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Collin Matiza Sports Editor
IN the pre-Independence era, Zimbabwe used to produce a pool of talented goalkeepers who lit the domestic soccer league with skill and agility, which captured the imagination of the spectators. Among these goalkeepers were the likes of Booker Muchenu, John “Seke Muchena” Humphreys, Posani Sibanda, William Chirwa, Bruce Grobbelaar, Walter Lawrie, Ramson Kapuya, Matthew Mwale, John Revayi, Charles Gwatidzo, Musa Muzanenhamo and Zebron Magorimbo who all turned out for such big clubs like Dynamos, Highlanders, Black Aces, Eastlands, Wankie (now Hwange), Mhangura and Zimbabwe Saints during the golden era of Zimbabwean football.

But there was another good goalkeeper — Stewart Gilbert — who was just in a class of his own and he used to turn out for the once mighty Arcadia United in the 1970s.

Gilbert, who was affectionately known as “Giri the cat from Hwedza” or  simply “Sikalo”, was undoubtedly one of the finest goalkeepers to emerge from Zimbabwe in the pre-Independence era and guarded the goal posts for Arcadia United for more than 12 years.

He started his soccer career in 1965 at popular Harare side Dynamos where he spent a year. He then moved to Arcadia United where he spent 15 years between the posts before joining Black Aces in 1981 only to last just another season at the popular Highfield-based side.

Gilbert’s crowning moment in a glittering career was probably in the 1970 World Cup qualifiers when he was a member of the then Rhodesia team against Australia in Maputo, Mozambique.

The local side drew twice against Australia before losing 3-1 and Gilbert was a reserve goalkeeper to Rob Jordan in that squad.

Among Gilbert’s notable achievements were Arcadia United’s 1968 and 1969 Castle Cup victories and the 1970 Alba league championship.

In the 1968 Castle Cup final, Gilbert was part of the Arcadia United side that beat Dynamos 4-1 at Gwanzura Stadium in a match watched by over 20 000 fans, which was then described as the biggest crowd yet to see a soccer encounter between the two Harare sides.

There were 19 525 spectators, plus over 500 guests and VIPs, to take the total to just over 20 000 who watched the Jimmy Brown-inspired Arcadia United trounce Dynamos in that memorable Castle Cup final.

Full of action and showmanship when in goals, “Sikalo” was a serious-minded player who just hated to lose, especially when playing against Dynamos and he used to have “some running battles” with DeMbare’s former hitman, the late Daniel “Dhidhidhi” Ncube, whenever the two teams met in the 1970s.

At one stage in 1975 when Arcadia United were preparing to play Highlanders, Norman “Dishi” Roberts rifled a thunderous 25-metre drive and “Sikalo” mis-timed the catch and the ball smashed into his forehead.

“Sikalo” spun around and staggered a bit and when he recovered, he retorted to Dishi: “Is that all you got son. C’mon do it again.”
Gilbert was just something else.

Back then, Arcadia United, who were under the leadership of the late Pat Travers, were one of the soccer powerhouses in this country and the club used to produce a chain of talented players who include George “TNT” Rollo, Herman “Sea Cottage” Hendrikse, Alan “Teacher”

Hlatywayo (who later on became arguably the best soccer-writer to emerge from Zimbabwe), David Jeremiah, Hedley Layton, Jimmy Finch, Raymond Hendrikse, Vincent van Wyk, Mohamed “Amato” Cader, Alvin Gough, Derick Petrie, Adolf Mutuma, Tommy Ballantyne, Cornelius Elijah, Titus Mgodi, Majid Dhana, Bethal Salis, Goosey Galloway, Reg Paizee and Reg Payne.

Unfortunately one of these Arcadia United “greats”, Gilbert, was killed in a car accident in November 1994 when the truck he was travelling in on his way to his father’s farm was involved in a head-on collision with another truck about 30km along the Harare-Mutoko road. He was 47.

This robbed Zimbabwe of one of its finest and colourful goalkeepers and today, a five-a-side-soccer memorial tournament will be held in his honour at Arcadia Sports Club in Harare where more than 10 teams will be taking part in.

In fact, the Stewart Gilbert Memorial Tournament has been turned into an annual event and is being organised by the late goalkeeper’s son, Chase, in conjunction with Arcadia Sports Association.

Carlos Max, an Arcadia United and CAPS United great, is the association’s chairman and he said yesterday that most of the former Arcadia United players are expected to be at today’s memorial tournament where they will once again have the opportunity of getting together and remember one of the club’s greatest sons – Gilbert “Sikalo” Stewart.

“It’s not a secret that the late Stewart Gilbert was one of the finest goalkeepers to emerge from Zimbabwe and we felt that we should hold a football event to honour him for the great job he did for both his club and country.

“The Gilbert Stewart Memorial tournament is now an annual event and the late great goalkeeper’s son, Chase, is behind it and he organises it with the assistance of the Arcadia Sports Association.

“For this year’s event, we are going to have a five-a-side-soccer tournament at Arcadia Sports Club and it will feature more than 10 teams who will be drawn from the Arcadia community as well as other areas in Harare. We are also expecting some current and former Premier Soccer League players to take part in this big event,” Max said.

In fact, there will be lots of activities at Arcadia Sports Club today as the Arcadia community remembers one of its greatest sons, the temperemental but talented former goalkeeper Stewart “Sikalo” Gilbert who used to wrestle for the number one jersey at Arcadia United with an equally good goalie Joseph Galloway.

Entry fee for today’s event has been pegged at US$2 per every adult and children under the age of 12 get in for free.

There will be full bar and catering. Gates open at 10:30am.