The ManicaPost
Moffat Mungazi
Sports Reporter
THERE is a strikingly familiar echo to Sakubva-bred ex-soccer stars, Lazarus “Mali” Muhoni and Joseph “Shabba” Takaringofa’s football careers.
Not only did the pair once turn out for their hometown club – the now defunct former Premiership outfit and 1993 Castle Cup champions, Tanganda – but also trekked to the capital from Mutare to broaden their football horizons.
Interestingly, the duo both turned out for Harare giants, Dynamos and CAPS United at some points of their careers.
While pulling the famous blue shirt for DeMbare and MaKepeKepe’s green is a lifetime dream for many, trading them to feature in the hallowed Harare Derby on both sides of the divide is a truly remarkable feat.
Yet Muhoni and Takaringofa pulled it off.
Joseph “Shabba” Takaringofa
Although Dynamos were admirers of the towering midfielder, CAPS were quick to snatch him from Zupco Mutare at the conclusion of the 1995 campaign following a successful stint at Tanganda.
The Glamour Boys had earlier tried,but failed to lure Shabba and reunite him with Lloyd “Samaita” Mutasa who was once his teammate at Tan-Tan.
“At that time, the late Misheck Chidzambwa was my coach and his brother,Sunday was in charge of Dynamos. Although DeMbare wanted me, the deal could not materialise at that time, but I think given the Samaita and Chidzambwas factor, it now looks like I was destined to play for them later on during the journey. But it is CAPS United I turned out for first,” recounts Takaringofa.
He featured in the all-conquering Green Machine juggernaut that steamrolled past opponents on their way to a clean sweep of virtually every silverware on domestic offer during the trailblazing 1996 season.
His teammates in that star-studded side included soccer star-of-the-year winner, Stewart “Shutto” Murisa, finalists, Joe “Kode” Mugabe (late), Alois “KrissKross” Bunjira and Farai “Mr Perfect” Mbidzo, as well as captain, Silver “Bhonzo” Chigwenje, Lloyd Chitembwe, Blessing “Yogo-Yogo” Makunike, Morgan Nkathazo and Mpumelelo Dzowa.
Because of his versatility to play as both an attacking and defensive midfielder, Shabba competed with the likes of Mugabe, Mbidzo and Chitembwe for slots.
After leaving the Green Machine for Jets, DeMbare came knocking again for his signature.
“This time I took up their offer and DeMbare was my home for the 1998 campaign. There I rubbed shoulders with the likes of Mutasa, Desmond “Gazza” Maringwa, Kallisto “Manabhundu” Pasuwa, Lenny “Ninja” Gwata, Makwinji Soma-Phiri and Harlington Shereni, among others. I thoroughly enjoyed my one-year stay there before returning to MaKepeKepe in 1999 until 2000,” said Takaringofa.
DeMbare’s former chairman, Lloyd Hove was instrumental in engineering the deal.
His ability to shift positions again saw him shunted into different roles and would sometimes challenge for Soma Phiri and Sandros Kumwenda’s spots in attack.
While at CAPS United, Takaringofa faced their archrivals on four occasions–thrice in league duels and once in a Charity Shield encounter.
He lasted the entire 90 minutes in two of the games and came on as a substitute in the other two.
During his season-long stint in the blue corner of the capital, Shabba played against his former club only once, and sat out the other fixture through injury.
Goals were, however, elusive as he did not find the target in both teams’ colours.
Without singling out one for special mention, Shabba said he deeply cherished playing on either side when the traditional foes squared off.
He explains: “It is never easy coming all the way from Mutare and play for both CAPS United and Dynamos alongside those stars. It was all worthwhile and delightful. The derbies were particularly exciting because of their self-motivating nature. These games had soul and several sub-plots. Everyone wanted to play in such matches that even training sessions in the build-up to those games were characterised by intensity. The supporters played their part,too, while the media hyped up the contests.”
Lazarus “Mali” Muhoni
The former Buffaloes man, not the craftiest players around by his own admission, earned his switches to the two clubs for he was a big-game player.
He would rise to the occasion and put in workman like shifts each time his own team came up against the Harare giants.
Joining DeMbare and MaKepeKepe was on merit, he reckons.
Recalls Muhoni: “I was at Dynamos between 2008 and 2010. Our exploits alongside the likes of Edward “Duduza” Sadomba, Murape “Monya” Murape, Wonder Sithole and Lovemore“Thula” Mapuya from Chipinge saw us having a good run in the CAF Champions that took us to the semi-finals of the competition before being eliminated by Cotton Sport of Cameroon.
“We had got the better of such teams as Asec Mimosas, Al Ahly, Zamalek, Esperance Tunis to reach that stage. The late David “Yogi” Mandigora (may his soul rest in peace) was our coach.”
At the lapse of his loan spell at the Glamour Boys from army side, Black Rhinos, the ex-Warriors midfielder crossed the floor to their arch rivals in 2011.
His teammates in the Green Machine dugout included defender, Method Mwanjale, hitman, Nyasha Mushekwi, enforcers, Ashley “Compressor” Rambanepasi and Lionel “Gattuso” Mtizwa.
Lloyd Chitemwbe was the gaffer and the current ZIFA technical director Wilson Mutekede his assistant.
“I just felt I needed a change of environment,” he said, adding: “Moving clubs would bring me the new challenge I always relished as well as experiencing the different atmosphere at the capital city’s two biggest clubs.”
Muhoni played four Harare Derby games in total — twice on either side.
Impressing on his debut in the flagship fixture, he netted the second strike for the Glamour Boys on a glorious afternoon in 2008 at Rufaro for a 3-1 home triumph.
He has archived that as easily his finest moment of the bruising battles between the eternal foes.
In 2011, Muhoni turned the tables and came back to hunt down and haunt DeMbare.
He marked another fine outing with a goal that rescued a precious point for MaKepekepe in a one-all stalemate at Gwanzura.
All this ranks among the best moments of his career, including — of course — being on target during Zimbabwe’s victory against Mali in a 2004 AFCON qualifier.
“These are moments one will cherish forever, an experience like no other. Emotions run high owing to the immense rivalry, not mentioning the huge crowds that added colour to the encounters. With the bragging rights at stake, these were the kind of games that made heroes and villains because the spotlight would firmly be cast on the fixture,” said Muhoni.
He puts the scale of the two teams’ success down to their respective club cultures.
“There is always a lot of pressure at Dynamos.
“Their vociferous fans always come to the stadium in their droves, are very demanding and often impatient because they are used to winning. That makes them the big club they are.
“One must always be ready to deliver and there is little room for excuses. One cannot afford to fail to measure up. DeMbare supporters can also be overbearing and sometimes want to have their way and influence how the club is run.
On the other hand, the story is completely different at CAPS United,” he said.
