Dick names his toughest opponents

03 Nov, 2024 - 00:11 0 Views
Dick names his toughest opponents Herbert Dick

FORMER Highlanders, Eiffel Flats, Bantu Rovers, Chicken Inn and Warriors centreback has described Joseph Mwansa as the toughest opponent he ever faced on the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League scene.

Mwansa joined Hwange in the 1996 season alongside Jones Chilengi and legendary midfielder Charles Chilufya.
Both players went on to attain legendary status in Zimbabwe and left an indelible mark on the scene with their work rate, ethic and memorable goals.

The Zimbabwe Warriors

Mwansa played for Hwange throughout his near decade long stay before heading to South Africa and later Asia.
Chulifya moved to Bulawayo and played for Railstars and Highlanders where his talent and aura was amplified.
In an interview with Sunday Life on Friday, Dick who at his peak was among the best centrebacks and probably the fastest in the Premiership, was so good that he even attracted a move to the Polish Premiership.

“Mwansa was a difficulty opponent to deal with. His work rate was second to none, the guy would only stop chasing only if the ball went outside. But as long as it was within the pitch, Mwansa would chase non-stop. He had pace, stamina, balance and a big heart for all occasions,” said Dick.

Chicken Inn FC

Dick said after a match against Hwange featuring Mwansa one would have a terrible night as all his body would be aching as Mwansa was also a physical player.
“He was very aggressive,” said Dick.
He praised the Zambian for good sporting behaviour.

“No matter how much one tried to bully him or rough him up on the field, Mwansa would keep quiet and retain his cool demeanour and concentrate on the game,” said Dick.
Dick spoke about the duo of Zenzo Moyo and Thabani Masawi.
“Moyo was hard to deal with. He used his height and pace and was hard to rob of possession while in the box and could shoot and head with devastating effect to the opposition,” said Dick who now works full-time for the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe.
He said what made Moyo’s presence worse on the field for the opposition was his height and partner in crime Thabani Masawi.

“If Moyo was forceful and big, there was another tall figure alongside him complementing Moyo very well with skill and intelligence to make them a match made in heaven. I was with Eiffel Flats when I faced the duo before Moyo left for Cyprus, that was one of the best attacking duos we had on the domestic scene. It is no surprise that Highlanders won the championship as apart from the two, they had a sound team technically,” said Dick.

Zimbabwe Warriors Chan squad

Collin Nyambiya
Dick said the small dynamite from Ziscosteel, Railstars and Shabanie was a nightmare.
“He was small, had pace and trickery. Because of his frame, you could not deal with him without fouling in most instances, he had ball control technique and pace and would make defenders sweat all afternoon,” said Dick.
Dick said two other players from Kwekwe Albert Mbano and Patrick Mandizha who starred for Lancashire Steel, gave him afternoons to remember.

Luke Jukulile Petros was another tough opponent to deal with despite playing it so simple.
The pairing of Asani Juma and Thomas Makwasha was another pairing made in heaven.
“You could not get the ball off the feet of Juma. He was strong, screened the ball well and had his eye on goal all the time, while Makwasha had prodding runs and pace and made sure an defence was carved open for goals by either of them,” said Dick.

Herbert Dick

Dick mentioned former Motor Action lanky forward Musa Mguni as another striker who used his height well and was endowed with pace and eye for the target who would not stop running all afternoon.
Leonard Tsipa

“He did everything, hard running, dribbler and scorer of repute and was a menace, I do not want to lie. You had to be at your best to stop him alongside Limited Chikafa and Brian Badza in Caps United’s attack.”
Towards retirement when he no longer was as fast in central defence, Dick said he found Abbas Amidu while at Black Mambas a tough opponent.

“This was when I was at Chicken Inn. My legs were no longer as fast as they used to be. He troubled me a lot but had he played when I was at my peak he would have had no chance against me,” said the former hard tackler.
He may not have stayed long enough at Highlanders but Sautso Phiri has a special place in Dick’s memory bank.
“If he was facing his own goal, Sautso was hard to deal with. He screened the ball well and was a persistent threat to the opposition defence, he was skillful too,” said Dick.

Dick believes he played at a time when there were some good strikers out there and it was easy to pick stand out centrebacks.
Dumisani Mpofu, Thulani Ncube, Dazzy Kapenya, Asani Matora, Vintu Fulawo, Chamu Musanhu, David Mkandawire, Obert Moyo, Brian Njobvu and Gerald Phiri were some of the toughest defenders of his era.
Dick also played for AmaZulu, How Mine and Monomotapa. His career started in Chegutu. He retired in 2014 at the age of 35.

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