AmaZulu goalie Dominic on club’s highs and lows

01 Jan, 2023 - 00:01 0 Views
AmaZulu goalie Dominic on club’s highs and lows Dominic Sithole during his playing days

The Sunday News

AMAZULU Football Club’s title winning goalkeeper Dominic Sithole did not need to look far for inspiration as he grew up as his shot stopping uncle Mthandazo Sithole was at arm’s reach.

Mthandazo played for Highlanders juniors and with Peter Nkomo still top of his game, he had to try his luck at Darryn T. He wound up his career at AmaZulu where coincidentally his nephew would make a name for himself.

Born in Bulawayo on 15 June 1978 to insurance salesman Agrippa Sithole and Gladys Mzizi, Dominic grew up at Sotshangane Flats in Nguboyenja. That particular section of the township had an Olympics DNA and was home to Elvis and Ephraim Chiweshe, Obey Sova, Collin Rusenza, Roland and Rudolf Ndiweni as well as Babsy Ncube.

Dominic Sithole Born to be Soccer Academy

Across the Luveve Road lived another of Dominic’s mentors, the legendary Muzondiwa Mugadza whom he shares a sad story. Mugadza had an outstanding 2001 season. He let in the list number of goals and had the highest number of clean sheets but was ignored for the Goalkeeper of the Year as selectors opted for a popularity contest. AmaZulu finished second to Highlanders that season. Dominic found himself in the same predicament with the championship winning side of 2003.

“Honestly that was the lowest point of my career. I did everything I could as a goalkeeper, won the championship, had the least number of goals and the best statistics for clean sheets, but was not popular enough for the Soccer Stars of the Year selection,” said Dominic.

On that year he scooped three awards at the club, AmaZulu Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year and Most Improved Player. Typical of players of the past, the open spaces between the flats became his first football pitches for kick-about with boys.

As he grew older, Nguboyenja and Sotshangane football pitches, then watered regularly where the grounds he began to experiment with diving as they provided soft landing surfaces for a budding goalkeeper. Ironically when he turned professional, occasionally Mugadza took him there for extra training on their own.

Dominic Sithole AmaZulu lineup

“I played anywhere where we could pitch a ground inspired by my uncle Mthandazo who was at Highlanders before moving to Darryn T. He was a drop kick specialist and I mastered that at an early age. There were guys like Elvis Chiweshe, Obey Sova, Muzondiwa Mugadza, these guys inspired me in the game of football, even Thamu Ngcebetsha, he may not have made it big in the game, but he was a role model to me,’’ said Dominic.

It had to happen for Dominic as growing up playing in the streets, he rubbed shoulders with exciting talents in the form of Joel Sakala, a player he says was quite good and deserved to play in the Premiership, Richard Choruma, a championship winner with Highlanders, one of the most talented players ever Lindani Kurairwa, Brian Mugadza a former Zimbabwe Under-17 star, Abedi Mugadza and Sikhumbuzo Banda.

Dominic proceeded to Lozikheyi Primary School where he played for all four divisions. He remembers former Zimbabwe international Joel Luphahla from the school and he described him as having been more talented as a sprinter than football.

There was also former Zimbabwe Saints and Under-23 left back Eddie Mukahanana who like Dominic is based in Canada and Mpumelelo Dzowa’s young brother Thando, a good left wing midfielder. They were coached by Mike Madzivanzira and a caretaker who was very fond of the game and Highlanders FC.

Dominic proceeded to Sobukazi High School where he fought for the number one jersey with former Young Warriors goalkeeper Reuben Chandata. His promising career in the game was affected by his move to Mpumelelo Secondary School. It was one of the top athletics schools in the district and Dominic found himself playing as defensive link for second team and first choice goalkeeper in the senior side.

“My grandfather retired so we had to move to the rural areas,” said Dominic.

After his fourth form examinations, Dominic returned to Bulawayo to renew rivalry with Chandata at Zimbabwe Saints. In 1997 when AmaZulu introduced juniors, former Saints juniors’ coach Surgery Mpofu, took along many players from Chikwata and among them was Sithole.

Dominic Sithole in AmaZulu lineup

“I had enjoyed myself at Saints juniors playing alongside Henry Ndlovu, Brian Mugadza, Mukahanana, Chandata and Sikhumbuzo Banda,” said Dominic.

Among his notable achievements as a junior player was winning the Best of Africa Trophy with the Bulawayo Select. It was a team coached by Riot Ncube. Dominic found himself promoted to the first team in 2000. But throughout his stay he had to fight off strong competition as the club at one stage had over five good goalkeepers.

“There was always strong competition for places at AmaZulu a club that was run professionally. I had a great time learning the ropes from Farai Kahembe, Amon Chimbalanga and Muzondiwa. I always believed my time would come and it did finally do so when Muzondiwa left for the United Kingdom,” said Dominic.

His debut would come against every team’s nightmare opposition – Highlanders FC. This was in the 2002 Independence semi-finals. Bosso proceeded to the final after Charles Chilufya scored what Dominic described as a soft goal.

“I had saved a penalty in open play and made several saves that impressed my coach Jeffrey Mafripa. With the match seemingly headed for penalties I let in a soft goal. My teammates and coach were full of praise for my good afternoon’s goalkeeping effort. I never looked back from that day,” said the former lanky goalkeeper who is now chubby.

He was given a starting spot after first choice goalkeeper Themba Sibanda reported late for duty that week.

His second game was a league match against Shabanie Mine. He recalls facing the dreaded pair of Thomas Makwasha and Asani Juma. He saved a penalty in that game AmaZulu were 1-0 winners at Maglas Stadium.

At the peak of his career before moving to South Africa, Dominic found himself on the national team roaster competing with Energy Murambadoro, Chenjerayi Dube, Tapuwa Kapini and Hwange’s Timothy Sibanda, son of legendary Chibuku, Wankie and Rhodesia goalkeeper Posani.

“I was on the bench when Nigeria beat us 3-0 in 2004,” said Dominic.

Dominic Sithole in action against Highlanders

He won the Madison Trophy in 2002 and the league title in 2003.

“That was by far my best year at AmaZulu and the club’s crowning moment,” he said.

Dominic contends that AmaZulu’s effect on the domestic scene brought about professionalism and had players’ welfare improved. He said as years passed by, the club began to face challenges financially.

“While the club had its religious story about its withdrawal from football, things had changed, we were now travelling on the same day to matches in Harare and return soon after. Before we would camp and travel to stay a night away for the matches in Harare,” said Dominic.

Dominic describes Juma, Chilufya, Makwasha, Zenzo Moyo, Adam Ndlovu and Maxwell Dube as the most dangerous strikers he faced. He regards the 4-1 loss to Caps United at Barbourfields Stadium in 2003 as his worst. He said on that afternoon, he never came to the party.

Dominic said in his career, how he dealt with the first shot on target tended to determine his mood or game thereafter. Playing Dynamos and Highlanders he said while self-motivating, he and his AmaZulu teammates found a way round the raucous cheering when the big two entered the field.

“We found it better to enter the field at the same time with these two. The cheering by fans we shared with them whereas allowing them to enter alone was very intimidating as the cheer would just collapse our world. If you allowed them to come after yourselves, you end up watching them as they troop in and distract your attention,” said Dominic.

In 2005 Dominic left AmaZulu after being singled out for talking loud about players’ welfare.

“It was no longer the same AmaZulu. Kennedy Mujuru and Felix Matsika, the club administrators were up in arms with me for voicing concerns for the team. I did not shy away from talking as I was a good public speaker while growing up.” 

He played under Ebson Muguyo, Luke Masomere, Cosmas Zulu, Jeffrey Mafripa and Charles Mhlauri.

Master Masiku, Mlungisi Ndebele, Ronald Sibanda, Matambanashe Sibanda, Mkhuphali Masiku, James Phiri, Kenneth Phiri, Kingstone Rinemhota, Patrick Daka, Joseph Kabwe, Ferdinand Mwachindalo, Nkosana Gumbo, Vorster Chitemu are among the guys he played with at AmaZulu.

With Mwana Africa keen to be promoted to the Premiership Dominic was lured to Bindura and stayed at a hotel for a year while playing there. He described the treatment by the club as having been great.

In 2006 he joined Pretoria University in South Africa where he played alongside David Mkandawire, Dumisani Masilela, Dumisani Maluleke and Bongani Khumalo who had a stint with Tottenham Hotspurs in the English Premiership.

Prior to that, he stayed three months at Pat Malabela’s Dynamos in Limpopo Province. In 2008 he moved to Maritzburg with Mkandawire and a year later he was at Hanover Park. In 2009 Dominic spent a year in Canada with his wife Nokuthula and returned to play for African Warriors, a Division One team from Free State. He retired in 2011 and moved to Canada  where he joined Concodia University as goalkeepers coach. The father of four now works for Born to Be Academy in Edmonton.

The academy has to date provided several players to Vancouver Whitecaps a team Bruce Grobbelaar played for after leaving Zimbabwe Saints in 1978. A number of their players are in Turkey and Portugal.

“We are not as old as an academy but we have managed to produce very good players,” said Dominic whose son David may be the next big thing in the game from the family.

David who is 18, was adjudged to be the best goalkeeper at a national tournament in Canada recently. He said another Zimbabwean in Canada, Darlington Musiwarira is showing signs of a great goalkeeper for the future.

“With the talent that Eddie Mukahanana and myself are seeing in North America, we would like to get these guys to a camp and one day bring them over for exhibition matches for national coaches to evaluate,” he said.

Dominic is running a goalkeepers clinic tomorrow in Bulawayo. While in Bulawayo where he is on holiday, Dominic has been doing philanthropy work donating grocery packs to 28 families through Michelle Msimanga’s Hope Restoration Academy.

“Msimanga is doing well for the community and I said why not join in for a good cause,” said Sithole. — Follow on Twitter @lovdube

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