The Sunday News
“VITALIS Takawira to Madinda Ndlovu, a cross to Agent “Ajira” Sawu who nods to the far post, it’s a gooaaaal, Ajira, Ajira gives Zimbabwe the lead. The Swiss-based player has made it 1-0 for Zimbabwe in this Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the National Sports Stadium.”
Great commentators Charles Mabika and Evans Mambara could be heard on the former Radio One soccer commentary in the 1990s. Sawu was part of a group of talented players who gave Zimbabweans hope of success on the international scene.
It is debatable which national team has been the best, the Warriors who won the Four Team Independence Tournament in 1980, the 1985 Cecafa winning side, the 1988 Cecafa group and the Dream Team of the early 1990s to mid-1990s.
There were also talent laden teams of the yesteryear era like the 1969 team which lost 1-0 to Australia in the final qualifying match for the 1970 World Cup finals. It had the likes of Gibson Homela, Shepherd Murape, Stephen Chimedza, Tendai Chieza and James Nxumalo.
The 1970s team had Posani Sibanda, George Shaya, William Sibanda, Stephen Chuma, Sunday Chidzambwa, Daniel Chikanda, Max Tshuma and Homela a brilliant crop of real football legends.
There have been arguments that earlier Warriors played for the pride of their country while later generations including teams that won the Cosafa Castle Cup, qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations finals were spurred by nothing other than money. They enjoyed VIP treatment and would have gone on strike if they were camped at places like Kambuzuma, YMCA or Chikurubi.
Sawu was a cross over player, as he was budding talent as the generation of Stanley Ndunduma, Joel Shambo, Shaky Tauro and Japhet Mparutsa called time on their careers, to the new generation of the Mugeyis (Wilfred and William), Ndlovus (Adam and Peter), Norman Mapeza, Tauya Murewa, Vitalis Takawira and Kaitano Tembo to the Thulani Ncubes at the turn of the century.
Many believe the Dream Team was all about the hype and sudden commercialisation of the game. The Warriors became a brand and corporate organisations poured a fortune into oiling the national team but the successes stayed a dream that never was realised.
However, some will say the knockout qualification process took the stuffing out of a great ride. Had it been round robin group matches perhaps the senior national teams of the yesteryear period of the 1980s and 1990s could have made it to the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations.
Among some of the great players Zimbabwe had then were Francis Shonhayi, Ephraim Chawanda, Madinda Ndlovu, Shambo, Ndunduma, David Mwanza, Charles Chirwa, Bethal Salis, George Rollo, Ephert Lungu, Misheck Chidzambwa, Mercedes Sibanda, Maronga Nyangela, James Takavada, Ephraim Dzimbiri, Mike Mhlanga, Frank Mkanga, Lucky Dube, Mparutsa, Willard Khumalo, Rahman Gumbo, Joseph Machingura, Henry Mckop, Moses Chunga, Boy Ndlovu, Wonder Phiri, Shaky Tauro, David Mandigora, Joey Antipas, Reg Payne, Majid Dhana, Hamid Dhana, Garnett Muchongwe, John Phiri, Joseph Zulu and Gift Mpariwa.
Sawu, Adam and Peter combined with devastating effect to fell down continental giants like Cameroon, Egypt, Guinea, South Africa, Togo and Angola in the Dream Team era.
Our guest for the column this week is the former Zimbabwe Saints hitman who enjoyed a colourful career in three continents.
Sawu said he was inspired by Diego Maradon, another chubby left-footed football hero. Maradona’s sublime skills just like his made both a darling of crowds.
LD: Agent where and when were you born?
AS: I was born at Mpilo Hospital on 24 October 1971.
LD: Did you catch the football bug like most kids on the streets and primary school?
AS: Yes, I played on the streets of Pumula and by the time I was in Grade Two I was already in one of the school teams. In Grade 5, I was voted Babambeni Primary School Soccer Star of the Year, for which I was given an oversized Tornados T-shirt.
LD: And when did you join organised football and who was your inspiration?
AS: I started with Zimbabwe Saints Under-12s and went all the way to the reserve team and the first team. I played at secondary school and I remember some of the promising players then as Makheyi Nyathi, Nkululeko Dlodlo, Ernest Ncube, Nation Dube, Innocent Rwodzi. I was inspired by former Zimbabwe Saints junior coach Jani Gwede who took me to his Under-12s when I was still at primary school impressed with what he had seen of me when I was in Grade 2 and barely nine years old.
LD: Any notable successes as a Saints junior?
AS: We did well and were involved in fierce rivalry with Highlanders juniors. We would combine to dominate age-group teams for instance in the Matabeleland North Under-18 Coca-Cola tournament. The infrastructure then favoured the development of talent as we were competitive from Under-12 up to the reserve team with regular competition.
LD: Did you play for the Zimbabwe junior teams and when did you make your break through?
AS: I broke into the Zimbabwe Under-20 team in 1989 and I must have been among the top goalscorers for two years as we dominated the Cosafa tournament with the likes of Adam Ndlovu, Nkululeko Dlodlo and Thulani Gumede.
LD: And the next age-group team the Under-23s?
AS: It must have been in 1989 when we took part in the Cecafa tournament in Uganda with the likes of Adam Ndlovu and George Nechironga. The Mugeyis Wilfred and William were part of the team.
LD: Your Zimbabwe Saints first team debut?
AS: Towards the end of 1988, Brondby of Denmark toured and I played in that match. From there on I would get game time. In 1989 I featured in the BAT Rosebowl final against Dynamos. It was a tournament for the top four clubs from 1988, the year Saints won the league. I was spotting a bald head and Dynamos fans after I had terrorised their defence were saying “Zuda wadya mari yekugera.” I had regular game time albeit cameo roles though and thanks to Gibson Homela, Roy Barreto and Roger Russell who recommended me from the juniors. My first game was against Benjamin Zulu,Abraham Chimkanga and Davison Gurajena’s Mhangura where I scored with a header. Besides fans back then often gave a seal of approval over the juniors’ promotion. They would have watched you curtain raise across all age-groups.
LD: When would you say you were now settled in the league?
AS: Definitely 1990 where I was among the top goalscorers with 19 goals and I made it to the calendar if not mistaken with Peter Ndlovu and George Nechironga the joint winners of the award. Competition was fierce then.
LD: How did you feel making such an impact as young players all from the Under-23 team?
AS: It was great. We had fierce but healthy competition among ourselves having come from the juniors.
LD: You continued to soar as a professional footballer, what would you attribute that to?
AS: We had senior players Ephraim Chawanda, Misheck Sibanda, Mayor Eric, Joseph Machingura, Boyce Malunga and Shayne Khamal all encouraging me. The coaches were good too and I was considered for the senior national team in 1990 and sooner I was off to Cyprus to join Paphas Athletico.
LD: How did that move come about?
AS: Their agent Spyro Nicollau must have been monitoring my rise and Rahman Gumbo’s consistency and he facilitated that move where we played for a year.
LD: You returned to Zimbabwe to be a key member of the national teams and won the Soccer Star of the Year award.
AS: Playing in Cyprus improved me as a player. I came back as a better player and was among the top goalscorers that season as my profile also grew in the national team.
LD: The 4-1 win over South Africa!
AS: I missed that game because of a suspension. It was a great result for us.
LD: What bound you together as a team during the Dream Team?
AS: We were treated well, better than before, we had worked with Reinhard Fabisch as Under-23s finishing third in Egypt at the All-Africa Games. He knew most of us. There was cohesion and unity.
LD: What would you say were your most memorable games with the Dream Team?
AS: All were but those where I scored against Cameroon (1-0) win and Egypt were special. Those were the giants of African football. We were however, disappointed with not qualifying for any of the major cup finals.
LD: You landed a move to Switzerland where you spent close to 10 years, how did that come by?
AS: Marc Hoffsetter a Swiss national who owned a night club in Harare recommended me and Adam to FC Kriens. I stayed there for four months and moved to Lucern. Adam followed me after two months. I was to move to Young Boys, FC Wil, FC Basel and back to Wil. I top scored for most of those clubs with 22 the highest in a season. I moved to China where I played for Chong Kung giants Chong Chun Lifan scoring 19 goals in 22 matches.
LD: That is a good piece of statistics Agent.
AS: If you are a foreigner you are forced to work three times harder. They expected me to deliver and I did just that.
LD: In 2003 when you returned from China you trained with Highlanders and were set to join them. What happened?
That must have been during the time of Eddie May and Willard Khumalo as coaches.
AS: I was overweight. I trained with Highlanders but the club management kept quiet and Dynamos emissaries came to fetch me and I moved to the capital. We won the Independence Cup and were runners-up to AmaZulu in 2003 in the league race. I was among the runners-up for the Soccer Star of the Year accolade and top scored at Dynamos.
LD: Once again you left the country. How did you land at Bushbucks in South Africa?
AS: Dumisani Mpofu, the Mugeyis and Tauya Murewa were playing for Bushbucks. They recommended me as the club wanted a goalscorer in their fight for promotion. I was signed straight away and scored regularly. I later moved to City Pillars in Polokwane and when I retired in 2007 I was made assistant coach to Tauya Murewa at Bushbucks. I then came back home in 2009. I was coaching Ntabazinduna until recently.
LD: What happened?
AS: They did not call me for 2016. They owe me over 18 months’ allowances and fuel expenses.
LD: How far have you gone with your coaching badges?
AS: I am a holder of a Zimbabwe Level Four, Caf C and International Licence the equivalent of Uefa B from the UK. I am available, I learnt as much as I could about the trade in China, Europe, South Africa and Zimbabwe. I have no doubt I could do well and at the moment my juniors were promoted to Bulawayo Province Series A after an impressive run last year.
LD: How many times were you capped?
AS: About 75 times with returns of 24 goals making me probably third behind Peter and Adam in the scorers list. I had countless caps and goals at Under-20 and Under-23 level.
