The Sunday News
BRUCE Tshuma is among many Bulawayo groomed football stars that were ignored by local clubs only to emerge in the Castle Lager Premiership turning out for another team from Harare.
It has become a norm for the gaffers to ignore local talent. Yet the sponsors of the very same teams are city residents who are the consumers of the manufactured products or services that they sacrifice their little to get going.
It was until the hard tackling defender was seen in the colours of Lengthens that people realised that he had escaped the attention of city clubs.
Tshuma played for Dunlop juniors and has former Highlanders FC former committee member and juniors coach Siphatho Ncube to thank.
Ncube identified him and recommended Tshuma to Harare after clubs in Bulawayo continued to ignore the skilful defender.
Tshuma would return in the twilight of his career to win the Mbada Diamonds Cup with Highlanders FC.
He is in a group of many talents that were good enough to play for any of the city clubs — AmaZulu, Highlanders, Njube Sundowns, Railstars and Zimbabwe Saints but because coaches don’t believe in Bulawayo development structures was ignored.
The Bulawayo City FC juniors coach, nicknamed Gattusso because of crunching tackles to opponents, was born on 3 February 1981 at Luveve Clinic.
Sporting genes ran in the family despite both his parents not being active but his grandfather played for Matabeleland Highlanders FC.
He attended Luveve Primary School. Sport was very active at the school and there was fierce rivalry among the suburb’s schools — Matshayisikhova, Fusi, Luveve and Inzwananzi apart from the street and open spaces plastic ball contests.
These had previously shaped the talents of the likes of legends Makwinji Soma-Phiri, his elder brother Amin and Alexander Maseko.
Tshuma and his generation were not short of inspiration and opportunities as they were drowned in the world’s most popular sport.
His teammate at school, Philani Ncube went as far as Division One and played in Albania.
Tshuma believes there were many talented players in his time in Luveve who could have done well in the game.
Tshuma who could play as an anchor-man, centre back and right back was inspired by his Luveve neighbourhood hero and Zimbabwe football legend Thulani “Biya” Ncube.
Thulani “Biya” Ncube
“I was influenced a lot by Biya.
He was a role model to us growing up and also coming from our Luveve neighbourhood, we looked up to him,” said Tshuma.
Moving to a young and new team in the Premiership Lengthens FC at 25, was a big hit for the Luveve lad as he had seen a lot of his age-mates shine in the Premiership.
At the Harare side he found players like Artwell Nyamiwa, Patrick Makuvaza, Richard Mteki, Frank Dondo, Nathan Mangisi, Denis Joronawo and were coached by Mandla Masuku and Paul Chimalizeni.
He debuted against Caps United who had just enjoyed a purple patch winning the league titles in 2004 and 2005.
“After the match, the coaches gave me a thumbs up for my performance.
I would give myself an 8/10 for that day as I was in control of my game,” said Tshuma.
He was asked to deal with marauding attacking midfielder Marvel Samaneka.
“I partnered Irvin Tinarwo and was asked to track Samaneka and we had a good game,” said Tshuma.
Tshuma won the Independence Cup in 2011, BancABC Cup and Mbada Diamond Cup in 2013 with Highlanders. He also has two league runners-up medals.
Tshuma was a good ball player and was timely in his tackles. He scored his first goal in the Premiership in 2006 against Monomotapa FC.
“I would rate Ali Sadiki, Peter Moyo, Graham Ncube, Richard Mteki, Kuda Mahachi, Tendai Ndoro and Marvel Samaneka as having been the most challenging opponents.”
A 2-0 win over Dynamos is one of his most treasured matches as it is the dream of every Zimbabwean player to claim three points against Dynamos. A 3-1 loss after leading 1-0 against Monomotapa FC is one of his football nightmares.
It was Monomotapa’s first win after four losses on the road and they went on to claim the title.
“The game I would say I was out of sorts was against Harare City.
I came in as a substitute and I lost the ball and they equalised, we lost the league title to Dynamos because of that draw,” said Tshuma.
His best years in so far as the league race was concerned was 2012 and 2013 when Highlanders FC lost to Dynamos closely.
He retired in 2016 to take up coaching development sides and regards Mercedes Sibanda as his childhood hero.
Tshuma confesses that he was charmed by what has become known as Class of 1998, the Highlanders team that won four consecutive titles.
Barbourfields Stadium
“Thulani Ncube and Zenzo Moyo made me enjoy being at Barbourfields Stadium to watch the team I supported as a kid, Highlanders FC,” said Tshuma.
A Level 2 coaching certificate holder, Tshuma dreams of being in his childhood side Tottenham Hotspurs development structures.
