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Charles Mabika Correspondent
RUFARO Stadium, situated in Harare’s high-density suburb of Mbare, is the “ceremonial home of football” in Zimbabwe. In the same suburb, less than a five-minute drive away and along Ardbennie Road as you venture farther into Zimbabwe’s oldest suburb lies another Harare City Council-owned football venue – Mbare No. 5 Ground.

This now dilapidated and a harrowing eyesore site is the “kindergarten of football” in Mbare.

Because this is where, from the early 1950s right up to the turn of the new millenium and many years before, household names like the legendary George “Mastermind” Shaya, Adolf “Little Stopper” Mutuma, Peter “Thunderboots” Nyama, Freddy “Karamba” Mukwesha, Stanford “Stix” Mutizwa, Edward “Madhobha” Katsvere, David “Naughty Flea” Muchineripi, Shaw “Kojak” Handriade, Ernest “Nyamuzihwa” Kamba, David “Broom Boy” George, Daniel “The Rock” Chikanda, Gift “Ghetto” Mpariwa, Garnet “Ganza” Muchongwe and his younger brother Eddie “Major Murefu” Muchongwe, Booker “Banks” Muchenu, Musa “MaRing” Muzanenhamo, Boniface “Keegan” Makuruzo, Moses “Gwejegweje” Chasweka, Edmore “Mazondo” Mufema, jut to name a few, cut their teeth into the “world’s most beautiful game” before they eventually graced the luscious turf of Rufaro.

Now-defunct and great sides like Mutambara Huoma, Zambia United, Mhondoro United, Nimfa Rovers, Fort Vic (short-cut for Fort Victoria), BSAP, Proton Stars, Lobels, Wightmans and PG Timbers paraded skilful exponents who would leave an indelible mark upon the game at Mbare No.5 Ground.

In the ‘90s up to the early 2000s, the venue was also a popular site for off-season clashes that featured sides made up of top-flight players from teams like Dynamos, Black Aces, CAPS United, Fire Batteries, Circle United, Kambuzuma United, Darryn T, Black Mambas and Blackpool.

The off-season leading sides were Charles Mabika XI, Kanzungu-Chaka Stars XI, Mutape XI, Zhunde XI, Mufakose Select XI and Mabvuku Select XI.

On a Sunday, during the off-season, crowds would flock to fill up the No. 5 Ground for free and watch superstars like Stix Mutizwa, Moses “Razorman” Chunga, Joel “Jubilee” Shambo, Stanley “Sinyo” Ndunduma, Shacky Tauro, Solomon Kaseke, Edmore Mufema, Fanuel Ariberto, Gift Roseman, Brenna Msiska, Anthony Kambani, twins Wilfred and William Mugeyi, brothers Kumbi and Langton Mutimba, Percy “Master” Mwase, Mugove “Sugar” Munyorovi, Anthony “Jim” Brown, Stanley “Zero” Mashezha, Leon “Tingo” Linyama, Cosmas Kabote, William Cranbourne, Leonard “Waga Waga” Sande, Silas Chihota, Dick Mapila and many more.

These clashes would also draw guest players from outside the capital where stars like Willard Mashinkila-Khumalo, Agent “Ajira” Sawu, Alexander “Cool Ruler” Maseko, Godfrey Chuchu and Nkulumo “Dayidzaivamwe” Donga would parade their skills before huge crowds at the venue.

Arguably the finest dribbler ever produced in the country — Mutizwa — was a skinny 10-year-old when he starred for Mutambara Huoma at Mbare No. 5 Ground then, although he would only be allowed to play for maybe 10 or 15 minutes because of his age… but boy oh boy, did he “cripple” the much older opposition players with his inimitable finesse and flair.

Goalscoring predator Mukwesha was spotted by Dynamos at No. 5 Ground whilst featuring for Mhondoro United as a virtual unknown and ended up gracing Portugal’s top-flight league after the “Glamour Boys” later sold him to Sporting Braga in the mid-60s.

The 1973 Soccer Star of the Year, Kamba, was also spotted by Dynamos whilst also featuring for Mhondoro at No. 5 Ground. Current Dynamos’ board chairman, Bernard “Magitare” Marriot-Lusengo also “graduated” from No. 5 Ground as a menacing forward.

But now, despite being the virgin site for all the above and more legendary footballers, this pitch is now a haven for rebellious youths, who partake of illicit drugs and poisonous alcoholic drinks, rubbish dumping sites and various other unhealthy societal dents.

Soccer matches still do take place there, mainly social and schoolkids challenge events but it is a far cry from the monumental origin that gave birth to many famous footballers like the ones  aforementioned.

Infact, scouts from Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi would descend upon the venue like bees to a honey comb in search of talent and export them to their countries.

Yet the city fathers have just stood by and watch the venue sink into an abyss of pitiful neglect.

Elsewhere in the world, Mbare No. 5 Ground would have been declared a football shrine or museum because of its origins and production of some of the country’s superstars who would eventually shine at Rufaro and outside the country for more fame and a little fortune.

Former Rufaro Rovers right winger, Dennis “Danger” Hlatywayo, who is also a product of No. 5 Ground, bemoaned the lack of attention and recognition that is worthy of this venue.

“Before I joined Rufaro Rovers, my team-mates like Muchineripi, Peter Manyara, Elliot Mutepfa, Uziel Mankola, Kenneth Katsindi and more all used to clash at No. 5 Ground as we belonged to various different clubs and it was here where we were spotted by the late John Rugg after he came here from Scotland and heard about this ground.

“We all joined Rufaro Rovers to became one big happy family and every time I pass alongside this ground, my heart skips a beat and a lump always builds in my throat as I sadly see what has become of this once famous soccer field,”’ bemoaned Hlatywayo, who is also the younger brother of Dynamos founder-member, the late Allan “Teacher” Hlatywayo, who was another product of  No. 5 Ground.

The late Allan Hlatywayo was to later on become the first black Sports Editor of The Herald in the early 1980s.

Former Warriors skipper, Mutizwa, shared Dennis Hlatywayo’s comments and urged the Harare City Council to take note and re-develop this once famous football venue.

“I recall my very first day at this venue, after accompanying my elder brother Reggie, who was playing for Mutambara Huoma and he had talked to the officials about me and asked them to include me in their match against rivals Zambia United, who were named so because they contained mostly Zambian nationals who had settled in this country. “After one look at my skinny 10-year-old frame, the coach clutched his stomach in choking laughter as he said to Reggie:

‘Iwe, kamupfana kako kanovhunika makumbo apa (You, your little brother will be crippled on this pitch because of his size)’. But Reggie begged him to include me in the side.

“There were 10 minutes remaining and Mutambara were trailing 2-0. I went in and immediately dribbled past the entire defence and pulled one goal back.

Two minutes later I set up our centre stiker for the equaliser and just before full time, I scored another one and we won 3-2,” recalled Mutizwa, with a slight chuckle of his own.

“Looking at the state of that venue nowadays makes my stomach turn,” he added.

Maybe, just maybe, one City Father will drive down to Mbare No. 5 Ground and observe what it has degenerated into and tell his colleagues about it.