The ManicaPost
Moffat Mungazi
Sports Correspondent
THEY say “charity begins at home” but this truism seems a far-fetched hypothesis if one closely scrutinises how Mutare-based Premiership giants appear to give one of Manicaland’s sharpest football minds — Rodwell Dhlakama — a cold shoulder when it comes to forging relationships in the game.
Just over half-a-dozen teams from the diamond-mining city have been promoted into the local elite league.
Five — Buffaloes, Mutare City Rovers, Dongo Sawmills, Eastern Lions and Highway — have fallen by the wayside.
Two — Manica Diamonds and new boys Tenax — are still standing and it remains to be seen how much they will pull their weight among the big boys of the domestic game.
Overall, demoted teams generally struggled to preserve their Premiership statuses. Their fruitless flirtations with the elite league inevitably led to the eventual collapse and disbandment of the clubs.
The latter three sadly suffered this cruel fate.
Yet Dhlakama, one of the high profile coaches from the province who traces his roots to Chipinge, has been in the trenches long enough to be safely touted as a competent coach the doomed teams could have turned to for salvation.
The highly regarded gaffer was a championship winner with the now defunct Monomotapa in 2008.
He was the technical manager while another luminary from the Eastern Highlands — Norman Mapeza — was the head coach.
A remarkable run in the Caf Champions League ensued in the following season, where he led the modest side to the lucrative group stages.
For him, the last bit of the above-mentioned axiom about charity beginning at home — “but should not end there” — rings particularly true.
Dhlakama is also a conqueror in the region, having served with distinction in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland).
He distinguished himself by lifting a League and Cup double with Manzini Sundowns in the tiny Southern Africa kingdom.
The 46-year-old is presently earning his keep with Mhondoro at Ngezi Platinum Stars whom he guided to a silver medal in the country’s premier knockout competition — the Chibuku Super Cup — before football action was called off following the outbreak of coronavirus.
In the same season, the ambitious club also secured a top four finish under his tutelage.
Such is the sharp contrast in fortunes for Premiership teams from the province and Dhlakama, although their football paths have never crossed.
Could this be a case of a prophet without honour in his homeland?
“I guess so,” he quips, before continuing, “Without taking anything away from these clubs, they have their own reasons for not engaging me and I respect and appreciate that. Maybe it is not meant to be yet, only time shall tell.”
But some consider the 2007 Annual National Sports Awards (Ansa) coach of the year expensive to lure owing to his reputation as a successful gaffer.
“Look, I am not in the game to make money. I do football because I love the sport and my life revolves around it. Besides, I am a son of Manicaland and I am absolutely committed to any cause that helps advance the province’s agenda. In fact, I remain emotionally connected to that place because it is my native land,” said Dhlakama.
He, however, highlighted that any tactician can train any team without necessarily being compartmentalised to regions.
Explained the shrewd mentor: “Coaches are universal and can get employed where their services are needed. I have been to Swaziland and coached several clubs in different parts of Zimbabwe were I was warmly accepted.”
The former Zupco Mutare and CPMZ player confirmed that at one time Buffaloes and Mutare City Rovers sounded him out but were never firm with their interests and pursuit.
“Yes, those two teams once approached me but it was not concrete, it never materialised. Also, the timing of their overtures could not allow me to join them because at that time I was tied to another club,” he added.
As a testament of his commitment to associating with teams from Manicaland, Dhlakama confirmed that he is working with Chawira Sports Academy in Chipinge, giving them technical direction.
“I am their patron. Using my experience, I am providing expertise and interacting with their coaches on a technical basis as I draw up some programmes for them.
“We are setting up proper structures and getting formerly registered soon so we go a level higher in pursuit of our vision.
“Remember the likes of Philip Marufu, Perfect Chikwende and Matthew Mahala at one point passed through this academy. Now we have Luke Musikiri joining Dynamos from our ranks.
“Steven Chatikobo, who recently turned out for the Zimbabwe national Under-17 and is now at Prince Edward, also came from Chawira Sports Academy.
“Everything is now in place at the academy — the club philosophy, constitution, mission and objectives. We will continue serving the surrounding communities, identify talent and help the budding youngsters develop and grow on their journey until they eventually turn professional.
“I have to give back to Manicaland because it contributed a lot to shaping me into the person that I am today. Whenever I can, I stand ready to help out,” said the ex-Chapungu coach.
