The Sunday News
Danisa Masuku
TOBIAS Mudyambanje is one of the most famous soccer players in the history of Zimbabwean football.
He was a dazzling forward whose talents cried out for a bigger stage and could have crossed national boundaries.
“To me soccer was more of a hobby and didn’t fancy any plan of playing abroad. Because of that I spent my footballing career here in Zimbabwe,” said the former Highlanders goal getter.
Due to his fine exploits on the field of play he earned the moniker name Flash Dance. He became a household name in the mid 80s as soccer was popularised through mediums such as radio, television and newspapers.
Born in Bulawayo at Mpilo central hospital in 1966, he grew up in Nguboyenya suburb. For his entire primary education he attended Losikeyi primary school and went to Mzilikazi High school.
At Lozikeyi he got involved in soccer and also sharpened his soccer skills at Mthwakazi Youth Centre where he played street soccer. He then took his talent to Monarch which was in Division One.
Due to his fine displays and scoring exploits he was selected to be part of Matabeleland Under-18 squad which won the Coca-cola Cup back to back in 1983 and 1984.
In 1985, Flash Dance joined Zimcolts — formerly Olympics.
“Zimcolts sent their team manager who sweet-talked me to join them. He promised me a good salary,” he recounts.
The team was famous for its colourful style and its strong intent to be promoted to the Premier Soccer League. But it missed promotion by a single point in the same year.
During his stint at Zimcolts, Mudyambanje was noticed by Highlanders scouts who quickly snapped him in 1986.
Unlike many players who go through the ranks to join the first team for Flash Dance it was a different story as he automatically joined the Highlanders first team.
He played along the likes of Peter Nkomo, Douglas Mloyi, Madinda Ndlovu, Mercedes Sibanda, Willard Khumalo, Tito Paketh, Rahman Gumbo, Dumisani Nyoni, Titus Majola, Tani Banda and Dumisani Ngulube, among other leaving and departed legends. Ndumiso Gumede was the chairman of the club while Lawrence Phiri was team manager. Barry Daka was the coach while Cosmas Tsano Zulu was his assistant coach.
His debut appearance at Highlanders was against Zimbabwe Saints in a semi-final Independence trophy in which he scored a winning goal.
Still under the mentorship of Daka Highlanders went on to win the Independence trophy in 1986 courtesy of Flash Dance’s decisive goal in the final.
He had countless tricks to get past defenders but he was renowned for his incredible shots, including a swerving shot from 20 metres out of the box that would curve away from the goalie at the last second and a drop shot that would appear to be going over the cross-bar and then dip into the net.
Often, defenders would be all over him, and he would be fouled and harassed but still soldier on, which led him to score more than 10 goals in two matches at one point.
During his stay at Highlanders, they won a number of trophies that include the independence trophy, Chibuku trophy and Africa Day trophy, among many silver wares.
In 1990 he left Highlanders to join their rivals Zimbabwe Saints, before his retirement from active soccer in 1991 to pursue a Diploma in Marketing Management course.
Seeing that football is engraved in his blood he pursued a coaching course and is holder of a Class 4 Level coaching certificate and a Caf “C” License.
He is also a member of Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association (Zisca) which is intensely involved in grooming local coaches.
In 2006 he took up a coaching job at Ziscosteel and to prove his coaching abilities his team beat Highlanders in the CBZ cup that year. He spent two years and joined the now defunct Buymore before he came back home in 2009 to establish his soccer academy at Nguboyenja suburb.
In a bid to groom and nature up and coming players he established a Delta Platinum soccer academy at his childhood suburb.
The academy holds unders 12, 14 and 16. It is a feeder to the Premier Soccer League teams. He is also coaching Lupane State University who are in Division Two.
Speaking to Sunday Life Sport “Mdlaweed” as he is also known expressed disappointment at his childhood team —Highlanders.
“I feel the coaches have to scout for an aggressive striker who will score goals. The coaches have to also beef up the backline because it is not compact,” he said.
He said the coaches have to find a defensive link man who will do the donkey work and mop up mess in the middle of the park.
Mlaweed urged Highlanders players to give it their all in the field of play.
As a pastime now he plays for Highlanders legends, a social team that is made up of former Highlanders players.
Mdlaweed is married to Bongani Mudyambanje nee Sibanda. They have three children. The children are Linda, Amanda and Tanaka. Tanaka is following in the footsteps of his father as he plays soccer but he is a left back.
He is now a Christian and fellowships at Mabviwi We United Methodist Church (MUMC) and is an evangelist. Besides that he is an organising secretary for Sotshangane and Nguboyenja residents Association.
