Zimbabwean revels in serving international footies

A Zimbabwe tour guide based in Limpopo Province in South Africa, Isaac Ncube is enjoying every bit of his work as he is rubbing shoulders with great footballers of the past when they are on holiday.

His job has brought him to the table with Kaizer Chiefs living legends Simphiwe Tshabalala and Itu Khune, Zimbabwean Edelbert Dinha, Orlando Pirates’ Abednico Netshiodzwi and left-back Phiri Tsotesi, former England and Liverpool goalkeeper David James and Burnley’s Sammie Vokes.

He has also met renowned soccer journalist and commentator Thomas Kwenaite.

Ncube said growing up as a player it was always his dream to rub shoulders with great names.

A failed bid as a professional footballer when he was sent to the rural areas at a time when his career was blossoming saw him take a different career path.

“I had a big dream growing up in Hwange playing football. What would one expect after being inspired by one of the best goalkeepers the country has ever had Posani Sibanda as your coach at primary school.

We dreamt of playing for the Colliery side like him.

“As I progressed to secondary school I found myself playing for Raith Rovers in the local Division Two League with then fading former Hwange midfielder Philemon Nyathi.

“Back then about football we thought local, little did I know that at some stage I would meet some of the biggest names in football both in Africa and the world,” said Ncube who was nicknamed Ghetto because he had a  resemblance of Gift Mpariwa the former Caps United and Dynamos scoring king in the way he played.

He said it was a great experience getting to connect with the game again through meeting former players.

“Some of them evoke great memories of the past, perhaps lost opportunities and dreams. I look back at Dinha, a great player for country and the clubs he turned out for, he left a great mark on the game both at home and in South Africa.

“Most of these guys played football when it was more exciting and you look back and say during their days we had our own greats who lit stadia in Zimbabwe,” said Ncube.

Ncube was a budding player in his teens who played in the local Hwange league and was at one stage with the Hwange FC juniors where he played with Bongani Msipha, Taboniswa Ncube, Kenneth Ngulube, Lovemore Nakamba a brother to Zimbabwe international, Marvellous’ dad Anthony, Tembo Chuma, Vusumuzi Dumane and Fanyana Mguni.

A great number of his age mates he played with from school either played for Hwange FC, Zesa Hwange which changed to ZPC Hwange and Victoria Falls Division One clubs.

“Meeting football players is one of my career highlights as a tour guide. I reconnect with my passion which is football. They are nice guys. One gets surprised that they are so humble and mix freely,” said Ncube.

Ncube rubbed shoulders with greatness in the local game like former Hwange players Barton Mwalukuka, Nyaro Mumba, Dickson Banda, Chabuka Mwale and Nylon Ncube when he turned out for Projects in the Hwange First Division.

Ghetto said growing up the likes of David Khumalo, Mumba, Skeva Phiri, Shacky Tauro, Madinda Ndlovu and Rodrick Simwanza were role models.

Ncube said having Marvellous and John Mcginn in Victoria Falls was a huge endorsement of Zimbabwe tourism.

He said with the visit of the Aston Villa skipper, many professional footballers from the United Kingdom may consider Destination Zimbabwe.