Moses 'Razorman' Chunga's journey

By Goodwill Zunidza

ONCE upon a time, there was the Great Trek from Malawi to Zimbabwe.

Countless folk made the journey. Among them was a couple, Andrew and Esnath, who trekked along and settled in the Lytton industrial area of the capital.

In no time, Andrew secured work at the tobacco processing company that employed the majority of the cliffside compound’s residents, while his wife sensed the business opportunities that abounded and opened up a market stall in the neighbourhood.

This was where it all began because many flocked to the little stall not only to enjoy the reception from the gracious lady but also sample the sumptuous dishes on offer like offals and knucklebones that Esnath prepared. One sight always greeted every connoisseur who stopped by.

A little cheeky boy performing theatrics with a football, displaying skills not even on show in the country’s topflight league. The visitors, among them soccer players taking a short break from a clash against the popular local community team, Lytton Wolves, would especially enjoy the moment the young boy came forward to serve them, assisting his mother with the dishes.

They just could not stop marvelling at the boy of no more than 15 years but with football gimmicks hardly matched by any international star they watched on television.

They were not seeing “things”. The adventurous brat before them in the tiny compound would go on to become post-independent Zimbabwe’s first football export.

Just how much the lad would achieve no one could picture then but it has certainly been much more than they ever could have predicted. His name is Moses Chunga and he is now by far the most popular footballer ever produced in the country.

But also the most controversial, one may add. Debates countrywide have centred on who has been the greatest Zimbabwean footballer ever. Whenever the debate rages you are sure to get many takes. Many have settled on Chunga, but for those with other names of choice, the name Chunga would still rank among their nominees for the hallowed position.

Chunga’s sojourn in Belgium has earned him the bragging rights of being perhaps the most accomplished football professional in the land. And experts say it was not by accident that he was the first black Zimbabwean after independence to break into Europe.

He was that good!

Following retirement, the Razorman, as he was known during his playing days, has ventured into coaching where he appears to have become a darling of controversy. In 14 years of the trade he has seen service with no less than 10 different teams in both the Premier Soccer League and the First Division.

Most of the time, it is reported, Chunga would quit in a huff. Chunga has joked about the notion that he is a nomadic coach.

“It’s within my blood to be nomadic. My parents travelled all the way from Malawi to settle in Zimbabwe.’’

Last week he completed his latest rabblerousing antic by absconding from duty when his side Gunners, a team he helped found in 2006, played Motor Action in the capital.

Chunga explained to unamused club officials that he was ill and is ready to resume his duties but he remained on the sidelines yesterday as Gunners continued business under assistant Darlington Dodo.

While awaiting his fate Chunga took his influence to the sleepy town of Norton where on Friday he conducted the third episode of his role model outreach programme where he lectures youths on life skills and sporting discipline.

Those in attendance will testify it will be difficult to suppress the man’s public status. Wherever he steps he seems to command more fame. Even young children as young as eight, who could never have heard, or seen, his exploits, still celebrated his name. It’s like everlasting esteem. Chunga’s football knowledge is considered supreme and nomatter his controversy many administrators still await an opportunity to eat out of his hands and that is why with the survival phase about to commence in the Premier Soccer League, the job market is expected to open up for him.

“Moses Chunga is a genius,” says Stix Mtizwa, another legend who partnered Chunga in the Warriors but knew him from a very early age.

“We saw him kick balls around the Lytton compound when we visited with Glens Strikers to play Lytton Wolves in the 1970s and we could tell there was a genius in the making. We actually were supposed to go to Belgium together but my move was turned down by Black Rhinos while Dynamos approved of his departure but I personally knew he would achieve great things in football,’’ reflected the former CAPS United and Black Rhinos star midfielder.

“In coaching,” Mtizwa continued, “Chunga has gone on to do wonders. He presented players like Tafadzwa Rusike, Zvenyika Makonese, recently Qadr Amin to the nation and was the founder of the Kidznet project at Dynamos which would have gone on to establish Dynamos as a great team in Africa if Chunga had stayed.”

But Mtizwa, who first played alongside Moses’ elder brother Kembo at Glens Strikers before they moved separately to CAPS United and Dynamos, accepts there is another side to Chunga.

“He is someone who speaks his mind and he points out the truth. I also admit my young brother is short tempered and I want to say cool down, Mosie, don’t let the anomalies in local football administration frustrate your talent. Just concentrate on what you do best and we will help you develop our football to what it should be.’’

Chunga, who denies he is a difficult person to deal with, believes local coaches are given a raw deal and cites it as the reason football development has been slow.

“Coaches should be in a position to be let loose to run the teams as they see fit, especially former footballers. They know best the attributes a player should possess. But administrators do not want to respect that and are always interfering with our duties,’’ he says. The “Razorman” still hopes to win the championship one day but says it will only happen under circumstances in which he is happy with the code of conduct at the team and terms of his contract are respected.

Source: The Sunday Mail