KHOLWANI Moyo, the Bulawayo City Council economic development officer sees potential in domestic sports tourism.
He has a buy-in in tours being organised in Bulawayo that take people to several sporting venues that are famed for producing legends or where some legends played.
Moyo is a strong advocate for the Hall of Fame at major sporting venues in the city and an all-inclusive one where the Ntuthuziyathunqa Greatest will have their murals or pictures with brief biographies erected on the walls for all visitors to leave with a better appreciation of the talent that put Bulawayo on the sporting map.
The Bulawayo city economic development driver envisions a tour for sport lovers that may begin in the eastern suburbs right through the central business district sporting corridor laden with sports clubs to Isilwane Grounds or Indlovu Youth Club in Tshabalala.
They all have their heroes, celebrated by their different communities. Some in the view of the townships’ residents were even bigger than national stars, they stayed out of the spotlight because there was nobody to take them out of their comfort zone.
Pumula folks will talk about Tsetse, a very talented dribbler in the same vein with Boy Ndlovu who is national acclaimed, the 1970s and 1980s Hwange community believe Brazil (Makwika Village, a Wankie Amateur Football Club) defender deserved a slot in the Rhodesia and Zimbabwe elite league team Wankie (Hwange).
For Gwanda Mactavish Dube of Gwanda Ramblers or Philemon Muriyengwe and Rems Nqadini were as good as any player in the South Zone Soccer League.
Communities must stand up and celebrate their own in Bulawayo, according to Moyo.
Who would feature in Bulawayo’s sporting Hall of Fame?
At his peak, between the late 1950s and 1970s, John Love won several races in Zimbabwe and South Africa. He is regarded as the greatest circuit driver the country has ever had, and a statue at Bulawayo Motor Sport Park would be due recognition of a great athlete who put the city on the map.
No one would dispute his place among the greatest sportspersons Bulawayo has ever had.
Cricketers David Houghton, Denis Streak, Heath Streak, Henry Olonga, Chris Mpofu have been great for Bulawayo and Zimbabwe cricket and one would expect them to “litter” the walls of their respective sports clubs. They are celebrated heroes who did more to put Bulawayo in the spotlight but these did beyond measure and rate national legends with Heath and Houghton world acclaimed.
A curator would not patch up a story as their history is well documented.
The late Collin Williams and Marina Polenakis were shining stars in hockey at their peak getting capped several times for the province and country.
Several stars came out of Bulawayo and certainly deserve recognition at their respective clubs and would be among those an adjudication committee would consider listing at the chosen Bulawayo Sporting Hall of Fame.
Roy Garden, Denis Streak, Flo Kennedy, and blind bowler Connie Sibanda are among those who have brought local and international silverware to bowls.
The Hall of Fame concept is a brilliant idea to celebrate both living and already deceased stars. They were an inspiration to many generations that followed.
Why wait until a legend passes on and then scramble to give sweet-sounding eulogies, some even embarrassing exaggerated narrations of the deceased?
Football, the majority’s sport would deservingly be the host sport for the Hall of Fame at Barbourfields Stadium. It is the city’s biggest sporting venue and carries a lot of memories for many from the time it was constructed in the 1950s incorporating athletics into the present facility with one of the best playing surfaces for football in the country.
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It was popularised by Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints who have over the past 50 years been very much of Zimbabwean soccer folklore.
Soccer, as some prefer to call it, is a sport which on a good day has Bulawayo at a standstill and Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints have kept the sport’s soul together for the last 90 plus years.
It would not be surprising if these teams contributed a bulk of the players.
Among some of the city’s players that could be considered for the Hall of Fame in an inclusive approach would be Gibson Homela, William Sibanda, Aleck Mwanza, John Sibanda, Adam Maseko, Muzondiwa Mugadza, Joseph Machingura, Ephraim Chawanda, Agent Sawu, Andrew Kadengu, Max Tshuma, Innocent Rwodzi, Chipo Tsodzo, Dumisani Dube, Mtshumayeli Moyo, Mthulisi Maphosa, George Ayibu, Obey Sova, David Sibanda, Chita Antonio, John Nyumbu, Francis Ngara, Ebson Muguyo, Simon Supiya, Simon Machaya and Ronald Sibanda all former Zimbabwe Saints.
Who would question Melusi “Doctor” Sibanda, Mapleni Nyathi, Boy Ndlovu, Rahman Gumbo or Elvis Chiweshe from Bulawayo Wanderers?
Tymon Mabaleka, Barry Daka, Tommy Masuku, Cavin Duberley, Josiah Nxumalo, James Nxumalo, Chris Mhlanga, Chutika Temba, Itai Chieza, Madinda Ndlovu, Tito Paketh, Titus Majola, Peter Nkomo, Bruce Grobbelaar, Lawrence Phiri, Peter Ndlovu, Adam Ndlovu, Mercedes Sibanda, Willard Khumalo, Dazzy Kapenya, Thabani Masawi, Zenzo Moyo, Noel Kaseke, Alexander Maseko, Dumisani Nyoni, Stanley Nyika, Methembe Ndlovu, Thulani Ncube, Dabwitso Nkhoma, Honour Gombami, Douglas Mloyi, Ariel Sibanda, Charles Chilufya, Richard Choruma, Gilbert Banda, Tapuwa Kapini, Chenjerayi Dube and Manase Mwanza are among contenders for consideration from Highlanders.
The late Tymon Mabaleka
Basil West, Ernie Noble, Lesley Williams, Eric Banda, Rose Phiri, Archieford Murombedzi, Unita Dube, Vimbai Muhomba, Angela Chikomba, Rose Marshall and Mpumelelo Hlabangana set the Bulawayo Club of the Disabled Courts with some scintillating basketball displays.
It would be criminal for volleyball not to submit Nsikelelo Mlauzi, Jairos Nyirenda, Dumisani Vundla, Jeffrey Mlauzi, Jairos Gumbo, Vulindlela Moyo, Sydney Dube, Clifford Makunike, Edson Gift Sibanda and Patrick Ncube. They served the game well for both country and the beautiful city of Bulawayo bringing honour and pride with several pieces of silverware.
In track cycling they do not come any bigger than Tony da Costa the former Rhodesia and Zimbabwe representative in both road and track cycling.
Boxing has had a fair share of boxers whose legacies are worth perpetuating through the Hall of Fame idea.
Kilimanjaro, Trust Ndlovu, Nkouthula Tshabangu, Morris Chiwawula, Ezwell Ndlovu, Stephen and Foster Masiyambumbi, Ambrose Mlilo, Kid Power, Fred Chisoro, Joyful Mahlangu, Ndafara and Eddie Ndlovu.
Brendam Dawson, Milton Nyala, Gilbert Nyamutsamba, Victor Olonga, Zivanai Dzinomurumbi are some of Bulawayo rugby’s stars of the past whose profiles should be all over Hartsfield Rugby Ground.
Some coaches and administrators cannot be left out. Terry Bowes, Kennedy Ndebele, Kenny Sigoba, Faroah Jele, Leonard Nkala, Thomas Khumalo, Jackson Nkau, Raerburn Ndebele, Silas Ndlovu, Howard Maviza, Alton Mpofu, Golliath Masuku, Rot Barreto, Tendai Chieza and Brendan Dawson.
In some sporting disciplines, children and budding stars are short of local inspiration.
But for how long shall lobbyists call for the honouring for legends to be honoured?
Sport has become a big industry contributing so much the GDP and tourism figures running into thousands of people visiting Bulawayo per year just for sport, yet opportunities it presents are not fully recognised and its history and legacy side has not be exploited.
