Who should make up football hall of fame in Zimbabwe?

By Lot Chitakasha

I had a dream the other night, a powerful and beautiful dream and I hated it when I woke up. A new ZIFA board had been elected into office and the new chairman, a former top player was quick to implement his football vision.

The new brooms at ZIFA were seized with the zeal of cleaning up the mess in our football fraternity. They set up a committee to find sponsorship for the national team and the league. The much neglected junior structures were revived and new coaches were trained to monitor them.

Former players were encouraged to get back into the game by acquiring coaching badges and administrative skills. Support for the grassroots was revived and stadiums were modernised, even poor old Gwanzura and Sakubva stadiums were unrecognisable after the revamp.

The National Stadium was restored to its former glory, the pride of the nation. The icing on the cake was the establishment of a Hall of Fame. The deliberations of the committee as they sought those to induct in this prestigious hall is the subject of this article.

There are heroes in every sphere of life ranging from the fields of politics, economics, religion, sport and social. Every society has that inherent desire for heroes, men and women who make a difference in people’s lives.

In Zimbabwe, the topic of heroes has been confined to the field of politics with only those of a certain political persuasion and grouping recognised as such. Other fields have largely been deemed as insignificant. This has come at the expense of such luminaries like Jairosi Jiri, Safirio Madzikatire, Thomas Mapfumo, Oliver Mtukudzi, Stella Chiweshe, Adam Ndlovu, Peter Ndlovu, Proud Kilimanjaro, George Shaya, Leornad Dembo to mention a few.

I strongly believe that heroes should be recognised while still alive not to wait for their demise. In most cases sporting heroes like music ones are soon forgotten and reduced to paupers as soon as their time in the limelight is over. It is unfortunate that administrators usually wait for government instead of taking it upon themselves to honour their heroes. I was therefore enthused by the new board’s decision to put this on their agenda.

The committee set up included former players, supporters, football writers, coaches and administrators past and current. Choosing heroes is never an easy task and is not free from controversy, but the diversity of the committee meant that as many voices as possible were heard. The committee came up with well-defined categories to ensure clarity in the selection process. The following categories were agreed, best goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, strikers, coaches, administrators, owners and football writers.

To clear the path, the committee agreed to induct all the winners of the soccer star of the year award, the man who have clinched that much coveted award. From its inception in 1969, the award has been won by some great footballers although there have been some controversial choices along the way and some fans argue that the calibre of winners has continued to go down in recent years.

George Shaya, a record 5 times winner, Tendai Chieza, Peter Nyama, Ernest Kamba, Moses Moyo, George Rollo, Shacky Tauro, David Mandigora, Stanley Ndunduma, Japhet Mparutsa, Ephert Lungu, James Takavada, Moses Chunga, Mercedes Sibanda, Ephraim Chawanda, Masimba Dinyero..a controversial choice since many felt Joel Shambo should have won this one, George Nechironga, Peter Ndlovu, Wilfred Mugeyi, Agent Sawu, Memory Mucherahova, Tauya Murehwa, Stewart Murisa, Walter Chuma, another controversial choice, Zenzo Moyo, Maxwell Dube, Energy Murambadoro, Cephas Chimedza, Joseph Kamwendo, Clemence Mutawu, Murape Murape, Evans Chikwaikwai, Ramson Zhuwawo, Charles Sibanda, Washington Arubi, Denver Mukamba and Dennis Dauda were all inducted.

I know a few eyebrows will be raised about the calibre of certain winners, but if we accept the award as the benchmark of our football excellence then we have to accept all the winners and induct them.

The next stage was to choose the goalkeepers. There have been some great goalkeepers over the years but unfortunately only a few could be inducted.

Those who made the list are Rob Jordan, Mathew Mwale, Posani Sibanda, Bruce Grobelaar, Japhet Mparutsa, Peter Nkomo, Raphael Phiri and Frank Mkanga. These were great goalkeepers and the up and coming young goalkeepers like Artwell Mukandi and Donovan Bernard have a lot to learn from these super cats.

Recognition of the defenders was the next task. Great defenders have adorned the domestic league. The committee acknowledged the contributions of Steven Fakasimbi Chimedza, Sunday Marimo Chidzambwa, Ephert Lungu, Daniel Chikanda, Epraim Chawanda, Francis Shonhayi, Fresh Chamarenga, Mercedes Sibanda and Norman Mapeza.

In an age where players have often been accused of being soft and tackling is becoming a dying art, these players were tough as teak defenders and masters of the tackle and for that they deserve recognition. Current defenders like Teenage Radebe and Dennis Dauda can learn one or two tricks from these past masters.

The task of the committee was cut out when it came to choosing the midfielders. This is an area in Zimbabwean football which has always been packed with talent. The country has produced some midfield magicians but not all of them could be inducted.

Those who topped the list are Joel Shambo, Stix Mtizwa, Willard Khumalo, Moses Chunga but top of the class has to be George Shaya. Shaya was a mastermind and many considered him as a midfielder cum-striker but in his era he faced stiff competition from the likes of James Nxumalo, William Sibanda and Moses Moyo and Tendai Chieza.

All these were inducted. It is a shame that a great talent like Archford Chimutanda could not make it, his career never blossomed to its full potential, he never took the game seriously, he took it as a sideshow but he remains a legend among Black Aces fans.

My friend, Charles Makuwerere always tells me about how Archie would run to the dressing room after scoring and the coaches would come to persuade him to come back, or he would leave the pitch with five minutes to go..that was the mercurial Archie for you, a flawed genius.

Other midfielders who deserve mention but could not make the ultimate grade are Ronald Sibanda, Loyd Mutasa, Rodrick Muganhiri, Hamid Dhana, Benjamin Nkonjera, David Mwanza, Joe Mugabe, Max Tshuma and Shaw Handriede. The competition was indeed stiff.

The selection of the strikers and the wingers was a hard call for the selectors, the plethora of talent made it a tough task indeed. The obvious choices were Shacky Tauro, a man whose instinct for goal was second nature.

He is joined on the list by Peter Ndlovu, Freddy Mkwesha, Chita Antonio, Peter Nyama, Agent Sawu, Wonder Chaka, Ebson Muguyo, with Stanley Ndunduma, Madinda Ndlovu, Edward Katsvere, Joseph Zulu and Joseph Machingura coming on as wingers.

The committee acknowledged the contributions of Alois Bunjira, Adam Ndlovu, Jerry Chidawa, Maronga Nyangela and Gift Mpariwa but like in any class not everyone can take the prize.

Many coaches have contributed to the game and their places in the Hall Of Fame were guaranteed. Reinhard Fabisch for his Dream Team exploits, Sunday Marimo Chidzambwa for breaking the AFCON jinx, Mick Poole for early win with the national team in the CECAFA tournament, Father Davis for his early work with St Pauls, Wieslaw Grabowski for unearthing all those gems from the dusty streets of Chitungwiza.

I would need a page to list them, from Musareka Janitala to Norman Mapeza, it is a long list, Roy Barretto for his days at Zimbabwe Saints on their way to the 1988 league win.

Rahman Gumbo for his work at Highlanders, Obediah Sarupinda, Joe Rugg for his incredible work at Rio Tinto and the national team, Eddie May, Joey Antipas, he seems to have been in the game forever and Callisto Pasuwa for his record breaking four titles with Dynamos.

Special mention was made for former President Canaan Banana whose contribution to the game cannot be ignored. His work with State House Tornadoes as coach and referee were noted. Despite the sexual allegations that dogged him in later life, he will not be out of place in this hall of fame. Junior coaches like Alois Patsika, Ali Baba Dube, Cosmas Tsano Zulu and women coach Rosemary Mugadza were also inducted.

Administrators and football writers were also inducted. John Madzima and Nelson Chirwa, referees Felix Tangawarima, Paul Pretorius and Felix Sanyika were acknowledged. Founders like Delma Lupepe, Joel Salifu, Ronnie Chihota, Ginger Chinguwa, Ben Muchedzi and Joe Pajero Masenda founders of the flamboyant Blackpool team, Eric Rosen, Twine Phiri.

There was a special place for the founding fathers of Dynamos like Sam Dauya, Richard Chiminya, Obediah Sarupinda, Freddy Mkwesha, Jairosi Banda, Denver Mahachi, Morrison Sefalani, Shacky Chitimbe, Danny Bricks, Josiah Akende and Patrick Amanto Dvene for giving us this football giant.

Special acknowledgement for the founders of Highlanders, the grandsons of the last Ndebele king Lobengula whose vision gave us this amazing institution.

Great writers have captured the action on the back pages of our papers and their contributions were acknowledged. Sam Marisa, Allan Hlatshwayo, Assel Gwekwerere, Jahor Omar, Collin Matiza were wordsmiths who captured the action on the pitch with amazing clarity.

Current writers like Robson Sharuko and Grace Chingoma, Sikhumbuzo Moyo and Hope Chizuzu continue with this rich tradition and their time in the Hall of Fame will come. Also inducted were the legends of football commentary, Evans Mambara, Charles Mabika, Choga Tichatonga Gavhure and Jabulani Sibanda were inducted for their lively commentary, it would be a dull world without them.

I must be admit that the task was not easy, but they came up with a fair representation of our football heroes.

Everything was looking rosy .The new dispensation was taking shape, the fans were coming back, the players were happy and the quality was going up. The junior structures were thriving and the national team was making progress in both World Cup and The AFCON tournaments, there was a buoyant mood in the country.

The alarm rang, I had to wake up to go to my day shift. On the way I checked the online papers, the news was dire. The Mighty Warriors had failed to travel for a tournament, Callisto Pasuwa the national coach had not been paid and the under 23 was on hunger strike before being knocked out. My dream had been too good to be true, the headlines were the harsh reality of our football world but I continue to hope for better days.