How Bulawayo goalie missed a Germany chance

16 Jul, 2017 - 02:07 0 Views
How Bulawayo goalie missed a Germany chance Henry Moyo (left) and Thubelihle Nkomazana

The Sunday News

Henry Moyo (left)  and Thubelihle Nkomazana

Thubelihle Nkomazana and Henry Moyo

Danisa Masuku

Henry Moyo was inspired to become a goalkeeper by former Highlanders and Zimbabwe international footballer Bruce Grobbelaar who played as a goalkeeper, most prominently for the English team Liverpool between 1981 and 1994.

He says he admired his athletic ability, confidence and eccentric manner when he was in between the sticks. Moyo quietly manifested himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the South Zone league side Black Chiefs. As a result of his fine performance he says: “I was voted player for the month twice in that year.”

At Black Chiefs he played alongside Alfred “Ngedla” Phiri who was crowned Soccer Star of the Year in 1978. Due to political tension in Rhodesia he left for Botswana in 1979 and joined Gaborone United when it was in Division one.

How did he join Gaborone United?

“Due to high political upheaval in the country I left for Botswana as a refugee. While I was there the captain for Gaborone United invited me to join his side and I grabbed the opportunity,” he says.

His performance did not dip but improved. As a result he commanded the number one jersey. He was strict in marshalling his defence , which earned him the nickname Sergeant. After six months he went to Germany where he was given two options — to be a refugee or to play soccer. He chose soccer but after medical check-ups he had to abort his choice as he was diagnosed of a liver ailment.

“When I went for medical check-up the doctor asked me to choose between life and death! He said if I resume playing soccer my life would be cut short, so I called it quits,” he says.

As if the doctors had sealed his fate within two weeks he was detained in hospital and spent six months there. Moyo has advice for the upcoming players.

“I had a bright future in foolball but drugs cut it short. In the same vein the current crop of players should avoid or at least reduce intake of alcohol and drug abuse,” said Moyo.

After recuperating he enrolled for an electrical engineering degree while at the same time he was doing coaching badges. In 1983 he completed the degree. In 1984 he enrolled for Religion and Philosophy and mid-way he left for England where he completed the course in 1986.

Having completed the course he started to work as a pastor for a church called Church of God. While serving at Church of God he was offered a scholarship to pursue a Masters Degree in Philosophy at Lee College in United States of America. He specialised in Christian ministries. While pursuing his studies at the college he was hired as a coach and goalkeeper’s coach for the college outfit. That revitalised his interest in football. In 1994 he went back to England and enrolled for coaching badges.

He says: “I did a preliminary badge because the authorities there did not allow a foreign player who didn’t play in any level in England.”

In 1996 he went back to USA to lecture at Lee University. In his first three months he was appointed the assistant coach for men’s soccer and head coach for women’s soccer. In 1999 he was promoted to head coach for men’s soccer. He has fond memories of his tenure at the college.

“When I took over we were ranked 200 but within three years we were ranked 20th nationally. I recruited former Highlanders player Owen Gombami, Stanly Nyazemba and I also brought players from Liberia, Jamaica and Engalnd,” he says.

The players were hungry for success and did their best.

“With those players we won the Conference championship and went on to win regional championship and national championships in four years in a row. Out of that group I had players who were recognised as AII America meaning we were the best players in college soccer,” he says.

He went on: “Some of my players were drafted into the Major League Soccer (MLS) national team.”

Due to his immaculate services to the club and dedication of players at the end of 2009 the club rose through the ranks to sit at fourth position. In a bid to improve his coaching capabilities the ambitious Moyo did goalkeeper’s coach badges and youth coaching badges with National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

However, he regrets some of his decisions.

“Some of the players that I recruited did not prove their worth and that caused a lot of problems for me. The university authorities were not happy with mediocre players as they were deemed a cost to the institution,” he said.

He stepped down from both his lectureship and coaching job in 2011. After that he was hired by a company called USA National Training Centre.
“They hired me to develop a soccer academy and within three years we had 400 players and in 2013 I also developed women semi pro-soccer team and I became the head coach for the side,” he said.

He says the academy produced players who went on to ply their trade in Europe.

“A goalkeeper Libby Stout plied his trade in France, Germany and England where she turned out for Liverpool ladies team,” he says.

In 2014 he resigned from the National Training Centre and set up his own soccer academy called International Pro soccer academy which is based in Florida.

He says the emphasis of the academy is player development and the academy has Under-12, 16 and 18.

“We teach nutrition, rest and rehabilitation, personal management and finance. At the moment I have 160 players,” he said.

At the moment he is looking at possibilities on establishing a soccer academy in Zimbabwe’s second capital city Bulawayo. Asked about which team he supports he said: “Every now and again I follow Highlanders and I have a strong attachment with the club. In English Premier League I support Liverpool.”

Moyo was blessed with two sons Themba (28) and Dumisa who is a journalist based in USA. He is a pastor at Church of God there.

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