Bosso’s best centre-back pair

Yesteryear greats with Lovemore Dube

WHICH has been the best centre-back partnership at Highlanders FC over the past 50 years?

James Nxumalo and Boet Van Ays partnership, James Nxumalo and Zenzo Dabengwa, Chutika Tembo and Boet Van Ays, Ephraim Moloi and Zenzo Dabengwa, Zenzo Dabengwa and Douglas Mloyi, Douglas Mloyi and Lawrence Phiri, Douglas Mloyi and William “Spear” Mabika, Douglas Mloyi and MacDonald Silongwe, Douglas Mloyi and Richard Ndlovu, Douglas Mloyi and Alexander Maseko, Alexander Maseko and Richard Ndlovu, Alexander Maseko and Lawrence Ndlovu, Alexander Maseko and Simon Ncube, Cleopas Dlodlo and Alexander Maseko, Cleopas Dlodlo and Sikhumbuzo Ndebele, Cleopas Dlodlo and Itai Godzamapere, Thulani Ncube and Dazzy Kapenya, Dazzy Kapenya and Melody Wafawanaka, Dazzy Kapenya and Bekithemba Ndlovu, Bekithemba Nkiwane and Gilbert Banda, Gilbert Banda and Anzilom Ndlovu, these have been some of the partnerships. Some went on to be established while others were makeshift forced by injuries or sudden departure and each created its own memories.

The 1973-76 team wrote its own history with regional successes and three Chibuku Trophy final appearances of which the 1973 was won 3-0 over Mangula (Mhangura) at Rufaro Stadium in Harare. 

It featured, several combinations with Van Ays, Dabengwa and Nxumalo prominent in the proceedings and successes, the chief one being the 1974 national league play-off won by the Bulawayo giants.

This week, Sunday News Life caught up with Kapenya, a key member of the team that has become known as the Class of 1998, an exciting football journey. A colourful period in the club’s history during which Bosso won an unprecedented four titles on the trot and a league and cup double in 2001 to emulate a feat previously achieved by Black Rhinos, Dynamos and Zimbabwe Saints.

Arriving in 1997 when Bosso was under Madinda Ndlovu, Kapenya had previously shone as a right-back and midfielder.

Madinda, a respected former footballer and club member  as well as national wing legend, had told this writer that in no time the “boy” will rise to be a star.

And true to Madinda’s assertion,  Kapenya had a meteoritic rise at Bosso getting to be the heart and soul with defence partner Thulani “Biya” Ncube. 

Both players played an instrumental role in the team, winning four championships and several pieces of silverware and it came as no surprise when they made it to the national team. 

They impressed in Zimbabwe colours and were involved in some very exciting moments with the national team such as the 2000 and 2003 Cosafa Castle Cup and subsequent qualification to the Afcon finals in 2004 which Ncube could not make because he had just moved abroad.

Kapenya started his career at Magwegwe West’s Young Blood, an institution that stood its ground in the 1980s and 1990s in the Bulawayo Junior Soccer League.

Perhaps it should not be a surprise to note who he played alongside at Young Blood and his opponents city-wide.

“I played for Young Blood juniors from eMagwegwe. I played alongside Sautso Phiri, Francis Chandida, Siza Khoza, Sizalobuhle Dube and Benjani Mwaruwari before they moved to Highlanders,” said Kapenya, better known to the gang he played with at Bosso in 1997-2003 as “Sgero”.

He never was kind to strikers and with tact and intelligence would rob them of the ball and initiate attacks from his own half with relative ease.

Phiri was a menace for Corrugated United in the Zifa Southern Region League, Chandida rose to be a star at Dynamos and Shabanie Mine.

Chandida scored many free-kicks for both sides and endeared himself to fans from across the country with his ball artistry.

Khoza crept into legendary status by being an attacking architect of  Highlanders on the right wing, tearing apart defences and creating dozens of chances for his teammates. 

Dube was to leave Highlanders and be a regular top finisher among marksmen at Railstars and Njube Sundowns where his left-foot let out stinging shots while Mwaruwari a South Africa Footballer of the Year, went on to make his mark in Switzerland, France and the United Kingdom.

At one stage he played for Manchester City at the foundation stage of these present successes.

Kapenya, who for most of his Bosso career partnered Biya and Melody Wafawanaka, had this to say about his stint with Highlanders: “At Highlanders during that time, we played with a lot of passion and it was never about what we benefited, at the same time it was a way to stardom.”

In 1998, when Rodger Muhlwa took over the chairmanship, his message was clear that those who wanted to leave ought to do so and for those that remained, only great performances would guarantee their earnings.

Bosso began to fill stadia home and away with a great balanced side in all positions, enjoying several options.

Kapenya and Biya stood out at the centre, Bekithemba Ndlovu, Simon Sibanda, Gift Lunga (Jnr), Abraham Mbambo, Noel Kaseke, Melusi Ndebele, Anzilom Ndlovu and Mubariki Chisoni made up part of the roaster at the back, with Blessing Gumiso ever-present in an anchoring role where Alexander Phiri was a factor with some scintillating goals from range.

In midfield , it was the exuberance and brilliance of Charles Chilufya, Honour Gombami and Richard Choruma that glossed the attack providing creativity and goals too.

The destruction roles in the attack were left to chief executioner Zenzo Moyo, stylish Thabani Masawi, Sautso Phiri, Eddie Dube, Eddie Nyika, Mkhokheli Dube, Tapela Ngwenya, Eugene Langa, Joe Kabemba, Darlington Phiri, Arnold Vundla on the roaster.

Kapenya played under Rahman Gumbo and Benjamin Moyo before Eddie May took over in 2001 leading to the last two championships.

“We won everything that could be won during that time, championships and cup games,” said Kapenya.

The 22 April 1976 born Bosso legend was part of the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations finals squad playing alongside Dickson Choto, Dumisani Mpofu, Kaitano Tembo, Esrom Nyandoro, Joel Luphahla, Wilfred Mugeyi, Peter Ndlovu, Adam Ndlovu and Energy Murambadoro.

Tunisia hosted the championships.

Kapenya said he enjoyed his time with the senior national team.

“I had a very good time playing for the Warriors and I think I represented the nation to the best of my abilities,” said Kapenya who is a Caf C holder and now coaches Falcon College, an institution whose football profile appears on the rise.

Fans called him “Texas Ranger” as he was always a smart solution to marauding strikers like Leonard Tsipa, Brian Badza, Eddie Mufema, Sandras Kumwenda, Joseph Mwansa, Collin Nyambiya, Asani Juma, Thomas Makwasha, Patrick Mandizha and Amon Mukozho.

While the debate may rage on, Kapenya was in mouthwatering partnerships with four league titles and 2002 rates his best year as he won the Soccer Star of the Year gong and found himself out of contract at the end of the year.

He then moved to Sporting Lions in Harare and later Manning Rangers of South Africa. But there is no denying that he had a great impact as an individual at Highlanders.

Which was your best centre-back partnership at Highlanders? Let’s hear your views on Whatsapp 0786468644.