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Sharuko on Saturday 

I HAVE always told myself that one of the things I would really love to do, before I call it quits, is to write a book about Moses Chunga.

He has the perfect ingredients for a bestseller – the combination of genius and controversy, the mixture of star quality and considerable quantity.

To some, Chunga remains the ultimate symbol of football royalty, a remarkable magician who transformed fantasy into reality.

But, to others, he is the ultimate rebel.

A flawed genius who remains hostage to a streak of arrogance in which he tells himself that he is the closest thing to an Albert Einstein, which football produced.

Like Muhammad Ali before him, he still calls himself “The Greatest.’’

A pioneering star, he was the first Zimbabwean footballer, to be transferred directly from a local side to a European club, after Independence.

It’s hard to question the sanity of those who agree with him in saying that, indeed, he is ‘The Greatest.’

He was the first African player to be offered a trial stint with an English club, which had recently been crowned European champions, in the ‘80s.

He was the only African player who Brian Clough, one of the greatest managers of all-time, tried to take a chance on and sign.

This was a Forest side which had the likes of Des Walker, Stuart Pearce, Nigel Clough and Neil Webb.

It’s a measure of Chunga’s talent that he was even considered someone who could add a certain value to such talent.

Forest had never employed an African player, until then, with their black players, like the legendary Viv Anderson, the first black man to play for England, tracing their roots in the Caribbean.

For Clough, a two-time European Cup winner, to cast an eye on a 21-year-old footballer in Zimbabwe will remain an acknowledgement of the special talent that Chunga was.

Forty years ago, Chunga was part of the Dynamos team which won a fourth straight league title in ’83 and he scored one of the goals, in the 3-1 win over CAPS United, in the Rothmans Shield final.

On October 17, that year, he turned 18.

He was only 21 when he scored a record 46 goals, and won the Soccer Star of the Year, in what was effectively his swansong season, before his move to Europe.

At Belgian club, E. Aalst, his quality was soon obvious and he didn’t only rise to become the club’s talisman but also their skipper.

However, by 1992, serious injuries had effectively ended his European adventure.

He was only 27.

It’s part of the power of his myth that we will always wonder what could have been had he gone the full distance in his career.

Thirty years ago, he officially left E. Aalst but the Belgians still roll the red carpet for him, showering him with all sorts of honours, in appreciation of how he served them with distinction.

For today’s generation of fans, there is some footage of Moses Chunga in full flow, during his days in Belgium, the spiky hair, the flicks, the wonder goals, the genius.

Forty years after his love affair with Dynamos fans started, the Glamour Boys have never produced any footballer closer to Chunga.

It’s easy to understand why.

In this game, superstars like Moses Chunga only come once in a generation.

I have always wondered what would have been the case if Moses Chunga had emerged on the scene, as a teenage star, after the turn of the millennium.

I’m pretty sure he would have played for one of the top teams in the English Premiership, without any doubt, and he would have written a huge success story.

Because, in my humble opinion, he was better than Daniel Amokachi, better than Emmanuel Adebayor, better than Islam Slimani, better than Said Benrahma, better than Julius Aghahowa and better than Jordan Ayew.

A TRUE DEMBARE LEGEND

Chunga’s romance with Dynamos, as a player, ended in 1995.

He was only 30 and I believe he would have celebrated the end of his true love story as a winner of the CAF Champions League.

I understand that the DeMbare Class of ’98 will always be celebrated as the true immortals given they came within just 90 minute of winning the game’s ultimate prize on the continent.

Everyone, though, seemingly agrees that they were not the most talented collection of Glamour Boys but they probably had an indomitable spirit, which the others lacked.

I believe the Class of ’95 should have been the first Dynamos side, not only to reach the Champions League final, but also win the tournament.

With Kaitano Tembo and Chamu Musanhu marshalling the defence, Memory Mucherahowa driving the midfield and Tauya Murewa and Vitalis Takawira spearheading the attack, this was a talented and, crucially, very balanced DeMbare side.

They are the only DeMbare side to win all their away matches in the Champions League – beating Al Hilal 1-0 in Sudan, in the first round, beating US Chaouia 3-2 in Algeria and beating Express 1-0 in Uganda.

Chunga scored the goal, which won the game in Kampala, by converting a penalty.

The strange decision to start Chunga from the bench, in the second leg in Harare, backfired terribly as Express took a shock lead in the first half.

Chunga came in at the start of the second half but while he scored again, it was not enough as Express won 2-1, to progress to the semi-finals, courtesy of the away goals rule.

The Ugandans lost the semi-final 1-2 to Orlando Pirates who went on to win the tournament by beating ASEC Mimosas.

For Chunga, though, the football gods appeared to ensure that his final game for his beloved DeMbare, on the big stage, would produce one more golden memory.

It came with his first touch, taking the ball on his chest and, from a distance, having the presence of mind to go for goal and producing a textbook volley which arrowed into the top corner.

It was a product of both beauty and precision and, given the stage, one of the best goals he scored during his career.

It was the perfect way to say goodbye.

Interestingly, Chunga was only 30.

A succession of injuries had stolen his best years in the game leaving his fans to wonder what would have been of their idol had fate been kinder to him in the injury front.

It’s hard to imagine that 28 years have flown by since he effectively said goodbye with that wonder strike at the National Sports Stadium.

Chunga’s club career is easy to document and, if I succeed in writing a book about him, it’s very clear that it’s an area where his greatness will be celebrated.

He is in the E. Aalst Hall of Fame and the Belgians even gave him the freedom of their city for his services to the club.

He is a true Dynamos legend and many say he ranks second, in terms of the greatest footballers, to ever play for the Glamour Boys.

Of course, if you ask for his opinion, he will tell you that he is the greatest Glamour Boy of all-time and even King George, the five-time Soccer Star of the Year, occupies second place.

THE LEGEND THAT NEVER WAS

Now, here comes the hard part and this is what will probably give me sleepless nights when it comes to writing the book about the story of his life as a footballer.

Is Moses Chunga a Warriors legend?

I think it’s widely accepted that Joel Shambo was a CAPS United legend, whose status was even reinforced, when he chose to stay with the Green Machine, when both Stanley Ndunduma and Stix Mutizwa left to join Black Rhinos.

But, the Headmaster, one of the most talented footballers to grace our football fields, can never be termed a Zimbabwean football legend.

Why?

Because he didn’t do enough, for the cause of the Warriors, to earn legendary status and it’s difficult, even for us, to pick a couple of moments when he was the driving force for the national team.

Somehow, the magic he used to routinely display, in a CAPS United shirt, could not be reproduced, whenever he was playing for his country.

The same, too, can probably be said about Stix Mutizwa, another extraordinary talent who, in today’s game, would probably walk into the Manchester United team.

After all, this is the same team which decided a misfit like Wout Werghost was good enough to play for them.

There are so many special moments for Stix in the trenches of club football, for both CAPS United and Rhinos, but try to find similar moments, for the Warriors, and you won’t find them.

In sharp contrast, Ndunduma was awesome for the national team and earned the right to be called a Warriors legend.

Chunga rose to become captain of the Warriors, which was natural because, at that time he needed the respect that came with playing in Europe and also being the team’s most talented player.

But, it’s difficult to find enough evidence, based on performances, to label him as a Warriors legend.

Yes, there were some magical moments, which was expected, given his huge talent.

But, it’s also true that they were few and far between, to provide supporting evidence for him to be labelled as Warriors’ legend.

His best performance probably came on April 14, 1991, at the National Sports Stadium.

This was Chunga at his very best, with a virtuoso show in midfield, a reminder of the heights his amazing talent could take him, a fine exhibition of his genius and a beautiful display of his rare talent.

He was virtually unplayable as he led his troops, ran the midfield and opened a factory that kept producing chances for his younger and hungrier battery of forwards.

Fittingly, he scored one of the goals as the Warriors crushed Malawi 4-0 in a ’92 AFCON qualifier, with other goals coming from Adam Ndlovu and a double from Henry ‘’Bully’’ McKop,

Because he had been around for quite some time, we all considered him a veteran of the team and we forgot that, during that match, he was only 25.

Another vintage performance followed on July 14, in the same year and same campaign, against Congo-Brazzaville, at the giant stadium.

The match ended 2-2, after John Sibanda’s late blunder, and a grand opportunity for the Warriors to qualify for their maiden AFCON finals, was lost.

Chunga and Peter Ndlovu, the standout players that day, appeared to feel the pain more than their teammates.

And, an iconic picture of them, sitting side by side in the dressing room, both with their heads down, captured the moment of their grief.

We didn’t know it but at that moment, the baton of the team’s talisman was passed from Chunga to Peter.

Because, for Chunga, his international career was virtually over, just three months short of his 26th birthday.

He couldn’t catch the Dream Team train because Reinhard Fabisch appeared to have come with an attitude that he didn’t want him in his team.

With Fabisch and his team flying, Chunga became the forgotten man of the Warriors.

It’s now 30 years since the Dream Team’s flame was extinguished in Yaounde and no one knows what would have happened to Chunga’s legacy had he played in that team.

What is clear is that it’s difficult to call him a Warriors’ legend.

To God Be The Glory!

Peace to the GEPA Chief, the Big Fish, George Norton, Daily Service, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and all the Chakariboys still in the struggle.

Come on United!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brunoooooooooooooooooooooooo!

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