The Sunday News
Lovemore Dube
A goal-poacher of repute, Twyman Ncube was a defender’s nightmare with his ghosting in the box earning him the moniker “The Ghost of Chibuku” when he moved to Chibuku Shumba from Hwange in 1969.
Positioning was one of his strengths. He had moved to the capital with Kizito Tembo and Ken Fulton joining one of the hottest clubs of that era. During those days big name moves were not common especially for talent to move from the Colliery to other centres.
There must be something that the coaches saw in him. To have risen to a player of national significance was due recognition of a gem who rose from a footballing family in Hwange.
His late eldest brother James Mwape “Ajimmy” Sakala is a celebrated sporting hero in Matabeleland North who ran in the Hwange Colliery team’s Chamber of Mines side in the 400m and 800m races and the 4x400m relays. It was in the 1960s when Hwange were a force to reckon with on the track and field with the likes of Vuyani Fulunga, Charles Mafika, Adon Treva, Cyprian Tseriwa, a member of the Rhodesian 1960 Olympics team and Ramson Murombe who was in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics team.
Sakala was a vital cog in the Hwange (Wankie FC) side famed for its two Castle Cup triumphs in 1970 and 1973. He was also instrumental in the team that won the 1991 FA Cup and won the berth to represent Zimbabwe in the then Cup Winners Cup in 1992.
Most of the players had come from development sides where his key players of the 1970s and 80s era had worked themselves to standstill, training school pupils and school leavers during their formative coaching years.
So Sakala played a big role in shaping up Ncube’s career. Their sister Khethiwe, who was married to Hwange’s sports officer Prize Ndlovu, was a Hwange 100m and 200m runner. She later became the Hwange team netball coach and worked tirelessly in developing the sport in the town.
So with sporting genes running in the family, in a town where sport was second nature, a foundation for the siblings to excel was cultivated at inter-village and school games at an early age.
Twyman Ncube (TN) bares it all this week in an interview with Sunday Life’s Lovemore Dube (LD).
LD: You made headlines when you moved to Chibuku Shumba with Ken Fulton and Kizito Tembo, how did the move come about?
TN: I must have been the first player to be sold by Hwange and I was bought back by Hwange. That was in 1969. Fulton and Tembo were released on free transfer. Hwange did not want me to move so they sold me.
LD: What was the figure?
TN: I have forgotten. They tried to make it difficult for me to move. The club officials spoke about it among themselves and resolved it. I did not get my 10 percent so I could not ask for my share because Hwange were not happy at all with my departure.
LD: Why did they not want you to leave?
TN: I was their top striker gifted with scoring and creativity. I used to partner Obert Agayi.
LD: Who were the other players in that side that put Hwange on the map and how many goals were you averaging per season?
TN: Kizito Tembo, Obert Agayi, Amos Rendo, Daniel Rendo, Sam Mtende, Joachim Levy Nkakha, Mwape Sakala, Posani Sibanda, Joseph Chimao, Isaac Phiri, Buddie Sibanda, Joseph Mapholisa, Ken Fulton, Malcom Whitley Barry Daka and Burns with Zambian Cyprian Ngoma who had taken over from Des Lola. I made my debut against Bulawayo Rovers, we were young boys and people were not happy that youths were playing.
LD: Why?
TN: We were teenagers, legend Amos had led the way and had played a couple of games and impressed. I was introduced with Nkakha and we held our own. We played the MW formation which was the 4-2-4 type.
LD: What was the coach’s reaction?
TN: He was happy about my performance and debut goal and I became a hit with Agayi and Mapholisa in attack.
LD: What was the impact of your brother in the side and to your game?
TN: He was an all-rounder. He could play in defence or be put in attack and cause havoc. He was a key player and I regard him as the best Hwange player ever.
LD: Back to your Harare stint, how was your stay there game wise and socially?
TN: Having debuted against Bulawayo Rovers and scored my reputation grew considerably. I continued to score goals and at times I would score hat tricks. I was a prolific goal scorer and this attracted Chibuku Shumba where we played under Fulton and Bob Lines winning several tournaments and reaching finals of several others. I played with great players like Billy Sharman, John Madondo, Mike Tivitis, Topsy Robertson, Cecil Mukwena, Zoom Rambayi and Peter Nyama.
LD: Since you had a decent job as a wages clerk in Hwange, were you a professional player or you got a job?
TN: Chibuku gave me a similar job and I was paying all staff at Ardbennie complex. But later I got into football full time as a coach going around Mashonaland conducting clinics. I had a great time winning medals with Peter Nyama as strike partner with guys like Topsy and Sharman assisting while Shadreck Ngwenya and Kizito Tembo were defence stalwarts.
LD: So for how many years did you stay there and why did you leave?
TN: I was bought by Kadoma United after five years where I was employed as a coach and player. They were in the elite league and we did well despite being a small club, reaching semi-finals of tournaments.
LD: I heard you were still in demand and in 1977 Hwange bought you from Kadoma.
TN: I was bad news for goalkeepers, scoring regularly so there was pressure as goals were dry at the Colliery. So Wankie bought me making me one of the few players they had spent money on. Surprisingly when I left they were so bitter that they had vowed that I should never return or be given a job when I retire.
LD: Since you were a hot striker were you ever called up to national teams?
TN: I was called up to the Lexington X1 in 1972, I was the only black player. Billy Asprey commended me after creating one of the goals saying if I were to turn to the British game I could be the national team striker. We played and beat Dynamos 2-1 and I created the second goal. Competition was tight then, there was so much competition.
LD: I remember after your return Hwange had Rodrick Simwanza, Nyaro Mumba, Isaac Phiri, David Khumalo, Leonard Tembo, Jimmy Sibanda, Chris Yoyo, Joseph Mapholisa and the likes of upcoming Skeva Phiri and Barton Mwalukuka, why did you struggle for cup glory?
TN: We had a good team and were unlucky not to win silverware. There was a time when we were tied on points with Dynamos, but we were told that we lost the title by a fraction of a goal. We all didn’t understand what that meant. It was our chance to win the title.
LD: Where were all those players coming from? They were formidable strikers.
TN: They were coming from the local league. There were Village Games which were competitive and development structures were in place to nurture talent. The local league must be revived to tap talent in Hwange and surrounding areas.
LD: Goals have dried, why?
TN: There is no creativity and hard work. Players must be given tips by former players who know it from a practical perspective. Fans want creativity and goals, what we see today is not what we used to do. Coaches must come to veterans for tips.
LD: Who was your most difficult opponent?
TN: There was no defender I feared. I was a tricky player who made life difficult for them. Stephen Chimedza, Simon Sachiti, James Chibaya, James Nxumalo, Reg Payne and Doorman Moodley were tough but I never feared any one of them.
LD: Your favourite players then were . . .
TN: Mwape Sakala of Hwange and William Sibanda of Zimbabwe Saints.
LD: What was your favourite stadium in Zimbabwe during your playing days?
TN: Hwange Stadium. The turf was lush green and we used to bury teams there. The one stadium I did not like was Ascot in Gweru, it was very cold in that city.
LD: Who were the best coaches you played under?
TN: Cyprian Ngoma, Fulton, Sakala, Lines and Danny Maclennan were good coaches. They benefitted my game a great deal.
We were made to work very hard as players. That is lacking in today’s game. Nowadays the game is just too fast, the ball travels a lot, we do not see imagination in their play.
LD: Thank you Ncube, where did the name “Ghost of Chibuku” come from?
TN: I was given by fans because I was a menace in the box for defenders and goalkeepers. I would score an average of 40 goals per season.
LD: Are you still involved in the game?
TN: I retired from the Colliery where I had trained as a Plumber Class One and rose to Civil Foreman. I now stay in Bulawayo where occasionally I coach pupils at Moray Primary School. I am hungry to return to league football as an adviser or coach.
LD: How is your family life?
TN: I am married to Christine.
