The Sunday News
THE match pitting Highlanders against Dynamos is the biggest fixture in Zimbabwe and has stayed so for decades.
Many stars have emerged from these two teams’ epic clashes and many went on to earn legendary status.
Today Sunday Life looks at some of the players who lit the stage for the two biggest clubs in the land.
The teams clash in a rare season opener at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon with fans expecting a humdinger. Fans want to see new heroes emerge, they want to see players who will be consistent and be spoken about for years to come. They want to see stars who will play beyond this generation and still be consistent top performers.
Are there any players in the class of David Mandigora, Kuda Muchemeyi, Douglas Mloyi and the late Tymon Mabaleka who starred on either side of Independence across two generations of Dynamos and Highlanders’ teams. Will fans ever stop talking about Majuta Mpofu, terrorising the DeMbare defence of Sunday Marimo (Chidzambwa) and Shaw Handriade.
The midfield duels between Titus Majola and Mandigora, two very committed footballers who gave beyond 90 minutes of one’s money’s worth. Fans looked forward to Mandigora and Muchemeyi facing David Mhlanga and Majola in the early days of
Independence in the middle of the park.
Peter Muduhwa
Add to the mix the industry of Mabaleka if Highlanders played a 4-3-3 or Dynamos adding Hamid Dhana or Archieford Chimutanda to the mix in a similar formation. Who can ever forget the duels between Moses Chunga and Dumisani Nyoni of Highlanders at leftback?
Madinda Ndlovu and Oliver Kateya gave each other a torrid time be it at Barbourfields Stadium or Rufaro. There were always moments of the match the two would produce real stuff of legends squaring up pound for pound with pace and dribbling on the wing as right winger and leftback.
Kateya had skill having been at one stage a 62-goal season hero and pushed to left back to allow young and promising Edward Katsvere to play left wing. He was watertight in defence, with speed, good on the tackle, he was all that fans enjoyed watching when on the overlap, sweeping past defenders, riding tackles with aplomb and sending great crosses and if he shot at goal, it was a stinger.
With a quick counter-pass to Madinda, with Kateya chasing back and fans up on their seats, fans knew what a quick one-two to Tito Paketh or Willard Khumalo could result in. Garikayi Zuze and Simon Chuma are other wing wizards that faced Fanuel Ncube and Dumisani Nyoni on the Highlanders left wing.
Can one ever forget an enterprising midfield of Biggie Zuze, Kenneth Jere and Mandigora with Clayton Munemo as an alternative coming up against David Phiri, Khumalo, Paketh, Nqobizitha Maenzanise or Majola?
Dumisani Ngulube, Nhamo Shambira and Tobias Mudyambanje were not the traditional big English strikers, both not taller than 1,72 m coming up against the towering Eddie Muchongwe, Garnett Muchongwe, Henry Chari and Misheck Chidzambwa in the heart of the Dynamos defence, fans were always kept on the edges of their seats.
On the other end Richard Ndlovu, Mloyi and Alexander Maseko coming up against David George, Kembo Chunga, Charles Chirwa, Gift Mpariwa and Moses Chunga, it would not be an afternoon of ease, but one of fireworks, relentless defending against real marauding strikers.
The end of the 1980s catapulted youngsters like Adam Ndlovu, Peter Ndlovu, Makwinji Soma-Phiri, Makheyi Nyathi and Lovemore Ncube onto the fold. Dynamos had its own competition for these boys in Alois Godzi, a lanky defensive link who shone in the Young Warriors, rightback Nyasha Kanogoiwa and Vitalis Takawira.
Add to the mix arrivals by Francis Shonhayi and Angirayi Chapo, there was good renewal of the ageing brigade. Shonhayi and Chari later formed a telephathic centreback combination and probably their worst nightmare would have to be the 4 November 1990 Zifa Cup final lost 3-1 to Highlanders. Adam and Peter played games of their lives and the former scored a memorable hat-trick but among the afternoon’s highlights were the duels between Chapo and Peter.
At one stage Chapo had Ndlovu almost sprawling on the athletics track after one of many tough challenges. These two teams’ matches are never short of heroes as Takawira, Chirambadare, Claudius Zviripayi, Francis Kasonde, Tauya Murewa and Memory Mucherahowa reigned in the 1990s decade.
Highlanders had its own in Melusi Nkiwane, veterans Madinda, Rahman Gumbo, Benjamin Mpofu, Mercedes Sibanda, Boy Ndlovu, youngsters Sikhumbuzo Ndebele, Wayne Albertyn, Thabani Moyo and Gift Lunga (Senior).
But in the recent past names like Thabani Masawi, Zenzo Moyo, Amon Chimbalanga, Honour Gombami, Ralph Matema, Tapuwa Kapini, Dazzy Kapenya, Bekithemba Ndlovu, Stephen Alimenda, Menard Mupera, Gilbert Banda, Charles Chilufya, Richard Choruma, Manase Mwanza and Vusa Nyoni come up.
Dynamos too has had its own in players like Murape Murape, Desmond Maringwa, Sandros Kumwenda, Cuthbert Malajila, Vintu Fulawo, Chamunoda Musanhu, Cephas Chimedza, Makwinji Soma-Phiri, Lenny Gwata, Stewart Murisa, Agent Sawu, Musaleka Jenitala, Devon Chafa, Augustine Mabara, Denver Mukamba, Cliff Sekete, Ocean Mushure, Francis Chandida, Norman Maroto, Wonder Sithole and Tawanda Muparati.
These players made the two teams’ clashes very exciting as they put in good shifts for football and the badges they wore.
In recent years Peter Mudhuwa and Tanaka Shandirwa have played with the conviction the fixture deserves. The game attracts the biggest crowds at stadia and an online interest that is global. These two have stood heads and shoulders above the rest.
It is no doubt among Africa’s top matches.
Who will rise this afternoon and prove his worth before over 15 000 fans? The game and fans are crying aloud for new heroes to be flag bearers.
