The Sunday News
THERE was a time in the 1980s when Zimbabwe Saints appeared to go for size when looking for goalkeepers in an era in which they had Ben Nzelengwe, Alban Mafemba and John Sibanda guarding their posts.
Among that list was Ben Phiri, a towering figure one would have mistaken for a basketball player or volleyball centre blocker of old.
With a huge frame and towering height of close to 1,90m, Phiri’s size made him look like a monster in between the goalposts.
His size just sent shivers down the spines of strikers as he had the whole goalmouth seemingly covered with just his stretched arms.
A typical Bulawayo developed player, Phiri traces his football path to the usual route of street soccer, school, a local club and youth centre for his rise to football stardom.
Having gone through the mill, then a competitive league identifies the talent and rescues him from obscurity to the paid ranks where even job opportunities existed.
Born and bred in Mpopoma’s Matshobana section, attended the local school Gampu Primary School.
“I played for the school at all levels and I remember in 1971 we won the inter-zone competition beating Induba Primary School which had Stanford ‘Fudu’ Ntini at Sizinda Stadium,” said Phiri.
From Gampu, Phiri had a choice to go to football powerhouses Mzilikazi High School and Sobukhazi across the railway line from his home but he opted for nearby Mpopoma.
It was not a bad gamble as he would flourish there as a player playing along Munetsi his friend and teammate at Zimbabwe Saints later in life, Charles Gumbo, legendary Rahman Gumbo’s elder brother, Misheck Sibanda and tearaway winger Joseph Machingura.
Success would follow him at that level with another inter-zone title win in a final contested against a Mzilikazi High School team with the likes of Peter Kaviza and Tapiwa Mudyambanje an elder brother to Highlanders scoring sensation Tobias.
Tapiwa represented Zimbabwe at the Moscow Olympics. He speaks with fond memories of guys he saw or played with at Matshobana who became household names — Ananias Phiri, Ngedla Phiri, Fani Dlamini, Nzelengwe, Elias Mazuwa and Patrick Phiri who turned out for Red Seal Rovers.
The former big goalkeeper for organised football far from youth clubs and street soccer went through local side Matshobana Black Aces.
He went through all the club’s development teams until he was ripe for the “big time.”
Phiri went on to play for Mpopoma Central City Rovers where he teamed up with two other players who would leave an indelible mark on Zimbabwe football Joseph Machingura and Misheck Sibanda.
“My childhood heroes were Bruce Grobbelaar who played for Highlanders and Black Chiefs’ Johannes (KaZambia),” said Phiri.
In his playing career he admits that Shaky Tauro at his cunning best, the masterly Tymon Mabaleka of Highlanders and Alfred “Ngedla” Phiri his Matshobana neighbourhood hero who played for defunct Black Chiefs, were his worst nightmare in front of goal.
Howard “Wasu” Maviza, the Saints coach identified the big goalkeeper from Division Two side Black Aces and brought him on to challenge for a place in the first team in 1984.
“At Matshobana Black Aces I played with Ephraim Chawanda who moved to BG Cosmos. He later returned and became the rock of the club’s defence,” he said.
Phiri replaced Rabson Chitambo in goal for Chikwata. Zimbabwe Saints had a good side with great names in the form of Ebson Sugar Muguyo, Stephen Chuma, Andrew Kadengu, Shaky Nyathi, Gibson Sigauke and Peter Kaviza.
Phiri remembers his top drawer performance against a Cyril Rogers fired Coventry City in 1983.
“That was probably my best game. I was the hero as we beat them 5-2 at Barbourfields Stadium. I remember Sugar Muguyo scored two spectacular goals and Farai Moyo was on target too,” said Phiri.
He speaks highly of Godfrey Paradza, Chawanda, Bully Mckop, Josphat Humbasha, Sigauke, Kadengu, David Sibanda, Chuma and Jimmy Phiri, among the players who shone during his stint with the club.
Phiri found himself at home with the club because some of the players were from his Matshobana neighbourhood while others were with him at Mpopoma High School.
“My best camping mate was Misheck Sibanda. We played together at junior level and we got to working together at Farmers Co-op,” said the former big goal minder.
Phiri concedes that he did not have it easy at the club. He said competition was very stiff and one had to be always at his best to command a regular starting position.
He had to contend with rising Ben Nzelengwe and John Sibanda and age mate Alban Mafemba.
For inspiration Phiri said there were a number of goalkeepers to look up to.
Bruce Grobbelaar, Frank Mkanga a Dynamos, Zisco and Warriors goalkeeper in the early 1980s, Peter “Oxo” Nkomo, Brenna Msiska, Japhet Mparutsa, Musa Muzanenhamo and Zebron Magorimba were his favourite goalkeepers.
“Not forgetting Smart Moyo at junior level playing for Sobukhazi Secondary School and Highlanders. He was among the good goalkeepers when I was growing up,” Phiri said.
Phiri admits not winning anything with Zimbabwe Saints but is happy to have played with some of the best players ever in the league and club’s history.
With pressure mounting from the young duo of Nzelengwe and Sibanda for the number one slot, Phiri eventually gave in. Sibanda moved in and cemented his place as one of the best goalkeepers ever in Zimbabwe guiding the club to a semi-final berth in the East and Central Africa Football Association (Cecafa) Club Championships in Uganda in 1987.
He would also play a key role in the league and Chibuku Trophy conquests of 1988.
Phiri left for Reuben Zemura’s Mashonaland United and wound up his playing career at Eagles where he played with the likes of Stoneshead Moyo.
As the economic bite tightened in Zimbabwe, Phiri moved to South Africa where he is working.
He is married to Lizzy and the couple is blessed with four children, Gugu, Colleen, Linda and Michael.
