The Sunday News
Lovemore Dube
TO many he is a mysterious figure in a star-studded Highlanders side of the 1980s which went on to dominate cup competitions in 1988.
He had a short stint at the club in a career brought to an end after a clash with two legendary defenders Felix Ntuthu and Misheck Chidzambwa.
In the picture Cephas Semenya Sibanda stands in between two iconic defence stalwarts Douglas ‘‘British Never Surrender’’ Mloyi and Alexander ‘‘The Cool Ruler’’ Maseko.
It is a portrait treasured by many, kept for posterity and memories of a gone by era when the team boasted of talented and skilful stars, most of whom donned national colours.
The writer was privileged to watch Sibanda in his teens in a group of talented youngsters who included Machona Sibanda, Duli Ncube, Benson Soko, Sada Zulu, Kakokoma Kayonga and David Zulu. Sadly his promising career never rose to zenith heights hit by Machona and David.
Sunday News caught up with Cephas Sibanda who looked back at what was a promising career gone in smoke with tears almost overwhelming his eyes.
“My career had a good take-off from the dusty S Section of Lwendulu Village in Hwange right through to primary school football. I was among the most gifted boys of my juniors and it came as no surprise that while a junior at Lwendulu Primary School then coached by a Mr Chinamatire, I could play even for the seniors on one afternoon.
“Through high school at Wankie Secondary, I was a promising junior sought after by clubs,” said Cephas whose eldest brother Sebastian starred for Hwange and Olympics before his untimely death at the Colliery soon after Independence.
With the likes of Sada, Machona and himself they took showboating to a high level, at times dribbling past half a dozen opponents and pulling down stockings or sitting on the ball.
“We were growing up and having fun on the field,” said Cephas with a chuckle.
While at Wankie Secondary School in 1978 and 1979 Cephas broke into the Hwange Second Division and was to be among the pioneers at Iwisa Kaizer Chiefs, a side that stole the thunder from renowned clubs like Raith Rovers, Black Aces, Marathon, Blue Bombers, Kabwe Warriors, Brazil and Rufaro Rovers who among them had produced players like Posani Sibanda, Cosmas Ngwenya, Barton Mwalukuka, David Phiri, Skeva Phiri, Isaac Phiri, Philemon Nyathi.
“I was then identified for the Hwange reserve side where some of my teammates were Machona, David Zulu, at times we would have a recuperating legendary David Khumalo with us in the team. I played a number of matches and had a few matches for Hwange before Barry Daka who knew me from my early days in the game and my brother came to fetch me to join Olympics.
“It was great playing with the likes of Tito Paketh, Tamburike Moyo, Roland Papaya, Mike Mhlanda, Boyce Malunga, Patrick Ncube, Ben Makadzange and Philemon Dangarembwa. Before at Hwange, I was with big names like Khumalo, Roderick Simwanza, Nyaro Mumba, Amos Rendo, Leonard Tembo among those who were helping us settle in ‘Big League Football,’’’ said Cephas.
He made his debut against Eagles but his first goal was to come in a match against Rio Tinto.
“Back then football was very competitive at all levels. We worked hard and because we were boys who grew up playing in the streets it was all about the game for fun. There was a lot of talent back in the day so much that in a town like Hwange several of the village teams could have vied for honours in Division One,” he added.
Hardly had he settled in Bulawayo than the man who had recruited him left for Highlanders.
“Barry Daka left for Highlanders at the beginning of 1984 but luckily I had settled well at Olympics,” said Cephas.
Players continued leaving Olympics with Amin Soma-Phiri among the first ones to cross the flow from a side that had at the end of 1976 nearly brought Bosso to oblivion.
Sibanda was a hero in Olympics 6-3 demolition of Olympics at Redcliff in a BAT League match in 1986.
“Sibanda hits Zisco for four,” screamed a headline of a story written by Stan Dube who was the Chronicle Correspondent in the Midlands.
Others to follow were Nqobizitha Maenzanise, the legendary Tito Paketh and Tobias Mudyambanje.
“I quickly settled in at Highlanders where I would play as a centre striker or right winger. Already there were guys that I knew from Olympics and some that I had played with in the Matabeleland North Provincial Under-18 squad that won the CocaCola Championships. I knew Sydney Zimunya, Netsai Moyo, Willard Khumalo and Mercedes Sibanda,” said Sibanda.
He had moved to Bosso at the beginning of 1987 where one of his memorable games was against Beroe of Bulgaria.
Cephas and Fanuel Ncube scored for Highlanders in the 2-3 loss at Barbourfields Stadium.
“It was among my first games for the club and to have found the back of the net was icing on the cake and confidence building for me,” said Sibanda.
For a man who starred in a game against Hwange which won 3-1 with him scoring the third in a BAT Championship match at the beginning of 1987, it was no fluke for the talented youngster from Hwange’s Number One suburb that he started in a line-up with Peter Nkomo, Fanuel Ncube, Dumisani Nyoni, Sam Sibanda, Titus Majola, Ronnie Jowa, Tanny Banda, Tito Paketh, Netsai Moyo and Richard Ndlovu.
“It’s a pity I could not finish the season on the field with a clash with Misheck Chidzambwa bringing my career to an end.
Bosso Doctor Vic Naik advised me to quit the sport or to risk having my leg amputated from my left knee. I took heed of his advice but I was to return later as player/coach at Red Seal Rovers where I worked and I am still at. When I felt better I decided staying at work and playing for the company team was a better option than trying to go back to Premiership football,” said Cephas.
If not for injuries he believes he could have played a major role at the club in the 1988 cup conquests and well into the 1990s.
He said during their time there was great rivalry between the teams. However, he noted that there was little violence compared to now as coaches, administrators and the media fought hard not to feign-isms in the sport.
“Sport then played its true unifying effect among Zimbabweans. The hostilities were friendly, what we are seeing now calls for stakeholders to put heads together and find solutions. Hooliganism has no room in the sport, it damages the well-intentioned purpose of the game,” he said at the end of the interview.
(Picture: Standing Sydney Zimunya, TRitus Majola, David Phiri, Douglas Mloyi, Cephas Sibanda, Alexander Maseko, Netsai Moyo, Nqobizitha Maezanise, Tanny Banda, Willard Khumalo, Peter Nkomo.
Crouching: Tobias Mudyambanje, Dumisani Nyoni, Mercedes Sibanda, Madinda Ndlovu, Fanuel Ncube, Abraham Madondo, Thoko Sithole.
