The Sunday News
Danisa Masuku
“MY heart bleeds when I think of Zimbabwe Saints’ demise. It is the team that I love so much and I believe it will certainly bounce back.”
He earned the nickname “Gee Pee” during his early games at Zimbabwe Saints because he produced the sort of key tackles and interceptions that made him a mainstay in the backline.
In his childhood Godfrey Paradza supported Chauya Chikwata, as Zimbabwe Saints were fondly known by its legion of fans across the country.
To buttress his love for the club, Paradza later turned out for Chauya Chikwata at Under-12 and Under-14 levels before joining Highlanders juniors when he turned 16.
In that team, that was nicknamed Liverpool, Paradza had a dance with the likes of left back Netsai “Super’’ Moyo, Willard Khumalo, then a central defender while Sam Sibanda was the right back. Strikers were Hagai Moyo and Oliver Shoko, the midfield department comprised Summer Ncube, Abraham Senda, Patson Phiri, and Fidelis Mudzingwa while Tendai Muringai manned the goalposts.
The then sensational youthful side was under the tutelage of renowned and decorated Juniors coach, Ali “Baba’’ Dube.
Dube is said to have transformed Paradza into a utility player, a development that gave him a competitive advantage.
“I could play in any position and as such, I was equally comfortable playing in right back, centre back and even in the middle of the park and that was a plus for me as some defenders were specialists,” said Paradza
While he was enjoying his game at the illustrious Highlanders’ juniors side, scouts from his childhood team came knocking.
Chauya Chikwata being in his DNA, Paradza did not have to think twice as he embraced the opportunity wholeheartedly.
That was the beginning of great things for him as his dream of turning out for his beloved team at senior level was fulfilled. He made his debut with Chauya Chikwata senior team while a Form Four pupil at Sobukhazi High School in 1982 at the age of 17.
Although he was a pint-sized player, his superb tackling, heading, interceptions proved enough to set him apart from his peers at Saints and in no time he earned an Under-20 national team call-up.
The junior representative team was under the tutelage of Peter “Thunderboots’’ Nyama, Lovemore Nyabeza and Ashton “Papa’’ Nyazika.
At Zimbabwe Saints Paradza was in a Saints team that fancied their chances against visiting British side Coventry City FC, when the English side toured Zimbabwe in 1983.
He has fond memories playing against the then English Premiership side.
“I was lucky because I played three times against Coventry City. At first it was with the national team, Under-20 national team and Zimbabwe Saints. At Zimbabwe Saints we managed to beat them 4-2,” he said.
His impressive skills and work rate caught the eyes of Coventry City officials who invited him for trials, however, the move suffered a stillbirth.
“Zimbabwe Saints officials thwarted the move as such I failed to go for trials at Coventry City. That was retrogressive on my career,” Paradza recalls.
In 1986 an inviting opportunity for attachment at English side — Nottingham Forest FC arose and he grabbed it.
He still fondly remembers the opportunity.
“I learnt a lot during my attachment and that helped me to become a complete player. As a result I became good both in offensive and defensive.”
Due to impressive performances at Under-20 level, Paradza was subsequently elevated to the senior national team alongside Madinda Ndlovu, Boy Ndlovu, Maronga Nyangela, Willard Khumalo, and Japhet Mparutsa.
“Zifa was more organised as they used to monitor the players from Under-20 up to the senior team. The continuity helped in moulding the players and creating a compact force,” said Paradza.
He is grateful to Chauya Chikwata because it propelled him to greater heights.
“I feel my career blossomed at Zimbabwe Saints as I was afforded more game time and that helped in building my confidence and sharpened my skills and as such, other teams noticed me,” he said.
It can be recalled that the City of Kings boasted of two major teams — Highlanders and Saints. Of interest is that both teams fought for bragging rights, as such that created rivalry.
There was a time when the two teams met at BF and his then mentor Gibson Homela threw him into the fray despite nursing a knee injury. Homela believed that Paradza could add gist to the team.
“In that match I was injured and I was benched. I came on from the bench in the second stanza and I scored a winning goal.
As a result we won 1-0. It was such a delight to beat Highlanders because we earned bragging rights in the city,” revealed Paradza.
In search for greener pastures, Paradza left Saints, and joined Darryn T FC in 1985 where he mingled with stars such as John Phiri, David Mwanza and Jonah Tasanangurwa a scoring machine.
Like any player he still yearned for the big stage to showcase his talent and DeMbare offered him that wish.
“I always wished to play for a big team where I could shine and showcase my talent, DeMbare became that team,” he says.
At the peak of his career he helped DeMbare win the league title in 1991. He was also instrumental in helping a red-hot DeMbare to clinch the league title twice in a row in 1994 and 1995.
DeMbare was in the safe hands of Sunday Chidzambwa, who was then assisted by David George.
DeMbare had Ernest Chirambaradare and Peter Fanuel in the goalkeeping department, Angirayi Chapo, a right back, while he played in the central defence. Moses Chunga, Claudius Zviripayi and Vitalis Takawira were the leading lights in the final third, while the engine room was manned by the likes of Bheki Mlotshwa and Memory Mucherahowa, then team captain.
A nagging knee injury put paid to his career, and he quit in 1995 at the end of the season.
“Sunday Chidzambwa recommended me to coach DeMbare juniors but I turned down the offer due to work commitments as I was a full-time employee at Zesa.”
Due to the love of beautiful game of soccer he did a number of coaching courses and attained a Level Four coaching certificate.
“I also have an Olympic Solidarity certificate with Fifa and also a Caf C certificate,” said Pararadza.
He has coached Mbabane Highlanders of Swaziland from 2005 up to 2007. He left Swaziland at end of the year and returned home where he assumed a managerial position at Zimbabwe Saints from 2008 up to in 2010.
Gee Pee says he was still a bitter man having watched Zimbabwe Saints, a team that is so dear to him dying not a “natural death but a painful death”.
But he strongly believes Chauya Chikwata will bounce back one day as efforts are underway to revive it.
“We went to the drawing board and realised our team became defunct because it lacked a junior policy. At the moment we are working on reviving Saints through setting up the Under- 12, 14 and 16,” Paradza said, re-emphasising that junior policy helps in moulding players who will understand the culture and ideology of the team.
“Players who would have risen through the ranks to the senior team give it their all on the field of play, unlike players who come from other clubs,” he said.
Paradza believes that the current crop of players lacked discipline, which was the major stumbling block on their promising careers.
“I have noted with concern that most of the players lack discipline in time management and they indulge in alcohol and drugs and that wrecks their careers in the budding stage,” he says. Paradza reflects on his chosen career with joy because he is a proud owner of two houses, one in Bulawayo and one in Harare. He also runs a sports shop in Gwanda.
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