By Lot Chitakasha
Zimbabwean football fans of a certain generation will remember the football pride of the Midlands Province, Gweru United. The team claimed many scalps in our football arena and in the process produced many great players who gave us some unforgettable experiences.
Star players like dribbling wizard Collin Semwayo, tough as teak linkmen, Knight Mathe,and Roseman Mangwiro, lethal striker Wonder Chaka, reliable goalkeeper Ranga Mutunga, the ageless Ashton "Musharukwa" Mhlanga and the aptly named Kisdo Matsika among others answer the roll call of Pisa Pisa's Hall of Fame. It is a long list of star players who are embedded in our football narrative.
Recently I caught up with a former Captain of this football outfit and we went down memory lane.
His story captures what we used to do well and what we have lost, it is a story which is pregnant with lessons. It is a story which invites us to revisit the programmes which made our football so exciting, which made us produce such accomplished stars as the aforementioned.
Lot Chitakasha: "They call themselves "Dzinza" apparently because they were formed in 1912 (according to fans ) making them the oldest football club in Zimbabwe. Shabanie Mine are close, formed 1914 while Highlanders F.C come a distant third, they were formed in 1926."
By Lot Chitakasha
It is true to say that most governments recognise sports as a useful tool of mass mobilisation. Football, the people's sport often comes in handy during National events to entertain the masses.
In Zimbabwe this has been the case over the years. At independence in 1980, the football tournament which involved Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi was the icing on the cake. Of course Bob Marley and the Wailers were in town to show solidarity with the new Nation.
They gifted us a song Zimbabwe!
Over the years no National event has been complete without football being part of the proceedings. The Independence and The Heroes Day trophies have been part of our sporting calendar for years.
Teams like Dynamos and Highlanders (with the mass appeal ) have been there to advance the cause of the Nation. Recently they even took the game to Mt.Darwin during the Independence celebrations.
Former President President Mugabe was not a football person per se, he preferred Cricket but even those who surrounded knew the value of football.
Occasionally he attended matches to tap into the National appeal and yes his birthdays became occasions for Cup games. Bob@90, Bob @91...tapping into football!
But if the truth be said, Government, to be precise our Leaders have taken and taken from football without giving back.
By Lot Chitakasha
I attended that blockbuster match when the newly christened Dream Team put the recently assembled Bafana BAFANA who were returning from years of international isolation due to the racist policies of the Apartheid Regime to the sword.
Rahman Gumbo, "Rush " contributed to the joy with a thirty meter thunderbolt!
What a hit that was and it sent the 60 000 fans into delirium! We were in football heaven!
In my discussion with Legend Moses Chunga he asked me in his usual intelligent way..
"What is a legend .?!"
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