The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
TRAVERSING 70km along the meandering tarmac from Nyazura to Mutare on foot to complete an arduous journey from Mhondoro-Ngezi at a tender age of 16 after being sent away from school for failing to pay fees was part of Rodwell Dhlakama’s gruelling trip back home more than 30 years ago.
At any cost, the young and dejected Rodwell just had to leave Mhondoro-Ngezi, and go all out in search of, not only the much-needed comforts of teenage-hood, but basics such as an education and a roof over his head.
Dehumanising circumstances that include spending days staying at a nearby disused shop after being booted out of Mhondoro-Ngezi High boarding facilities while in Form Two, left the boy with no choice, but to leave for his home province of Manicaland.
Somehow young Rodwell was lucky to have a sister and a brother-in-law who took him in and got the talented budding footballer enrolled for his Form Three and Form Four secondary school studies at Dangamvura High School.
“It was not an easy journey at all. I stayed in Mhondoro with my grandmother, but after her death, even though I had some of my mother’s relatives around that area, there was none I could stay with as a guardian.
“When I came back to Mutare after going through those excruciating experiences that include living in a disused shop and completing my journey on foot, my sister and her husband took me in and got me enrolled at Dangamvura High School for my Former Three and Four studies.
“Luckily, I managed to use my football talents and got a scholarship from CPMZ Feruka that took me through to Form Four,” narrated Dhlakama.
The eloquent football gaffer traces his roots to the remote Chikore community in Chipinge District where he initially attained his early education at Rebai Primary School and later moved to his mother’s rural home of Mhondoro-Ngezi where he stayed with his grandmother, albeit being in boarding school.
Upon his return to Manicaland, Dhlakama got the O-Level studies scholarship together the late Blessing Makunike and Alexander Chabveka.
Football seemed to have a way of unveiling opportunities for him as he got another scholarship to compete his A-Level studies at Chikore Mission.
Such a hearty welcome back to his home province that placed the story of his life back on the rails is now elusive for Dhlakama as a football coach.
Dhalakama with over 25 years experience has coached Zimasco FC Shurugwi in Division One, domestic Premiership trio of Monomotapa FC, Caps United and Kiglon Bird as well as at Manzini Sundowns of Swaziland (Eswatini), in a lengthy coaching career that is decorated with cup and league championships.
For some reason, Dhlakama has not had a chance to be trusted with the role of coaching a Manicaland-based club irrespective of his decorated curriculum vitae.
Just like the biblical Amos, Dhlakama reckons a prophet is hardly acceptable in his homeland.
“It is sad that I have achieved a lot in my career as a coach. Without appearing to be proud, I am one of the most experienced coaches among the current crop of coaches in our Premier Soccer League, but I have never had a chance to coach in Manicaland.
“Without sounding too regional because I am someone who can work anywhere, it is something that I think about always and deeply worries me because it is through the football structures in Manicaland that I am what I am today.
“I also know that the people I grew up with and who knew me as a youngster are the same people now managing football in Manicaland and these people can hardly believe that I am capable of producing good results and even achieve great things with a team from the same hood I grew up,” said Dhlakama.
Dhlakama’s football expedition did not have the kind of smooth take-offs.
His prodigious talent was difficult to ignore, however, as he immediately caught the eye of soccer instructors.
As such, Dhlakama, hardly into his teens, soon broke into the school’s senior team as a fresh faced Form One pupil.
But a horrendous ankle injury cruelly forced his career to crash-land before it could get into full flight.
The game’s gravitational pull on the then 20-year-old did not wane, however.
The grief-stricken youngster did not turn his back on football.
Then some course-plotting chance encounters with Jimmy Malomo (late), James Muhala and a legend of the game – the late Misheck “Scania” Marimo (Chidzambwa) – proved to be catalytic in blowing winds into Dhlakama’s sailing to coaching.
The trio played a hand holding role on the budding tactician.
