The Sunday News
Danisa Masuku
When the voice of God calls, often times it is most difficult to ignore, usually one goes where the voice is calling from. Former Eastlands and Bulawayo Wanders defender Charles Chitumbura explains how God spoke to him while he was taking a rest at his home.
“I was taking a rest on a weekend. I heard a small still voice saying I should stop drinking alcohol. After that I went to my favourite drinking spot to have a quality time with my friends, shockingly I could not enjoy much as I was at uneasy,” says former Eastlands defence stalwart.
Since 2017, Chitumbura has been a pastor at Apostolic Church, Mzilikazi branch.
“I have been a church elder since 2014, then in January last year the church leadership ordained me to be a pastor. My duties entail preaching the word of God and conducting counseling services .It has been uplifting to me …. Just imagine seeing someone who was a sinner discarding his or her sinful ways and living a holy life. At our branch I lead more than 100 congregants,” he shares.
His wife Masiline Chitumbura has been a pillar of strength.
“Being a pastor is no stroll in the park, there are numerous challenges that I encounter and most of them are spirit sapping as well as energy draining.
However, my wife has been a pillar of strength and a comforter in rocky times,” he reveals to Sunday Life Sport.
Behind every powerful man of God there is a prayerful woman. Masiline has been such a woman to her husband.
“When he( Chitumbura) faces some challenges there is nothing that I can do except to kneel down and seek God’s intervention and God has never failed me in that regard,” she says.
Chitumbura is forever grateful to his first ever profession (soccer) which he says it opened up windows of opportunity for him.
“Soccer opened a number of avenues for me as a result I managed to secure a job as a driver after which I managed to buy a house at Mzilikazi suburb,” says former Eastlands defence kingpin.
He reveals that his life has revolved around soccer and driving.
“In my entire life I have earned a living through playing soccer and driving. I have been a driver for the past 42 – years,” he says.
Turning to soccer, Chitumbura recounts that while he was with Maternity FC scouts from Eastland FC sweet – talked him to join their side.
The 18 – year –old joined Eastlands and was thrust in the heart of defence and did not disappoint. At the side he played alongside football greats such as Tymon Mabalela and Daniel “Dhidhidhi” Ncube.
During that period racism was the order of the day as there were teams for blacks and whites. Teams such as Rovers FC, Carlies FC, and Bulawayo Postals FC were mainly for whites. While Matabeleland Highlanders, Mashonaland United, Eastlands were dominated by blacks.
He remembers: “There was no way a black person could turn out for white dominated teams because blacks were segregated, they were not allowed into the dressing room. Black players were ordered to change where equipment and things like white wash were kept,” he recounts.
His undisputed flair in clearing the lines earned him a place in Bulawayo select squad- Red Army. In that squad he played alongside the trio of William Sibanda, Josiah Nxumalo and Daniel Dhidhidhi Ncube and Majuta Mpofu.
A match that is still dear to him was when he scored a brace when they clashed against Wankie (now Hwange) at Colliery stadium.
“I scored a brace and as a result we won 2-0 courtesy of those two goals,” he reminisces.
After a successful stint with Eastlands FC Chitumbura joined a Bulawayo outfit – Bulawayo Wanderers FC.
He hung his boots in 1972 when he was 30 years – old and turned his focus on refereeing. He reveals that during his almost three decade long refereeing career he faced torrid times mostly from team officials who challenged his decision.
“Unlike now where players are fond of challenging referee’s decision by besieging him or her whenever they disagree with the referee’s decision, during my stint players were most disciplined, only officials were in the habit of giving us torrid time as they would challenge some the decisions,” he reveals.
Chitumbura is of the opinion that that the referee standards in local Premiership have gone down.
The 2017 Referee of the year award went to Harare-based referee Ruzive Ruzive although he faced tight competition from the first runner up Nomore Musundire while Luckson Mhara was the second runner up from the match officials.
Ruzive Ruzive might have been voted the local 2017 Referee of the Year but Fifa felt he doesn’t deserve a place among the best in the world.
The reigning top referee was left out in the cold by the Fifa Referees Committee for the 2018 international list released recently. Instead the trio of Norman Matemera, Nomore Musundire and Philani Ncube are the Zimbabwean referees on the Fifa panel.
Chitumbura retired from refereeing in 1999 and coached Eastlands FC juniors and spent two seasons with the outfit that catapulted him to the lime light.
Now he has nothing to do with football and concentrates on his more than four decades profession – driving at Mpilo central hospital.
Fact File
Charles Chitumbura was born in 1942 in Gutu district, Masvingo province. He is married to Masiline Chitumbura.
The couple was blessed with ten children but one passed on.
The children are Opah, Shuvai, Tapera, Emily, Phineas, Ratidzo, Mathew, Ivy ,Noah and the late chiedza.
He did his primary education at Sakubva Primary School in Mutare and did his Secondary education at Zimuto Secondary School.
