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FORMER Zimbabwe Government Minister and medical doctor Herbert Ushewokunze was very passionate about football and was responsible for bringing many a great player to his beloved Zimbabwe Saints FC.
On the list is Gibson Homela, William Sibanda, Aleck Mwanza all poached from Gweru Amateur Football Association grounds and Fletcher High School and the late George Shaya from St Paul Musami. Another former Saints winger, William “Willie” Nyamwanza arrived from St Augustine’s Mission in Penhalonga, Manicaland Province.
“I was born at Mzilikazi Clinic some 74 years ago. I grew up at my grand parents’ home in Manicaland and went to school at St Augustine’s Mission in Muchena Village close to Penhalonga. I moved back to Bulawayo and played for Mashonaland United Football Club (Zimbabwe Saints). I used my first name as Willie, largely because there was another William that is William Sibanda,” said Nyamwanza.
Ushewokunze was Mashonaland United FC chairman back then in the 1960s when Nyamwanza joined. From football oral history, he was a shrewd football schemer who wanted a very competent team assembled. A look at his 1963 recruits from Fletcher Homela, Mwanza and Sibanda all were big hits and belong to football folklore. When Nyamwanza joined Chikwata, the legendary Paul Kruger was the coach.
“I played as an attacker on the right wing. My nickname was Jairzinho,“ said Nyamwazana.
Jairzinho who also played for Kaizer Chiefs and tried to take Bulawayo Wanderers and Highlanders legend Majuta Mpofu to Brazil, was the architect of the South Americans’ World Cup triumph in 1970 with Pele. Joining Saints in 1967, Nyamwanza’s seniors were Homela, Sibanda, Nelson Mapara and Mwanza.
His peers were Adam Maseko the legendary goalkeeper who was among the three players called up to the Rhodesia team for the final World Cup qualifiers against Australia in 1969. Itai Chieza and Andrew Kadengu were the other two players.
“The other players I can still remember who I played with are Phineas Chidheme, Francis Ngara and Ebson ‘Sugar’ Muguyo,” said the former winger.
He speaks with nolstagia of Tymon Mabaleka, Adam Maseko and Moses “Madala” Moyo as among the brightest stars of the early 1970s who left an indelible mark in Zimbabwe football. Nyamwanza remembers playing against the Chieza brothers Itai, Tendai, Winston, Hector, George and Isaac.
He was part of Chikwata when the team started “Walking Tall’ in 1974 winning the club’s first major silverware, the BAT Rosebowl beating Salisbury Callies 2-1. He was a decent player and says he did not rise to national team recognition and quit football in 1975 to go and study in the United Kingdom.
“I left the country in 1975 and went to England ( Sunderland) then crossed the channel three years later into West Germany. I never played soccer in West Germany as I concentrated on my education,” said Nyamwanza.
On his return Nyamwanza dabbled in tennis and later moved to golf.
“I became captain of Royal Harare Golf Club and later president of the Zimbabwe Golf Association.”
He is still a very active golfer and still a member of the Royal Harare Golf Club.
“I am also a member of a social golfing club called Shumba Golf Society, where I was chairman and a trustee,” Nyamwanza said.
Married with three children Nyamwanza said had he gone overseas with his appreciation of professional football nowadays, with his Saints exposure he would have given playing abroad a try. He described Homela and Sibanda as having been very good players.
“During my playing days Gibson Homela and William Sibanda were the top players,” said Nyamwanza.
His most memorable match was a clash with Mangula (Mhangura) where he came face to face with the Chieza brothers.
Nyamwanza said the real great rivalry in local football was Highlanders versus Zimbabwe Saints and the Zimbabwe Saints clash with Dynamos. Following the demise of Chikwata, the biggest game in the calendar is now Dynamos vs Highlanders.
Online Reporter