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Danai Chitakasha Special Correspondent

THE Zimbabwean football journey is sign-posted with many clubs which have fallen by the wayside. If it was a graveyard, the tombstones would make some sad but interesting reading. “Here lies Blackpool, we called them Ndochi! They were flamboyance personified!”

“In this cold earth lies Black Aces Football Club, they dressed to kill and were the real Shaisa Mufaro…!”

These are just two examples, but I can go on and on. It might sound ambiguous but indeed the graveyard is a rich place.

But imagine that I possess a magic wand, which of these fallen heroes of our football terrain would I resurrect?  There are many but let me stick to my magical number, 10.

1. Blackpool Football Club — We called them “Ndochi” after the Papa Jose and TP Nyekete blockbuster hit song. The club took Zimbabwean football by storm. A group of young rich men — Ronnie Chihota, Gorden Chademunhu, Joe Salifu, Joe “Pajero” Musenda, Lecture Mpange, Ginger Chinguwa, Ben Muchedzi, Forbes Chitava with Someone Jamanda as Chief of Protocol – bought the franchise of the defunct Black Mambas “Warumwa Warumwa” and renamed the team Blackpool. The team added professionalism and flamboyance into our football terrain.

They were well dressed with their kits which were borrowed heavily from the style of European giants AC Milan of Italy. The young Directors of the club had money to burn and they paid the playes well. In the process they assembled a good team led by veterans Collins Kabote and Masimba Dinyero. Young players like Vivian Nkomo, George Mbwando and Simba “Sporo” Nyakudziwanza also emerged. In 1995, they went toe-to-toe with Dynamos in the race for the league title only to be pipped at the wire. There was a bit of controversy because the fixtures seemed to favour Dynamos. The “Glamour Boys” played their match a day after Blackpool. They knew the result they wanted and they did just that by beating Black Rhinos 3-1 on the last day of the season. Goal difference decided the destiny of the title.

The club also reached the semi-finals of the Africa Club Cup Winners Cup competition in 1995. They lost to JS Kabylie of Algeria. They had the honour of being the first club from Zimbabwe to reach this stage of the competition.

I would bring them back for what they represented, flamboyance plus substance. The club was professionally run. This is what I miss the most about the club.

2. Black Aces — The Highfield-based club were the original “Shaisa Rufaro”. They were renowned for their great kits and their free flowing passing football. Pass and move was their DNA and I remember well one supporter urging them on from the stands at Gwanzura Stadium, “Ipa vako, Ipa vako!”.

This indeed was their football style: pass, pass and pass.

The team gave us some of the best players to grace our league, the likes of Bernard “Machipisa’’ Dzingayi, July “Jujuju’’ Sharara, Daniel “DC’’ Chikanda, Fresh Chamarenga, Shadreck Ngwenya, Peter Gogoma, Maronga “The Bomber’’ Nyangela, Boniface “Keegan” Makuruzo, Maxwell Magidi, Charles Gwazo, Wonder Chisetera, Simon Mudzudzu, Charles Mapila, Sunday Masauso, Brenna ‘’Ba Gari’’ Msiska, Moses “Gweje Gweje’’ Chasweka, Rodrick “Doctor’’ Muganhiri, Emmanuel “Shumba’’ Nyahuma, Archieford “Chehuchi’’ Chimutanda, Stanley “Zero’’ Mashezha, Wilfred and William Mugeyi, Charles “Star Black’’ Kaseke, John Mbidzo, Francis “Gazza’’ Jeyimani and Highfield crowd favourite, Shadreck “Waga Waga” Dzvairo, and his brother Magarika “Maga Dog’’ Dzvairo.

Black Aces made Saturday afternoon special at Gwanzura Stadium. Maybe if Black Aces return, Gwanzura will also return to action.

Dear reader, we live in hope!

3. Tanganda FC — “Kumakomo yo” in the scenic city of Mutare, “Tan Tan”, to use the team’s moniker, is sorely missed. The team took Zimbabwean football by storm in the 90’s, winning the Castle Cup in 1993. They beat favourites CAPS United on penalties.

Tanganda Football Club was special because it had true sons of Manicaland who rose to football prominence by playing for the club. Players such as Spencer Ngove, Emmanuel Maluwa, Cliff Matondo, Ian Matondo, Kudzanayi Kadzirange, Nelson Bandura, Anthony Masunde, Webster Kurwaisimba and Patrick Chapoterera literally grew up with this team.

They were the heart and soul of the club, they understood the culture of the club.

Since the club became defunct, football in Mutare has not been the same. Clubs have come and gone but none have had the same impact as Tan Tan!

They left a big void which has been difficult to fill.

4. Mhangura — The Mhangura story is embedded in our football folklore, their place in the history of the Nation is cast in stone. In the pre-Independence era they were known for the “Chieza Dynasty!”. They had seven brothers who did duty for this fallen giant. In the post-Independence era, Mhangura made their home ground a fortress.

They were hard to beat to the extent that accusations of “juju’’ were often thrown at them. How many of us remember the myth about “The grazing donkeys” which were unleashed on the pitch before every match. Apparently this aided Mhangura in conquering giants such as Dynamos, CAPS United and Highlanders. Facing Mhangura at home was not a walk in the park indeed.

The club gave us great players like Jan and Moses Milanzi, Jonathan Chikaponya and Gerald Phiri.

What a team. I am sure there is still a lot of talent in the mining town of Mhangura. The return of Mhangura will provide a platform for this latent talent to emerge!

5. Rio Tinto — Like Mhangura Stadium, Cam and Motor Stadium was a fortress and the well-coached Rio Tinto team of the 80’s made it so.

John Rugg, the Scottish gaffer, was a good coach who believed in fitness first. His team had super fit players like Ephert Lungu, Ernest “Baby Face’’ Makosa, Joseph “Doctor’’ Zulu, Robert Godoka, Lot Kaunda and David “Chikwama’’ Mwanza. Facing these legends in Kadoma was a real battle and many teams emerged from this fortress empty-handed.

Like in Mhangura, I think the town of Kadoma still has a lot of talent. The revival of Rio Tinto can bring the pride back and the young will have a launchpad for their careers. History can inspire the present.

6. Gweru United — “Pisa Pisa”, the team with the paper burning fans gave us some unforgettable moments. They gave us some great players too. I remember the likes of Colin “Computer” Semwayo, Roseman “Dracko” Mangwiro, Kisdo Matsika, Thomas Chipembere, Ranga Mutunga, Ashton “Musharukwa” Mhlanga and maybe the greatest of them all, the baby-faced assassin Wonder Chaka.

Fans flocked to Ascot in Gweru to enjoy the football dished by these legends.

Chapungu United, the Airforce of Zimbabwe team, has tried to fill the void left by “Pisa Pisa” but the vibe is not the same anymore. Gweru United was well rooted in the community, Gweru United and Gweru City were inseparable. The demise of Gweru United killed the vibe.

The return of Gweru United will bring back this vibe.

7. Amazulu — The flamboyant Delma Lupepe-sponsored “Usuthu” were a breath of fresh air to our league. They were well sponsored and looked after the players well. The quality of life for many players improved. Professionalism was the key word during their short stint in the league.

However, issues of Adventist Church faith and keeping the Sabbath holy made their stay in the league untenable. The club gave us some great memories and great players.

Muzondiwa Mugadza, Ronald “Gidiza’’ Sibanda, Esrom Nyandoro, Nkosana Gumbo, Misheck “Nyere” Makota and Nqobizitha “Mutongi Gava” Maenzanise, among others, were great players.

For their professional approach, I would bring back Amazulu.

8. Shu Shine — “Muchechetere mvura yeguvi…!” They played a passing game and were a joy to watch. With players such as Isaac Riyano, Tavaka Gumbo and Vivian “Sturu” Mushekwi, the team was renowned for its beautiful kits and eye-catching passing game.

We miss Shu Shine for what can be termed their tiki taka football style. For that it will be such a pleasure if they come back.

9. Zimbabwe Saints — Although they have not officially given up the ghost, it is fair to say this fallen giant is now punching way below its weight. I hear there are attempts to revive this once great club but the progress has been lethargic.

We miss Zimbabwe Saints, “Chauya Chikwata…!” They were renowned for their passing game and in 1988 they won the league playing this scintillating style of football.

With players such as John Sibanda, Matambanashe Sibanda, Godfrey Paradza, Joseph Machingura, Misheck “Road block’’ Sibanda, Ephraim “Rock of Gibraltar’’ Chawanda, George Ayibu, Chemi Hunidzarira and Henry “Bully’’ McKop, the team was a force to reckon with. “Ukadyiwa neSaints, wadyiwa ne bho bho!” the late music legend Zexie Manatsa sang. He could not have put it any better, Saints were a joy to watch!!

I will bring back Zimbabwe Saints for one thing, their junior policy. The team produced so many young players who went on to represent this great club with aplomb. Their junior football programme was well structured and this is something I will always cherish about the team. I hope they can come back.

10. Arcadia United — The team was “Coloured” centred but was a big tent, it welcomed all. The team represented the coloured community with aplomb, producing such great players like Majid Dhana, George “TnT’’ Rollo, Joey Antipas, Reg Payne, Nat Bismark, Charlie Jones and maybe the best of them all Hamid “Muzukuru” Dhana but was also represented well by black players. Legends such as Mike Mhlanga, Ernest Katanda, Ernest Mutano, Anthony Kambani, Gift “Shaft’’ Makoni, David Zulu, Francis Nechironga, Danny Jambo and one of the best dribblers of his generation, Mike “Mabhurugwa” Abrahams.

Arcadia were a truly multi-racial institution and for that I would wave my magic wand to bring them back. “Come On Arcadia!!” we miss the call to arms!

Indeed, our football terrain is a rich graveyard and if the power to resurrect was bestowed upon me, I would bring some of our “Fallen Giants’’ back to life.

Many of them had sound football philosophies and structures. Many of them meant more than just football. They were the bloodline of cities. We miss them dearly!!

Sisonke!