The Sunday News
Danisa Masuku
Some dreams come true while some dreams are shuttered before they fully blossom.
Tony Moyo who the football pundits christened Stoneshed Moyo is one such soccer player who lives true to the above statement.
His dream did not suffer an early death because of a career threatening injury but the then Highlanders executive had to cut his dream short as they failed to pay him his allowances.
“I had so much wished to turn out for Highlanders as it was a team that I grew up supporting and it was close to my heart.
Sadly when I joined the club the executive promised me good allowances but to my shock I played four matches without being paid, when I approached the leadership they told me different stories. As a result I faced difficult times, after careful consideration I decided to return to Zvishavane,” he says.
At Highlanders he played alongside Lawrence “Lofy” Phiri, Majuta Mpofu, Mark Watson and Doubt Sithole among the galaxy of stars that were part of the famous black and white army. At the time Amahlolanyama were under the mentorship of James Nxumalo.
He reveals that Nxumalo had welcomed him well.
“ Nxumalo is the one who had lured me to Highlanders and said I will partner Mark Watson upfront and he used to assist me with money for daily upkeep. Nxumalo even enquired from the club bosses why I was not paid my allowances but there was no satisfactory answer that was given,” he reveals how the Ndumiso Gumede-led executive shattered his dream of turning for one of the oldest clubs in the country.
After such a nasty experience the dejected Moyo headed back to Zvishavane and found home at Division One outfit Shabanie Mine F C.
At the time Shabanie Mine FC was under the leadership of two former Zimbabwe Saints legendary players Steven Kwashi and Ian Mpofu.
He says the trio of William Banda, Ranga Mutunga and Robert Phiri who later tuned out for Gweru United were the key players for Shabanie Mine FC. His coach Kwashi had to change him into a utility player and he was flexible enough to fit where he was assigned.
“At first my coach played me in midfield and later on he tried me in strikeforce and had to change me to defence when one of the defenders was nursing an injury. After that I would alternate those positions. And I did not have any problem,” he says.
He enjoyed a fine run at the Zvishavane outfit, his exhilarating match was when he scored a hat-trick against Eagles FC.
“A match that remains one of my best was when I scored three goals against Eagles FC at our home ground, that match left an indelible mark because Eagles was a formidable side that had stars like Rahman Gumbo, Boy Ndlovu, Elvis Chiweshe, Johannes Tshuma and Itai Masawi,” he recalls.
He says after that impressive match where he was the toast of the day Eagles FC scouts enticed him to join their club and promised him a good offer.
“It was at the apex of the log and gunning for promotion into Premiership, as such I got interested in the deal because it was my desire to turn out for a top flight team. In addition to that they had promised me a good signing on fee and a good salary,” he says.
The Majuta Mpofu-coached side gained promotion and was red hot in the league as it had stars like Max Tshuma, Felix Ntuthu, Stanford Ntini, Boy Ndlovu, Tani Banda, Eddy Zimunya and Johannes Tshuma.
During his early years the club had sound sponsorship and he reveals that they were paid handsomely.
“For a win we would get $75, for a draw we were paid $37-50, and nothing for a loss,” he said.
His best game with the outfit was when they marched over Dynamos.
“That match remains one of my best when we beat Dynamos at Barbourfields Stadium and scoring a brace in that encounter,” he recalls.
However, his worst match was a costly mistake when his side clashed against Black Rhinos in the Super League match.
“Black Rhinos had a corner against us and I tried to clear the ball and scored an own goal,” he reveals.
He says at the time the club started experiencing financial problems. He says the team captain Boy Ndlovu and his vice-captain Elvis “Chuchu” Chiweshe influenced other players not to participate in the next game until they are paid.
“It was on a weekend and we were playing Rio Tinto at Rimuka Stadium. The club officials had to pay us at around 12pm.
Before we left we had to phone informing match officials that we had a break down. We arrived there at 3.45pm,” he recalls.
Moyo says they put up a stellar performance and marched over a strong Rio Tinto side that had players such as Ephert Lungu, Joseph Ngwenya and Raphael Phiri.
“We beat them 3-0, after the match some of the supporters congratulated us for a beautiful display of football,” Oyo recalls.
But the financial problems continued to put a dent in the smooth running of the club. He says after going for three matches without being paid following that the influential team captains influenced the rest of the squad not to fulfil the next fixture.
But all the players betrayed their trust.
“Our team manager had to come to our houses to sweet talk us to turn up for the fixture. Ndlovu and Chiweshe warned us not to attend until we were paid but in fear we fulfilled the fixture and we were defeated,” he remembers. The financial woes deepened, as a result Moyo left to Shu-Shine FC.
At Shu-Shine he played alongside Tavaka Gumbo, Little Sithole, Norman Moyo, Joshua Mizha. The side was coached by Philemon Dangarembwa and Tendai Chieza.
But the life was all that rosy at the Midlands outfit. He says the team had a big mix of young players, as a result in most of the games he was benched, at the end of the season he had to retire.
In a little while in search of greener pastures Elvis ‘‘Chuchu’’ Chiweshe left for Dynamos, Rahman Gumbo left for Highlanders, and he (Boy Ndlovu) joined Highlanders but had little game time.
Fact file
-Stoneshed Moyo was born on 15 June 1961 in Zvishavane.
-He was born in a family five children — five boys only.
-He is married to Tendai and the couple was blessed with five children.
-He attended Gresham Primary School and Dayadaya Seconday School.
-He formed a club named Silo FC which plies its trade in the Bafa league.
