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The Herald, 7 March, 1980
PATRICK CHIEZA, the 21-year-old centre-back who has secured a regular first team position in CAPS United this season, comes from a family which has a long soccer history.

His four elder brothers: Edgar, Hector, Winston and Cecil, have all played first division football and youngest brother Mutsa, is showing great soccer promise at Mangula secondary.

However, it all started years ago when Patrick’s father, Enock Chieza, played for Old Umtali in the Harare amateur league.

Fans with long memories will remember that those were the days when Patrick’s uncle, Gideon Chieza was a regular member of the Rhodesian African XI.

The soccer history of the Chiezas is quite remarkable, when one remembers that Gideon Chieza’s sons Tendayi and George, represented Rhodesia at international level, and Itayi is still going strong with Zimbabwe Saints.

“We are a footballing family,” said Patrick. “I remember years ago when we used to assemble a team of the Chiezas for country tours during the off-season.”

After completing secondary education, Patrick spent a season in the low-veld playing for Triangle FC.

He returned to Mangula last year, but towards the end of the season, he came to Salisbury to join CAPS.

“I thought it was high time for me to try my luck in Super League football.

“I decided to go to CAPS because most of the players are of my age and I thought I would be able to cope with their style quicker than I would have done with other senior teams,” Patrick said.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

• The Chieza family is among some of the families that contributed greatly to Zimbabwean soccer just like the Black family in tennis and the Ndlovu family with Peter, Madinda and Adam; Chidzambwa family with Sunday and Misheck; Chunga family with Moses “Bambo” and Kembo; the Ngodzo family with Johannes and Joel; and Knowledge and Walter Musona, and more.
• Families should support and encourage members who show interest in any sporting activities.
• Unlike the early 80s where it was mainly soccer, other sports like tennis, cricket and rugby are now earning many people a decent  living.
• The Chieza family gave birth not only to great talent, but also contributed immensely to the history of soccer in Zimbabwe since Independence, supported by the mining industry.
• The media shows the importance of writing our own narratives. Apart from doing it for posterity, it will add on to existing knowledge. These great names should enrich Zimbabwe’s identity through their biographies and autobiographies.

For historical information contact:
Zimpapers Knowledge Centre at Herald House on:
+263 8677 004323;
+263 0242 795771
E-mail: [email protected]