Fashion pacesetters: Teams that left a mark in Zim TRENDSETTERS . . . The now-defunct Highfield-based former Premiership side Black Aces had a kit which captured the hearts of many local football fans with the iconic Ace on the front completing their identity.

Danai Chitakasha in CAMBRIDGE, England
SOME will argue, forget about the aesthetics, uniform haitambe bhora, they declare! But I beg to differ.

We can remember a team for its football style, the legends that it produced and indeed for the way it dressed or dresses. In Zimbabwe we do not have a shortage of well kitted teams, this also is part of our football story.

Allow me therefore  to pay tribute to these teams in this article. I will pick 10 due to space limitations.

 

  1. Black Aces — The team known as the original “Shaisa Mufaro” produced many great players. Who can forget the respected doctor who graced our football fields in the 80’s, Rodrick Muganhiri. They also had a midfield magician, the flawed genius Archieford “Chehuchi” Chimutanda. Other great players like Fresh Chamarenga, Shadreck Ngwenya, Bonface “Keegan” Makuruzo and Maronga “The Bomber’’ Nyangela all did duty for this great club.

They had a unique style of football, pass and move. I remember one ardent fan shouting from the stands at Gwanzura  Stadium “Ipa vako, Ipa vako..!” That was the Aces way, “pass it on, pass it on” and boy did they pass! But it was their kit which also captured the hearts of many fans.

Yellow was their favourite colour mixed with black shorts. The iconic Ace on the front completed their identity. They also had a black kit with an orange stripe across the front. That was a special one with double numbers at the back… eg number 8 was 88. That set Aces apart!

 

  1. Shu Shine Stars — The team which gave us ball masters like Isaac Riyano, Tavaka Gumbo and Vivian Sturu Mushekwi had unique kits. One of them was a mixture of green, red and white and it was a sight to behold. And yes, Shu Shine played “shoe shine piano” football, pass and move, they were a joy to watch.

 

  1. Black Rhinos — Chauya Chipembere, were well sponsored from the benevolence of the Ministry of Defence. The first team to own a Mercedes Benz 60-seater bus, the flamboyance extended to their playing kits. They had stars such Japhet “Shortcat’’ Mparutsa, Stanford “Stix” Mutizwa, Stanley “Sinyo” Ndunduma and Hamid “Muzukuru” Dhana; and stars deserve to be well kitted.

It followed that they could cherry pick from the Liverpool’s red kit, the Brazil yellow and blue and even the Germany’s white and black shorts. They always looked smart and were spoiled for choice.

 

  1. CAPS United — Speaking in one interview, former captain, Charles “Raw Meat” Sibanda said: “We attracted many young fans because we had young players and we were very smart.”

I agree with the legend. The green tops with the iconic CAPS Holdings logo made many fans fall in love with the team. Coupled with the attacking galaxy of Shacky “Mr Goals’’ Tauro, Friday “Breakdown’’ Phiri, Stanley “Sinyo’’ Ndunduma, the midfield artisary of Joel “Jubilee’’ Shambo and Stanford “Stix’’ Mutizwa, the team was irresistible.

That jersey gave them an aura. I saw the kit that they are currently wearing and I thought to myself, “how the mighty have fallen!”.

 

  1. Dynamos — DeMbare have had iconic kits over the years. The colour blue always looks good on any team but in terms of creative design, the “Chibataura kit” will live long in our memories. That was creativity at its best and it gave Dynamos a unique look. I admired that jersey a lot. Of course, Dynamos will always be remembered for the greats that emerged like George “Mastermind” Shaya, Moses “Razorman” Chunga, David “Yogi” Mandigora, Sunday “Never On Sunday” (Marimo) Chidzambwa and Memory Mucherahowa, among others, but that kit set them apart.

 

  1. Blackpool — Ndochi, they announced themselves with a bang on the Zimbabwean football scene. Flamboyance on and off the pitch was the name of their game. The approach to football matters was different, a professional outlook and the dressing said it all.

Yes, the colours were borrowed from Italian giants AC Milan but Blackpool carried the colours with dignity. The results on the pitch, including that incredible run in the Africa Cup Winners Cup in 1996 when they reached the semi-finals, made the adoption of Milan colours well worth its weight in gold.

Players such as Masimba Dinyero, George Mbwando, Collins Kabote and Misheck ‘’Shava’’ Mapika carried the shirt with dignity. Indeed, Blackpool were flamboyance personified.

 

  1. Rio Tinto — The superfit gold miners from Kadoma had a simple look but one which lived long in our memories, the green and white hoops, a replica of the Celtic kit in the Scottish league. I aways wondered if it was their coach John Rugg who came up with the kit, he was of Scottish ancestory after all.

Ephert Lungu, Joseph Zulu, Robert Godoka and Lot Kaunda looked awesome in that kit.

 

  1. State House Tornadoes — The late former President Canaan Banana was a football man and it showed with the kits which his teams worn. There was one I will never forget made by Wrangler and blue in colour. I knew Wrangler for making jeans but for Tornadoes, they made a football kit. It was a unique brand and simply unforgettable.

 

  1. Masvingo United — Yuna Yuna. A former player of this great club Douglas Zimbango told me: “Mudhara Mhunga took special pride in the way we dressed. Every year he travelled to Italy to buy the kit which we used for the season.”

Yes, Masvingo United used to be smart, they had a unique combination of red tops and blue shorts or stripped red and blue tops, something close to the iconic Barcelona kit.

During their short stint in the Premier Soccer League, they dressed well and they played some good football. They are missed.

 

  1. Amazulu — Usuthu, the Delma Lupepe outfit took pride in the way they dressed and the way they played. Their combination of black and gold set them apart in the league and gained them a lot of admirers. Of course, they presented themselves as “Galacticos” too so it followed that an expensively assembled team had to look the part. What a team with the likes of Misheck “Nyere” Makota, David Mkandawire, Ronald “Gidiza” Sibanda, Esrom “Yellow” Nyandoro and Thomas Banda, they will be remembered for their football and their kits as well.

Special mention also goes to Shabanie Mine, Fire Batteries and Motor Action. They had unique kits as well, beautiful.

This is my list. Do I hear howls and groans from the Highlanders Bosso fans? I understand that for one cannot finish a football article of this nature without mentioning Bosso.

The omission was, however, deliberate. Black and white is a great combination but not eye-catching. Black and white on Highlanders, however, gives them an aura not necessarily beauty. Since this is a beauty contest of sort, I decided to leave out Bosso. My apologies to all Bossolonians!!

Yes “uniform haitambe bhora” but there is no harm in fashion statements on the pitch!

You Might Also Like

Comments

Take our Survey

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey