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Lovemore Dube
Football is a sport where one expresses his artistic ability to score goals within the confines of its rules.
Creativity, technique, tactics and goals stand at the centre of all endeavours for participants who may be coaches, fans, players and sponsors.
For decades midfielders and strikers have stolen the show for their creativity and goals that have kept fans trickling to stadia.
Rarely do defenders get recognised for their finesse and intellect in the execution of their duties. It is as if they are there to win the ball for ball players and strikers to win. Imagine going to 10 matches as a paying fan to games that would end in goalless draws, what a bore would than turn to be.
Zimbabwe has had its own fair share of brilliant defenders who have captivated audiences across the continent. But which defence partnerships have been outstanding and would deservingly find their way to the corridors of football archivers?
Former Highlanders and AmaZulu defence stalwart Sikhumbuzo Ndebele has the pair of Thulani “Biya” Ncube and Dazzy Kapenya at the peak of the list. He said what was amazing about the two was that both were ball players whose creativity was visible, they never shied away to venture forward and aid their attackers. While they did so, they never slackened in their defensive roles.
“That was a unique pairing, naturally you need a technical partner to a man-marker, someone who will sweep and play make, but Dazzy and Biya were an outstanding skilful; pair that was very offensive yet so good defensively. They could not be intimidated or found wanting in their roles and one good aspect about their game is that they were both vocal so they kept their teammates on their toes when it came to needed numbers in defence,” said Ndebele.
He had praises for the Felix Ntuthu and Joseph Ndlovu partnership at Bulawayo Wanderers which also had Stoneshead Moyo on the left and Asani Karigeni on the right. The rubber technologist turned sports science student said it took the bravery of the legendary Madinda Ndlovu and Rahman Gumbo to keep the combination together which led to four straight league championships between 1999-2002.
“They were all different characters who worked for each other well.”
The Zimbabwe Saints duo of Ephraim Chawanda at the centre with Misheck “Road Block” Sibanda is another partnership.
With Josphat Humbasha, Garikai Rwodzi and Mazhambe, they were not the easiest defence to face and when young Innocent Rwodzi joined in the late 1980s he added another dimension.
Ndebele spoke of the Caps United duo of Silver Chigwenje and Tobias ‘Rock Steady’ Sibanda.
“One time we were leading them 3-0 while I was still at Highlanders and we ended up drawing 3-3. I remember the late Adam Ndlovu saying to us they were scoring under very difficult conditions yet we are slackening at the back,” said Ndebele.
Iconic Zimbabwe football personality whose dance with the game spans over 50 years, has Francis Shonhayi and The Rock of Gilbratar Chawanda.
“What a marvel they were for the national team,” said Ndumiso Gumede, the Bosso CEO They were at the heart of the famed Dream Team of the early 1990s under Reinhard Fabisch which like other talented earlier national teams, however, failed to qualify for major tournament finals.
Gumede spoke about his 1986 defence at Highlanders which had Alexander Maseko, Douglas Mloyi, Netsai Moyo, Dumisani Nyoni, the late Mercedes Sibanda and Fanuel Ncube.
“They were fantastic defensively and on the attack they were relied on, surely they have been one of the best defences seen around,” said Gumede.
The late Titus Majola, hard working and talented Tito Paketh and Willard Khumalo gave good cover too in front of defence.
Gumede added: “We also had the defence partnership of the 1970s, Boet Van Ays, Edward Dzowa and James Nxumalo, they were watertight and of course we cannot leave out goalkeepers Peter Nkomo and Ananias Dube the last man in defence, they also had their part too. I liked the Dynamos defence which had Stephen ‘Faka Simbi’ Chimedza and Sherperd Murape, they were a gem, Chimedza was brilliant,” said Gumede.
The Arcadia defence of Dorman Moodley, Joey Antipas, Majid Dhana and Reg Payne provided good cover to Nat Bismark and the legendary Stewart Gilbert.
“It would not be fair not to talk about the defence of Arcadia, those guys that played with Gilbert, Dorman, Atipas, Payne and Dhana, were workaholics who made scoring against Arcadia difficult, they left an indelible mark on the game,” said Gumede.
Vincent Pamire whose administration at Zifa is credited with laying the foundation that earned Zimbabwe three Cosafa titles between 2000 and 2005 and two Africa Cup of Nations finals, spoke about Wankie’s Chutika Tembo’s partnership with legendary Amos Rendo.
“We can’t talk about football and leave out the guys from Hwange, they were brilliant defenders who deserved better recognition. Well Rendo was capped and Tembo got more success during his time at Highlanders, they had another good defender in their midst Stephen Chuma who at one time played as a striker,” said Pamire.
Pamire said Black Aces with Fresh Chamarenga and Shadreck Ngwenya provided fans with something to talk about for days after matches. Both played for their country.
He said Chimedza, Nxumalo and Adolf Mutuma were outstanding for the country in a partnership that at times had Murape in the thick of things from the 1960s to 1970s.
At his Chikwata whom he was with as an executive member in their successful year of 1988 when they won the league title and Chibuku Trophy, Pamire said Misheck Sibanda and Ephraim Chawanda had done a sterling job. He said strikers in the Premiership knew facing the two would be a difficult afternoon.
He was also impressed by several defences for the national team where Alexander Maseko, Shonhayi, John Phiri, Misheck Chidzambwa, Sunday Chidzambwa, Ephert Lungu and Ernest Mutano partnered each other.
“Those were the days of great talent and coaches had a torrid time with assembling the best defenders for national teams.
Sadly nowadays the talent is scant and recently when I went to a football match I found myself almost dozing,” said the Bulawayo businessman.
James Takavada, Ephraim Dzimbiri and Bennedict Moyo playing under the supervision of defensive link cog Benard Zikhali would go to national teams as right and left back respectively and occupy one of the centreback roles.
The Dynamos defence of Oliver Kateya, Garnett Muchongwe, Misheck Chidzambwa and Henry Charles cannot be ignored.
The Chidzambwa brothers Sunday and Misheck at the centre, had a not so surprising telepathic understanding of each other.
Prior to this generation they were other outstanding defences at Dynamos, Kateya, Sunday and Murape, Shadreck Ngwenya, Murape and Sunday with John Reeds playing in front of them but the period after 1976 saw 1980 Soccer Star of the Year David “Yogi” Mandigora defining the anchorman’s role and was to star for the club up to the late 1980s with a new generation of defenders in a glittering career laden with trophies.
Rio Tinto’s Graham Boyle and Lungu too did not surprise many when they went as that pairing to national teams. Douglas Mloyi and his twin tower partnerships with Richard Ndlovu and Maseko provided the aerial security for the short Peter Nkomo in crosses.
Black Rhinos one of the uniformed forces’ success stories in sport, had Simon “AK” Mugabe, Ernest Mutano and William Chikauro a watertight defence which provided adequate cover to the outstanding Japhet M’parutsa undoubtedly Zimbabwe’s best goalkeeper after Bruce Grobbelaar.
Gibson Homela one of the most versatile players of his generation, a living legend played as an attacker for both club and country and was part of a watertight defence which won trophies with players like the late Isaac Banda, Philemon Dangarembwa and the late Emmanuel Sibanda deserves mention.
Recent years also had some good defence partnerships which took no prisoners.
Hlanganani Ngwenya, Norman Njelele and Obert Moyo brought back the old feel of don’t miss both the man and the ball.
They were good but at times got carried away with being tough tacklers for the fun of it rather than for the defensive need and could compete for the “toughest partnership” with AmaZulu who had David Mkandawire, Herbert Dick, Mkhuphali Masuku and Nkosana Gumbo ensuring their rearguard was no playfield for forwards.
A veteran sports journalist said the Chidzambwas and the duo of Maseko and Shonhayi stand out for him in national team colours. As to who were the best partners the debate can rage on as there is no scientific formula to the answer.
Dozens of defenders have impressed in different roles under different coaches.
Online Reporter