The Sunday News
Danisa Masuku
Former Zimbabwe Saints sharp shooter Chita “Black Mamba” Antonio feels yesteryear strikers were better than the current crop of forwards.
From the 70s up to early 80s Zimbabwe has produced a number of good strikers whose scoring margin surpassed that of the current crop of strikers.
Talk of the Caps united sharp shooter Shackman “Mr goals” Tauro who could score more than 25 goals in a season unlike now when the player lands the golden boot with less than 15 goals to his name.
Forwards such as Gibson Homela, Josiah Nxumalo, Agent Sawu, Peter Ndlovu and his brother Adam Ndlovu, Godfrey Paradza, Tymon Mabaleka just to a few set the bar high and the current crop of players have failed to surpass it.
A former Zimbabwe Saints legendary right back, Philemon Dangarembwa echoed the same view and described Chita as a gem of a striker who could have plied his trade in foreign leagues.
“He was a dependable striker who could score in each every match. He was always among the top goal scorers in each and every season. But was unlucky to have missed an opportunity to ply his trade in foreign leagues,” he said.
Being a sharp shooter and known for long drives from the 18-area he earned the nickname Black Mamba.
Chita kick-started his football career at Stodart Hall in Harare before he joined a Division One outfit Metal Box FC. He had a good stay there as his star power shone and was crowned top goal scorer at the end of the season in 1969.
At the end of the season he had a desire to turn out for a top-flight league team. His sister invited him for a Christmas holiday in Bulawayo and that was a golden opportunity for him to try his luck at his beloved teams Highlanders or Zimbabwe Saints.
“I wanted to turn out for either Highlanders or Zimbabwe Saints. I went for trials at Saints and I made the grade and that was the beginning of a football journey which lasted nine years,” he said.
The year 1973 was his crowning moment of glory as he became the top goal scorer in the country and was also a soccer star of the year finalist. But his worst year in Saints colours was in 1977.
“We were on top of the log with five games left. Musa Muzanenamo and I sneaked out of camp for a drinking spree. Unfortunately our chairman Ambrose Mutungwazi discovered that we sneaked out and he felt we were saboteurs and had to suspend me for three matches. Funny enough Muzanenamo was only cautioned and allowed to feature in the remaining matches. I felt the chairman was unfair to me,” he said.
A story in the The Chronicle on 10 November 1977 read: “Saints clamp down on indiscipline. The two players (Muzanenamo and Chita) were accused of Saturday revelling as they sneaked out of camp. Veteran striker will miss three matches while a caution has been issued to Muzanenamo.”
Regardless of that Saints won the Rhodesia National Football league (RNFL) title with a comfortable victory over Risco FC at Torwood Stadium, Redcliff.
“We beat Risco 5-2 and clinched the league title with a game in hand against Black Aces,” he recalls.
But the 1977 season had not been without heartaches for Chita as the triumphant Saints, featured in two finals — Nyore Nyore Cup Shield and Chibuku trophy but lost in both encounters.
The Castle Lager Premiership Saints winning side had the likes of Musa Muzanenamo (goalkeeper), Isaac Banda (defender), Philemon Sibanda (defender), Ephraim Moloi (centre-back), Lucky Rufani (centre-back), skipper Max Tshuma (link-man), William Sibanda (link-man), Steven Kwashi (a right striker ), Andrew Kadengu (left striker), Nhamo Chizunza (striker), Chita Antoniyo (striker).
Chita, being a menace in front of goals has fond memories of a Bulawayo derby played at Harare’s Rufaro Stadium in 1976.
“We went to that match as underdogs but we put up a stellar performance in the process we thrashed Highlanders 4-0 and we clinched the Chibuku Cup.
“Highlanders were touted as the Cup favourites in the run up to the Cup final but we turned on the fire and beat them all systems out. I scored a brace in that match,” he shares with Sunday Life.
An article written by former Chronicle sports Editor David Ncube quoted former Highlanders FC manager Silas Ndlovu saying: “We would beat Zimbabwe Saints even if the match was played on the moon.” But Chikwata brushed that aside and steam rolled over their City rivals.
Why Highlanders was tipped to clinch the Chibuku Cup
“Highlanders had dominated us (Saints) for most of the seasons after their 1971 relegation. We were not expected to trouble them but the truth is after winning the BAT Trophy against Salisbury Callies in 1974, Saints were a team on the rise. We had a number of young players like Andrew Kadengu and Max Tshuma who gave their all in our quest for success,” said Chita.
Asked who are the best players who featured for Zimbabwe Saints and Highlanders on the day
“At Saints we had William Sibanda, Max Tshuma, Andrew Kadengu, Emmanuel Sibanda and Highlanders were no pushovers with Itai Chieza, Isaac Mafaro, Josiah Nxumalo, Chutika Tembo, Tymon Mabaleka, Majuta Mpofu, Billy Sibanda and Lawrence Phiri,” he recalls with a smile.
In his entire footballing career Chita admired Caps United sharp shooter Shackman “Mr Goals” Tauro.
“The late Shacky was a prolific striker who rose to fame at a tender age and shone like a beacon in the RNF league and used to trouble many defenders with his magical football touch and was a free scorer,” he told Sunday Life.
At the end of the season in 1979 he left and joined Darryn T as a player-coach, helping it win promotion into the top-flight league. He had to hang his boots in 1980.
