The Sunday News
Lovemore Dube
BORN Christopher Sibanda but better known in football circles as Chris Bha, he is among footballers who defined wing play in the 1960s and 1970s.
Their darting runs, cut-ins, crosses and occasional blistering shots were what drew fans to stadia. They were craftsmen going about their business with so much fluidity and efficiency that those that paid to watch the games or did so clutching on to tree branches would feel compelled to come next Sunday.
Players like Bha had the uncanny habit of turning around the game. Win or lose fans were guaranteed the entertainment value in the game.
He made so much impact at Highlanders and Eastlands that his exploits on the wing where he played the old Number Seven are still spoken about at the same breath with other legends Madinda Ndlovu, Peter Ndlovu, Joseph Machingura, David Khumalo, Kakoma Kayonga, Eric Aisam, Mike Abrahams, Boy Ndlovu, Cavin Duberley and Andrew Kadengu.
“Chris Bha was a great talent. He was a very good winger one would enjoy playing with or watching,” said football legend Barry Daka who like Bha grew up in Mzilikazi and is a product of the famed Bulawayo City Council youth clubs.
Those institutions were producers of talent that if not for Rhodesia’s suspension from international football could have gone places. It is a generation that played with passion, did it for fans just for a handshake at the end of the match and a drink with friends which more often then was a mug of opaque beer. Those who did not take the bottle settled for soft drinks and bread unlike now where a win in a league match could earn one as much as $400.
“Football was very much part of our lives. We played it on our streets, there was no other entertainment for the boys other than playing football among ourselves in the townships.
“Those lucky to have access to youth clubs would engage in sloga tennis, basketball, singing, dancing and football under the watchful eyes of leaders from the city council. This is where it all started for me,” said Bha, a former Lobengula Primary School pupil.
In his formative years in the game in Mzilikazi he played with legendary dribbling wizard Tommy Masuku at Lobengula and the likes of Fatso Mabika, Fakazi, Stanford Mpofu, Barry Daka and Billy Sibanda at Nongoma Club near Mzilikazi’s Macdonald Hall.
“We played among ourselves as boys. This allowed us to hone our skills to perfection as we put in a lot of hours into playing the game we loved,” said Bha.
He was identified while still at primary school level by Eastlands Football Club. It was one of the top teams in the City of Bulawayo when Zimbabwe introduced a semi-professional league that embraced all races.
Then Highlanders FC decided to stay in the Bulawayo African Football Association ranks, sceptical about the benefits of the league. Big teams then were Bulawayo Rovers, Mashonaland United, Bulawayo Sables and Rangers.
Even in the streets, Bha played as a winger, often keeping himself to the extreme end of the pitch. He would wait for the long pass from his space and do what he enjoyed most which was taking on opponents.
“It came naturally. We grew up doing that over and over so there was little effort put into that. At Eastlands where we were coached by Torerino, a gentleman who owned taxis and club sponsored by Chikerema, Nyaguze and Job Kadengu, we were among the top six teams in the country.
“In Bulawayo we were among the top clubs. We enjoyed the football competition nationally in the 1960s with teams like Salisbury Sables, St Pauls Musami, Dynamos, Chibuku Shumba and Arcadia. I remember at Eastlands we had Daniel “Dididi” Ncube, an equally talented dribbler and winger. We thrived on competition,” said Bha, who lasted a term into Form One after securing a job.
He said while there is so much talk about the wingers of that day, it does not mean defenders were weak.
“They were good man-markers, with speed and would kick your knuckles if you played too many tricks. You had to be at your best in terms of technique and being alert or else you would get a kick. Defenders like Stephen Chimedza, Amos Rendo, Philemon Tigere and James Nxumalo were among the best of the time,” said Bha.
Bha had been inspired by the wing exploits of great players.
“Highlanders had one Bhejane, he was as good as they come, Dusty King Gotora was a nightmare for wing backs and another player I liked was Maruma 303 whose booming shots troubled many goalkeepers. We had so much inspiration around us.
Unlike nowadays when there is television, we went to clubs and stadia to watch great players and very exciting football,” he said.
With Highlanders agreeing to join the national football framework in 1968, it was not long before Bha crossed the floor. He was invited by another Highlanders big name, the late Mackenzie Sibanda in 1970.
“He was my neighbour here in Mzilikazi who knew me well and my other brother Richard “Mbence” Sibanda. He said I had to play for the masses’ team and I agreed without a wink,” said Bha.
The 1,6 metres tall former dribbling wizard said he joined the team which had Lawrence Phiri, Ananias Dube, Barry Daka, Benjie Mpofu, Jeffrey Mpofu, Andrea Mpofu, Fakazi, Edward Dzowa.
He remembers the rivalry between Highlanders, Eastlands and City Pirates who were captained by the legendary John “Walker Chipukula” Phiri.
“It was all about bragging rights after the matches as to who was the big boy in town. We would be at our best, those games like other derbies were self-motivating with players doing their best for pride and bragging rights back in the townships,” said Bha.
Despite rating among the best wingers ever produced, Bha did not stay long in the game and just gave up in 1973 at the age of 24.
Why?
He claims that he was frustrated by the legendary Silas Ndlovu who rose to club coach towards the end of 1971.
“I got disillusioned because most of the times I would be on the bench, I did not understand why Silas was not playing me.
Being confined to the bench or reserves yet I believed I could do the job made me quit the game.
“There are no hard feelings with him. Whenever we meet I always tease him as to why he frustrated me. He was a great football personality who changed things at Highlanders,” said Bha who missed out on the club’s first major cup triumph the 1973 Chibuku Trophy.
Unlike other former players, Bha still finds time to go and watch Highlanders.
“Yes, the football now is slower, little creativity is exhibited and there are no hard shots like we used to pack. I will always support Highlanders no matter what the circumstances are.
“As for violence it has no room in the game.”
He spoke highly of George Shaya describing him, despite having been a wing attention competitor for fans, as having been a genius.
Among some other great talents Bha spoke highly of were Simon Machaya, Gibson Homela, Andrew Kadengu, Max Tshuma, William Sibanda, Masuku and Tymon Mabaleka as having been among the best players to emerge in Zimbabwe.
Ndumiso Gumede, an influential figure at Highlanders in the last 50 years, described Bha as having been a crowd favourite.
He said he was among a select number of players who did not play for far too long but left an indelible mark on the football scene.
“There are some players who sparkle for a short time but the impact they make on the game is so enormous. Bha is among those. He played for a short time but he stays among the best ever to grace our stadia,” said Gumede.
John Nyumbu (Gweru and Zimbabwe Saints), Tobias Mudyambanje (Highlanders), Simon Ncube (Highlanders), David and Morgan Phiri (Highlanders) and Machona Sibanda (Hwange and Ziscosteel) are some players who made a huge impact within a short period of their careers and disappeared.
Bha was born in Bulawayo on January 1, 1949. He is widowed and has two children, both of whom are working in South Africa and stays in Mzilikazi suburb in Bulawayo, his home for the past 67 years.
