The Sunday News
Danisa Masuku
Shacky Toindepi Nyathi’s love for Zimbabwe Saints started long back when he was growing up in the dusty streets of Mzilikazi in the late 60s.
His association with Saints has been complete: he has not played for any other local team, only turning out for the national Under-20 team. His inimitable qualities in ball distribution, high work rate and winning high balls left the coaches with no doubt but to select him for Zimbabwe Saints senior team.
“I had spent less than three months in the reserve side and my coaches selected me to the senior team. I took over from William Sibanda who was a good midfielder,”he recalls.
At the time Tendai Chieza was the man in charge and his team had the likes of Andew Kadengu, Josphat Munetsi, Ephraim Chawanda was the captain, Jethro “Chemi” Hunidzarira, Misheck Sibanda, Jimmy Phiri and the like.
In 1979 at the age of 18, he made his debut as a substitute in a Castle Cup final match against club’s arch-rival, Dynamos. In that match Saints went down 2-1. He recalls that the matches that involved his side and Dynamos were tough, as such they had to put in a lot of work.
“The matches that involved my team and DeMbare had the allure and magnetism. And such matches involved emotions and pride about who was the football king. With DeMbare we shared the same kit colours and so either team wanted to prove on the field of play who was the KING of football. For that to happen we had to put in extra work during our training sessions,” he says.
A Chronicle sports writer wrote of Nyathi in 1982: “When Nyathi is out of form Zimbabwe Saints’ defence would not be compact but when he is playing the defence would be a force to reckon with”.
In his own mind the most exhilarating moment of his career was when he made his debut in the first team.
“In that maiden match when I had just broke into the senior team after the match I was told I had been selected for the Olympic team to travel to Moscow in Rusia,” he said with a smile.
Nyathi gave immaculate services to the club and was rewarded with Under-20 national team call-ups for five consecutive years. He was part of junior level that went to Russia in 1980, Mozambique in 1981, and Swaziland in 1982. He picks the Mozambique trip as one of his memorable one.
“When we were about to land at the airport in Mozambique there was a storm, that disturbed landing triggering panic to us.
But the pilot managed the situation and changed the route to land at a safe airport,” he recalls.
That junior level squad came complete with the talented players like Lucky Dube, James Takavada, John Phiri, David Mwanza, David Zulu, Stanley Ndunduma, Charles Chirwa, Machona Sibanda, Ephraim Dzimbiri, Japhet Muparutsa, Rainos Mapfumo Takesure Maverengo and Benedict Moyo.
In 1982 he was part of the Chauya Chikwata side that beat visiting England side Coventry City.
Another exciting moment in his career was when he scored against Gwelo United at their own back yard with formidable Runga Mutunga in goals for their opponents. He cherishes that match as he scored the winning goal against Gwelo United in their first round of Zifa Cup in 1983 at Ascot Stadium.
“A number of players had struggled to score against Ranga and there was no team that could beat it at its fortress but we went and proved to be too hot to handle for them and beat them,” he says with a chuckle.
His most difficult opponent was John Phiri who turned out for Rio Tinto. As fate would have it, Nyathi picked a right leg injury in 1987 when they were playing against Blue Ribon when he came into contact with Baron Maunel.
Asked about whether he has forgiven Manuel or not, he said: “He plunged my career into a dustbin and as such I had begrudged him for years and felt I had to somehow revenge but there was nowhere I could. I had fancied plans to ply my trade overseas but the injury dashed all the hopes. But I had to forgive him after I got a well paying job.”
The injury marked the end of his football career in 1988. What hurt him is that club officials turned a blind eye on him and he had to pay for his medical bills.
Chikwata are now in a lower league, with efforts by his former team mates and administrators to revive the club. When asked about the state of Zimbabwe Saints, he delivered a one-worder: Devastated.
“I’m devastated about the demise of such a big club but efforts are underway to revive it.”
He continued: “What hurts me most is that Saints had committed players like Jethro “Chemi” Hunidzarira who used to ride on his bicycle from Kwekwe to Bulawayo and back to Kwekwe after the matches or training sessions and many players who gave their all for the team. However, I’m hopeful that it would bounce back.”
This is the message that has been said by his former team mate Godfrey Paradza. The same message was expressed by Ben Makadzange.
We hope former Saints players would not tire in this endeavour to bring back to life the once glamorous Saints that added colour in the domestic football soccer scene and produced a number of football players. Nyathi was born on December 27 1963. He attended Lobengula Primary School and that is where he carved his football career.
For his secondary education he went to Njube High School, there his footwork was a marvel to watch. He was born in a family of four boys and two girls. He is married to Winnie and they have two children namely Idah and Tonderai. Now he is a sales representative at Tesbin Trading Stars.
