The Sunday News
DECEMBER 4, 2021 was set to be a special day in the history of Highlanders FC with almost 10 generations of players assembled at the team’s Clubhouse.
This was the brainchild of Zimbabwe football legend, Alexander Maseko.
He remains a darling of the Bosso faithful because of his great service to the club from 1984-91.
His spell was trophy laden with a first league and cup double for the club in 1990, a highlight of his glowing career which ended with more silverware at Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa.
Maseko who is based in South Africa had arranged to bring together administrators, coaches and players associated with the club from as far back as 1955.
“My idea my brother is to get players of yesteryear, people who made it happen for Highlanders FC for instance administrators, people like Bhibhiza, Gumede getting together for a day of drink, food and music of our times and before.
“I want to re-enact the feel and touch of the Clubhouse atmosphere with music by artistes of back then,” said the legendary Maseko three weeks ago before Government put tighter controls following an upsurge of Covid-19 cases.
Maseko who initiated the idea was set to arrive in Zimbabwe on 2 December for final touches ahead of the “grand party.”
A disappointed Maseko called from Johannesburg on 30 November to say the event could not proceed.
“With the imposed isolation rules for those from outside Zimbabwe, it means I will miss the party.
From the beginning I have been looking forward to meet my surviving teammates, the generation zaboBaba uLawrence Phiri that inspired me and others up to guys like Gift Lunga (Jnr),” said Maseko.
Among former Bosso’s oldest players would have been Edward Magungubala Dlamini who was with Highlanders during the days of the club’s Bulawayo African Football Association (Bafa) and the Zambia Stanley and Livingstone Cup.
Phiri, a legendary figure, Billy Sibanda and Kainot Luphahla would have been there too.
Peter Nkomo, Smart Moyo, Douglas Mloyi, Ephraim Moloi Moyo and Themba Ncube would have been among those to enter the fray in the second half of the 1970s.
Madinda Ndlovu would have led his cast that broke onto the scene at Independence with his mid-1980s teammates,Tito Paketh, Tobias Mudyambanje, Rudolf Ndiweni, Amin Soma-Phiri and Cephas Sibanda.
Gift Lunga Snr, Makwinji Soma-Phiri, Simba Rusike and Nkululeko Dlodlo are another generation largely prominent in the early part of the 1990s.
A group of stars largely referred to as the Class of 1998 with Zenzo Moyo, Gift Lunga Jnr, Siza Khoza, Blessing Gumiso, Noel Cele, Bekithemba Ndlovu, Edmore “MaMkhwebu” Sibanda, Simon Sibanda and Alexander Phiri.
Debate has always been which was the best Highlanders.
The 1970s side called Hit or Destruction Machine featuring a host of talented stars like Chutika Tembo, Billy Sibanda, Lawrence Phiri, Tommy Masuku, Ananias Dube, Zenzo Dabengwa, Josiah Nxumalo, James Nxumalo, Barry Daka, Tymon Mabaleka, Trust Moyo, Edward Dzowa, John Vella, Nehemiah Dube, Itai Chieza, Isaac Mafaro, Stanley Nyika won the 1973 Chibuku Trophy and three consecutive regional titles and four runners-up slots, defined Highlanders who were previously an unknown quantity nationally.
Another side that still has people talking is the 1984-90 team that virtually won everything on the local scene. Maseko, Douglas Mloyi, Madinda Ndlovu, Mercedes Sibanda, Willard Khumalo, Dumisani Nyoni, Mudyambanje, Dumisani Ngulube, Paketh and Richard Ndlovu were key members of that side coached by Daka and Cosmas Zulu.
A mix of the 1980s guard and another emerging crop led by Benjamin Konjera, Adam Ndlovu, Makwinji, Sikhumbuzo Ndebele earned the club the 1993 league title and BP League Cup.
Four championships on the trot from 1998 to 2002 including a double cup and league conquest thrust the group coached by Rahman Gumbo and Eddie May to legendary status with some of the players available for the 2006 title where Honour Gombami, Ralph Matema, Richard Choruma and Gilbert Banda were prominent.
Maseko had looked forward to having administrators like Themba Ndlela, Gumede, Enock Mangena, Luke Mnkandla, Colonel (Retired) Thomas Ngwenya, Jimmy Ncube, Peter Dube, Kenny Ndebele, Wisdom Mabhena, Nkululeko Mabhena, Smile Ndlovu, Odiel Nkomo and a host of them all in attendance.
Maseko says as soon as the situation subsides he will press ahead with his idea of bringing administrators, coaches and players who are alive together for a day of fun with no other agenda.
