Former Bosso board member speaks on hall of fame

Lovemore Dube
THOMAS Ngwenya, a former Highlanders board member who pioneered the Harare Supporters Chapter after Independence, says when the Hall of Fame is operational, some legends of the 1950s should not be left out.

He said while a majority of them have passed on, it is important that they be honoured as they are part of the game’s history and legacy.
He bemoaned lack of institutional memory in the game and clubs.

Ngwenya said as a result some heroes of the past were not recognised.
Speaking on the eve of his 90th birthday celebrated on Friday, Ngwenya said: “Bulawayo has had some amazingly talented footballers, the best of what the nation has had. I played for Highlanders in the mid-1950s and we had very, very good players who could have fitted into any side.

Highlanders Bus

“At Highlanders, we had Denis Bhejane, Scholar, Jambok and Ndege. They were the best in the Bulawayo African Football Association. They were terror to the opposition. When I left other young players came through and these were the likes of Silas Ndlovu later to be club coach and chairman. There was Mackenzie Sibanda as well who occupied several roles at the club later in life,” said Ngwenya.

Ngwenya was a Bosso player between 1955 and 1956 before joining Golden Lions a team that was composed of Maphaneni people (Matobo or District 39).
It was a common occurrence to have teams formed along ethnic groupings.

As such there were clubs like Gazaland, Mutambara United, Northern Rhodesia and Mashonaland United.
Ngwenya gave examples of overseas where people like Pele, Eusebia, Geoff Hurst, Bobby Charlton and Johan Cryuff are still celebrated even after 50 years.

“Heroes are heroes, they cannot be taken off history by omission. I pray someday our clubs and national association can deliberately celebrate these heroes and consider some of them in the Hall of Fame when it’s finally introduced,” said Ngwenya.

Bhejane, Scholar, Jambok and Ndege are part of football folklore in Bulawayo, spoken at the same level of heroes as Dusty King Gotora and Matthew “303” Marume.

“We had brilliant footballers, who were great dribblers, strong defenders who were hard to beat and strikers who could pack hot shots. Football was quite exciting and entertaining, it was the only source of entertainment for most blacks,” said Ngwenya, a decorated war veteran who was part of the ZPRA High Command during the armed struggle.

Ngwenya said the Highlanders of the 1950s was a unifying factor for members of the Bulawayo community.
He said Zimbabweans tended to speak of legends as if only those that played after Independence were the only ones who mattered.

“There is no denying football has become a more attractive game, over publicised after Independence. There has been some exciting talents like Alexander Maseko, Willard Khumalo, Madinda Ndlovu and Moses Chunga,” said Ngwenya.

Ngwenya said Highlanders has always been a unifying factor, bringing people from different backgrounds.
“It was bringing people together and I see the same today. But I would love to see Bosso going back to relying on home-grown talent. Players who know the club culture tend to be very loyal compared to the ripe and ready from elsewhere which is loyal to money,” said Ngwenya.

The will of the people, Ngwenya says has kept the club going and prays for a day when the team will claim its place at the top of the standings.