Saints and Olympics juniors before playing senior football for Ingwebu, G and D Shoes, Border Strikers, Bondolfi, Kismet and Highlanders said: “Rambo was a lovable character, he used to laugh and encourage everyone at training. He had an extra-ordinary work ethic, he would go an extra mile going for training along the Victoria Falls Road.
What he called jogging along the Falls road seemed like close to sprinting to onlookers. Even at training he would be among the leaders if not leading.
“He developed himself to be a phenomenal sports personality.
On match days he would unleash all his energy on a role as a right back in a fashionable and effective way both offensively and defensively. Growing up he was mistaken for a bully, because of his energetic approach to life. All that changed under the legendary Ali ‘Baba’ Dube Umdala weKezi”.
He moulded him to world class domination, few players could match what he offered to the game, the likes of James Takavada and Paul Gundane came close.”
Arcadia and former Warriors defender and legend Joey Antipas said: “What a great player and servant of Highlanders and Zimbabwe national team! For me Rambo was if not the greatest right back to grace our league!
A powerfully built player who was marauding on the flanks going forward and solid in defence! He was a pleasure to watch with his showboating skills and discipline.”
Collin Nyambiya a former Zisco, Railstars, Highlanders and Railstars winger said: “A legend of the game. Highly ranked as one of the best defenders in Zimbabwe. I never got a chance to play with him. The time I joined Zisco, he was retiring.”
Lovemore Fuyane, a founding member of the Highlanders Supporters Chapter in South Africa but now based in Nairobi, Kenya says: “Interesting question. In my view he’s one of the most skilful yet also toughest players to come out of the Bosso production system.
“I think he likely hit his peak in the Bosso reserves and that’s what most saw later with the national team was a slightly more tampered version of him, a player out of whom the real freedom to play had since been coached out of him.”
Former Highlanders vice- chairman Modern Ngwenya added this: “A stocky but athletic Zimbabwe national team and Bosso undisputed legend. Arguably the best right-back ever produced in the country. His immense skill punctuated by flair was a joy to watch.
His trademark ferocious free-kicks were a marvel to watch and beyond comparison. He was the heartbeat of the Dream Team. He was crowned Soccer Star of the Year in 1987.
We miss the hilarious, flamboyant and charismatic Rambo who played with so much tenacity and flair. We have been waiting for over 30 years for his successor but it’s like we will wait forever.”
Bongani Ndlovu