Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
NDOMBOLO is a popular, fast-paced dance music genre that originated from the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 1990s, derived from soukous – characterised by heavy, repetitive percussion, electric guitars, and energetic hip-swaying movements.
Key artistes like Koffi Olomidé and Wenge Musica popularised the dance genre, which often features a lead animator (atalaku), and focuses on themes of love and social life.
Upon its entry into the country, it was an instant hit, mainly with pleasure seekers.
And as the beat reverberated in virtually all parts of the country, it also became the nickname of one of Manicaland’s flagship football outfit – Buffaloes FC. Under the able stewardship of the late Brigadier-General Gibbs Kachana as its patron, Buffaloes was promoted at the end of the 1999 Eastern Region Division One season and played in the top-flight league in 2000.
With a star-studded outfit that had poster boys like Shepherd Nkata, Eddie ‘Man’ozho’ Dube, Eddie ‘Tastic Rice’ Nyika, Dananai Chinowawa, Shadreck ‘Father’ Mugurasave, Misheck Sunguro and Nyarai ‘Nyangwe’ Masunde – the team was a darling of the crowds each time they trooped into Sakubva Stadium. Unfortunately, the club was relegated at the end of the 2001 season.
The Mutare army outfit was later promoted in 2011, and played in the Premiership in 2012.
They spent four seasons in the top-flight league, and were demoted at the end of the 2015 season.
In 2016, they tried to return, but were elbowed out by a Harare team that was in the Eastern Region Division One League called Yadah.
Since then, they have remained in the less fashionable league of Division One, and hopes of seeing them fight for a place in the Premiership have become Utopian.
Their current state is reminiscent of an Ethiopian proverb that reads: ‘A buffalo does not feel the weight of its own horns’, which literally means one is capable of handling their own burdens, responsibilities, or challenges.
But it appears it is no longer the same story for the Mutare army outfit.
The buffalo is certainly feeling the weight of its horns!
Such is the burden that Buffaloes is shouldering, to the extent that the club has not yet started preseason preparations, evidently owing to a lack of resources.
To put matters into context, after finishing in fourth position in the 2025 Eastern Region Division One League, Buffaloes are once again aiming at a top-four finish this year.
After all, promotion from Division One to the Premiership does not require rocket science, but money.
Buffaloes life member, Zechariah Zibuke, did not mince his words – the club is struggling for financial support.
“The challenge we have is sponsorship. We do not have money. Without money, there is no good football that can be played. Players have bellies and families to feed,” he said.
Buffaloes coach, Nyarai Masunde, a midfield magician in his heyday for the same club and one of the few locals to be invited for trials in Cyprus, thanked the club leadership for having faith in him, and maintained that a top-four finish would be good for his club.
“I think I need to start by expressing my heartfelt appreciation to the club leadership for the faith that they showed in me to guide this club. I really appreciate that. In terms of our aims for the season, we are looking forward to finishing among the top four. That is the same position we ended last season, but for last season, at least we also managed to snatch the Pacific Storm Round of Four Trophy,” said Masunde.
Clearly, even before they kick the ball, Buffaloes are not Premiership promotion material!
