The ManicaPost
Moffat Mungazi’s Footy Footnotes
NESTLED on the eastern part of the country is the exquisite Manicaland Province, whose capital is the City of Mutare.
The region is abundantly blessed with infinite riches of mineral deposits, breathtaking scenery, agricultural produce, wonderful weather patterns and several tourist attractions. All this beauty makes Manicaland a must-go-to place.
Also, this land is a dwelling to some of the warmest hearted people one can ever come across anywhere in the world, while it is also famed for its hospitality.
That said, some of the finest footballers to grace Zimbabwe’s football grounds trace their roots to Manicaland. Several prominent players, past and present, were born or raised here.
The list below is not exhaustive.
Yesteryear greats like Norman Mapeza, Lloyd Chitembwe, Tonderai Ndiraya, Alois Bunjira, Shepherd “Dragline” Muradzikwa, Lazarus “Madazha” Muhoni, Blessing “Yogo-Yogo” Makunike (late), Joseph “Shabba” Takaringofa, Lloyd “Samaita” Mutasa, Cliff and Ian Matondo, Lovemore “Thula” Mapuya, Nelson Bandura, Blessing Gumiso, Patrick Chapoterera, Spencer Ngowe, Emmanuel Maluwa, Alexander Chabveka, Joseph Kabwe, Taurai “Dhana” Makukutu and Clemence “Skude” Mukudu all have Manicaland blood flowing in their veins.
Present-day Manicaland protagonists in the game include Willard “Bute” Katsande (Kaizer Chiefs), Washington Arubi (Supersport United), Liberty Chakoroma (Chicken Inn), Phenias Bamusi (CAPS United), Pasca Manhanga (Triangle), Tichaona Mabvura, Nyasha Chintuli, Anelka Chivandire, Chang Mariyoni (all Ngezi Platinum Stars) and Blessing Mwandimutsira (Black Rhinos), among a host of others.
The bulk of this galaxy of stars grew up with hweshe (home-made plastic ball) as a staple. Some of them played on the dusty streets of the high-density suburbs of Sakubva, Chikanga and Dangamvura.
More remarkable is that at the height of their careers, several of these footballers were good enough to pull the revered gold and green shirt of the national team, notably Mapeza, Bunjira, Chitembwe, Muradzikwa and Makunike.
Muhoni is among the pioneer cast of the Warriors who represented the country at their Tunisia maiden Afcon finals in 2004.
Arubi is reputed for being the third short-stopper in the history of the Zimbabwean game. He scooped the coveted Soccer Star of the Year (2011) accolade after Energy Murambadoro (2003) and Japhet “Shortcat” Mparutsa (1982). He also turned out for the country’s two biggest clubs, Dynamos and Highlanders.
The combative Katsande, a midfield enforcer who has been a mainstay at South African glamour club, Kaizer Chiefs for close to a decade, had the honor of captaining the Warriors at the 2017 Afcon finals in Gabon, while Chakaroma also enjoyed the distinction of wearing the armband as the Under-20 skipper.
Chakoroma and Bamusi, both former Soccer Star of the Year finalists, are currently in camp with the Warriors for the Chan preparations.
On the technical side of things, Rodwell Dhlakama, Mapeza, Ndiraya, Chitembwe, Mutasa and Takaringofa have evolved into competent coaches who at some points in their esteemed careers earned their keep with Premiership teams.
These are all everyday people from our local communities — fleet-footed, gifted with brawny football brains and doing extraordinary stuff on the park. They are our heroes, we idolise and can immortalise them in the province’s football folklore. This will inspire youngsters to seriously take up the game as a profession since it has become big business across the globe.
Many of these gems we continue churning out have made a mark outside the province and country. Are we giving the Eastern stars the due recognition and the platform to showcase their talent?
We will continue to unearth and polish our own talent!
With Mutare’s two teams set to participate in the Premiership concurrently for the first time, will this allow a new superstar to step into the limelight?
If you love football, let’s share the cheer. We are made for the game, and are mad about the game!
Out of interest, ardent reader, which past and present stars would make it into Manicaland’s XI?
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