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| No better class - Adam (RIP), Madinda and Peter |
Usually, people would say that players scored like it is going out of fashion, then you think of Barry Daka, Cavin Dubley, Tymon Mabaleka, Mark Watson, Majuta Mpofu, Chris Mhlanga, Edward Dzowa, Itai Chieza, Ray Makhanda and Doubt Sithole among a host of others who played in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Among the later generations, Mulenga Chewe, Collins Nyamiya, Thabani Masawi, Cyprian Kanyemba, Lewis Mangezha Kutinyu and Austin Juwayiyeyi are still fresh memories to the many fans who filled the stadia to witness true seduction in football terms. Chewe played for Railstars together with Nyambiya before crossing the floor to Bosso. Their work rate was among the best seen during their time.
The talented Ralph Matema and Obadiah Tarumbwa were a new generation of firebrand strikers who scored at will. Matema played a key role for the Bossolona era where he was referred to as Ralphto'o, for his Samuel Eto'o class. It was a time when the Cameroonian freely scored for Barcelona in La Liga and Europe.
Madinda Ndlovu became a feared striker because of his everything. His name became as much of a brand name as Bosso itself. His pace, dribbling, shooting, scoring and the crossing were amazing.
He had the shear arrogance of someone doing the business he knows, and he knew that he knew his business and wanted the world to know that. Names like ‘Juluka’ (the flowing one) or ‘Khathazile’ (the troublemaker) give you an idea.
An old-fashioned winger, an envy of many coaches at the time, he stayed on the wing and dribbled his way through at high speed. He would play on either wing, preferring the right to the left and packing canon shots with either foot.
Adam Ndlovu had indescribable finishing ability. His art of scoring was something one cannot coach. ‘Adamski’ became top-goal scorer several times scoring goals you may never see in your life. He perfected the art. ‘Mirro’’s lethal finish combined power and brains. He manipulated defenders and beat them either on mind games or by physical strength. He was a typical Number 9.
Peter Ndlovu needs no introduction as even the opposition would stand and cheer at the sheer artistry, pace, body swerve, dribble and scoring ability. ‘Nsukuzonke’ was so nimble-footed with amazing take-off pace as if he was blown by the wind.
For his age when he first came in, he had the courage to take on a lion. Peter went on to have a very long blessed career in England. He started at Coventry City, his debut goal came against David Seamen, then Arsenal and England goalkeeper.
He went on to play for Birmingham City and Sheffield Wednesday. Owing to his speed with and without the ball, he was nicknamed the ‘Bulawayo Bullet’ by some and the ‘Flying Elephant’.
Among his many tremendously great goal collection that included a ‘twist and turns’ and a rifled cracker at Barbourfields Stadium when on a national under-23 team against Tunisia, he scored a once in a life time double shuffled near-post placement on the left against South Africa at the National Sports Stadium in that 4-0 drubbing.
The diminutive and combative Nhamo Shambira was such a clever player of silent assassin qualities. He made big boys like my friend Misheck Marimo look lost. His heading prowess was envy to many. His predatory instincts were amazing. He scored some of the most valuable goals in the club's history, especially cup finals.
Many will remember the Cup final at Barbourfields Stadium when he headed in a goal with about 15 minutes of play left, a ball from a free kick to destroy Dynamos.
Morgan Phiri was one speedy winger of great take-off and dribbling ability. ‘Mdududu’ was a proper version of a 1000 cc motorbike. People would say the man was faster than the ball, but he was a marvel to watch on the left.
Dumisani Ngulube was another goal poacher, such a fine finisher and great goalkeepers like the late John Sibanda and Japheth Mparutsa could tell of his aggression. ‘Tshimbitshimbi’ scored many vital goals. He was a Spenser for hire for sure.
There was Nkululeko Chunky Dlodlo who was a crucial striker, who was aggressive and arrogant. He was a goal scorer of note and later playing for the First Division championship winning Railstars. Thulani Nxumalo was mercurial and stunning. He proved to be clever and scored a few cheeky goals.
Tanny Banda was something we will never see again. His feet were literally magnetic and fast. His
speed and dribbling were an unbelievable combination that no other player had.
‘Tanny is a Banda’ was one you could bet on dribbling the entire team. People said he dribbled everyone including both linesmen and the referee on his way to scoring. There are no words invented yet that can describe the talent we are talking about.
Maxmillion Ndlovu would beat anyone without trouble. ‘Boy’ toasted and roasted defenders like there was no tomorrow. With his run of short little steps, his acceleration towards goal was not always amazing as when he ran at a defender and started doing his business.
He would isolate himself at the centre line and touch line corners waiting to pounce. More often than not, many forgot he existed and the stadium would erupt into cheer as soon as he was on flight. He set up many goals. Again, one has to re-invent the English language or even some African words to put a correct picture of what this man was capable of.
Tobias Mudyambanje is a player engraved in the hearts of supporters for many good reasons. He was a pure goal machine. He was a clever and deceptive forward who scored beautiful and precious goals with his head, especially in Cup competitions.
Jerry Sibanda joined Highlanders from Gwanda Ramblers. He was very strong and speedy. He had
courage and a great eye for goal. He was a welfare team manager until recently.
Thamsanqa Tambo was a stocky and hot acquisition from Ziscosteel. ‘Kabila’ screened and protected the ball well and scored many wonderful and thunderous goals.
In Makwinji Soma-Phiri, you will not get a better header of the ball anywhere. He timed his runs perfectly, and he would out jump any defender. His technique was to jump early and high. It would seem he stayed in the air until the ball came.
Abraham Madondo was such an influential attacker and great crosser of the ball. He played on either wing and had such passion for the game. He packed powerful and accurate shots with either foot. He was one of the few players to have played for Dynamos and Highlanders.
Cyprian Kanyemba was a very speedy right-winger who played flowing football. He was superb when on flight going for goal. Cypie had a lot of fun when playing and enjoyed his football in a way that was visible to the fans in the stands.
Gift Lunga Senior was an accomplished finisher. He spent his earlier years deputising the Ndlovu brothers and became known as a ‘Super-sub’. He turned, twisted, and shot very well. His many goals put Bosso on a high-level platform for many years.
Austin Juwayiyeyi joined Bosso from Fire Batteries of Harare. He dribbled very well and scored fantastic goals. He was a live wire type of player who made things happen out of nothing. He fried his opponents very well.
Lewis Kutinyu was another fantastic player who could work on either wing without trouble. His ball control and appetite for a goal were great. Kutinyu was unfortunate as he attracted many rough tackles from the defenders he harassed.
Darlington Phiri played for Black Rhinos, Amazulu and Railstars and did not really gel with the team.
Eugene Langa also came in and did not live up to expectation. He was a fine player at Zimbabwe Saints.
Zenzo Moyo will be the best striker ever for so many people. Strong, arrogant and determined, he had
passion to do well all the time and scored many beautiful goals.
‘Zemura’ cried for losing small-sided games played at camp amongst teammates. That is how much winning it for Bosso meant to ‘Zemura’.
Thabani Masawi dribbled with his easy and lazy looking style that astounded everyone. Sis T’s fragile appearance did not match the strike of his shots and a high number of goals he scored.
As for the quality of those goals, you will not see anything better anytime soon. ‘Mqwayi’ combined so well with ‘Zemura – Zandl’ ezibomvu’.
Joel Luphahla complemented Zemura well before he left for Cyprus. Luphahla’s pace was incredible. His goals were fewer than the assists he supplied to his fellow strikers as he squared the ball well with his cutbacks.
Both Zenzo and Joel plied their trade in Cyprus for a long time and Luphahla winded up his career at Platinum Stars before his short comeback at Bosso.
Sawusto Phiri was excellent. His tactical awareness was top-drawer stuff and his finishing just as exquisite. ‘Special Meat’ would deliver day in and day out with his tremendous speed towards goal.
Stuart Murisa was one gem of a striker having a great telepathic relationship with ‘Adamski’. ‘Shutto's game showed the maturity of a player who was very serious. He scored great goals and made football look so easy.
Dube and Nyika were the two Eddies Highlanders would never forget. The attacking and penetrating force of the duo was so heart stopping that they were a pair defenders had nightmares about.
Eddie Nyika overcooked his tricks sometimes, but when they worked, it sent the electricity down your spine.Eddie Dube was a bulldozing and stubborn workhorse that could do everything but shoot.
Eddie Dube's shooting was terrible but improved with time. He scored one of the best goals seen at Luveve Stadium.
Mandla Balanda tickled me with his game, like his brother Clement. They caressed the ball with their feet. Mandla’s trickery included a backflip over the defenders’ heads and controlling the ball on the other side, fry his man and accelerate, wait for the defender and push the ball through his legs before sending him to the shops.
Clement had opponents showing him their shirt number, run over the ball and going in one direction and coming back to kind of polish the leather sphere. He would scoop the ball up and the bamboozled defenders would hold the ball by their hands. There are no words to describe what they could do. For Mandla, the misfortune with scoring made his career at Bosso shorter than it should have been.
Zambian machine called Kelvin Kaindu came in as an exciting winger who took on defenders at will and scored great goals. This boy was amazing. Kelvin had an unfortunate Highlanders career littered by injuries. He returned to Bosso as a coach.
Tapela Ngwenya was a hard running player who scored many goals. His football was simple and straightforward. Cyclone thrived on through balls and his finishing would not complement his efforts sometimes.
Other fantastic and pacey strikers like Thabani ‘B-Car’ Moyo who was an explosive striker with high pace. His close ball control at that high pace was incredulous.
Wayne Albertyn was himself a maestro of the game. He enjoyed his game very much and was superb with the ball. They both left for overseas before they could set the town alight but their contribution was immense.
Most of the beautiful goals witnessed by the Highlanders fans never fade away for the sheer quality. Some were pure cannons shelled from long distances while others were genuine touches of class and magic.
Supporting these brave men who faced rough tackles from the likes of Size Torindo, Sunday Marimo, Simon Mugabe, Misheck Sibanda, Stonshed Moyo, Benedict Moyo and Ephraim Chawanda, was the minimum fans could do.
The whistles and breaking into song and cheering the team attack after attack propelled the team to greater heights with each outing.
Even on dark days, people came back the following week knowing that the boys would not let them down, and they delivered.
Do you remember the days zokhwelo??? Hayi suka mani!
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