The Sunday News
Nqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
It is a late Tuesday afternoon, 4.15pm to precise, the year is 1967 and Cosmas Zulu, who is only a week old in Bulawayo and fresh faced at the age of 17, is “herded” to Barbourfields by his sister, Esther, who makes him join Eastern Midlands Football Club.
The day marked the beginning of Zulu’s football career and the man popularly known as “Tsano” says the memory is still vivid although he has forgotten the month he made his first strides as a striker. The day set the tone for a career that has spanned 50 years and saw Tsano occupy various positions from player to coach, manager and technical advisor.
Tsano said he first came into contact with football at Gaths Mine in Masvingo where he was born, grew up and did his primary school. His father was employed at the mine after trekking from Chipata in Zambia and after his retirement they moved to Mount Darwin where the older Zulu bought a farm.
“I didn’t play much soccer at secondary school but when my sister asked me to move in with her in Bulawayo, I quickly took up the sport joining Eastern Midlands before moving to Bushbucks where I played with the likes of the late Charles Wadawu.
I then moved to Eastlands, one of the most supported teams then that played in the top flight league where I played with the likes of Daniel “Dididi” Ncube and Tymon Mabaleka. In 1976 I joined Olympics, a breakaway team from Highlanders that had players like Barry Daka, Stanley Nyika, Isaac Mafaro, Itai Chieza, Peter Zimuto, Chutika Tembo, Rabson Chisango and Ephraim Moloi. I quit the club two years later and headed for Zimbabwe Saints in 1979,” said Tsano.
In 1980, Zulu decided it was time to join Highlanders as he sought a new course for his career after playing for a dominant Saints. However, crossing to then Saints’ biggest rival was not easy with some questioning his wisdom. However, his move turned out to be a blessing as he was to learn the reins of coaching at Bosso staying for over a decade as a player and coach at the club.
Zulu played with the likes of Mark Watson, Mabaleka and Josiah Nxumalo, among others when he joined Bosso and with his playing career coming to an end he was offered the opportunity to understudy visiting American coach, Bobby Clarke in 1983, a chance that saw him launch his coaching career.
“Clarke came to coach Bosso and the executive decided Lawrence Phiri should understudy him but a fracas during one of the matches saw Phiri being suspended and I was then put in his place. It was a great opportunity for me and I took it with willingly, but it was not so rosy during that first year because we had promoted about eight juniors referred to as the Liverpool boys who included the late Willard Khumalo, Netsai ‘Super’ Moyo and late Nhamo Shambira, among others and they initially struggled losing match after match bringing despair to the fans who thought relegation was the only thing waiting for us,” said Tsano.
Recalling the time, he said one weekend they played Rio Tinto away and despite playing one of their best matches the team lost and one ardent and influential supporter named Tshuks harangued the coaching staff on the trip back to Bulawayo as they used to ride the same bus with fans.
The pressure from supporters forced Clarke to decide to quit but Tsano felt the tide was about to turn and instead tore up the resignation letter the American had written and urged him soldier on.
“We won our next 11 games or so after that incident pulling ourselves out of relegation and I believe we laid the foundation for the success achieved by the team later on,” said Tsano.
Despite being chosen to understudy Clarke, Zulu felt he was not yet ready to take up the hot seat the following year and instead asked to remain an assistant and urged the executive to rope in Daka as the head coach.
Their partnership saw them clinching almost all the trophies on offer during their time in charge at Bosso. They won the Chibuku Trophy (1984, 85, 88), Rothmans Cup (1986), Independence Trophy (1986, 92), Africa Day Cup (1986, 87), Natbrew Cup (1986, 90, 92), Heroes’ Day Trophy (1986, 88, 89), League Championship (1990, 93) and BP League Trophy (1994).
Tsano teamed up with celebrated juniors coach Ali “Baba” Dube and they clinched the Aberdeen International Trophy with the club’s under-18 team.
After leaving Highlanders in 1995, Tsano went on to have coaching stints with various local clubs that include the now defunct AmaZulu, Zimbabwe Saints, Railstars, Zim Leopards, Quelaton, Talen Vision and in Botswana he had a short stint at BMC.
For Tsano the greatest moment in the game was outside the pitch when he met President Robert Mugabe at State House in May, 2012 as part of events to mark Benjani Mwaruwari’s testimonial.
“It was a really great moment because I have always wanted to meet the President, I believe he is principled and a man of integrity, something that I have taken a leaf from. When the country decided to withdraw from the Commonwealth, I thought we would be back there in a huff but the resoluteness of the President is simply amazing. At State House he asked me to come anytime and see him and I will be doing so this year as I would like to congratulate him on attaining 93 years,” he said.
Tsano, the goalkeepers’ coach at Bosso, said his willingness to learn and adapt has enabled him to stretch this long in the game, adding discipline has been the cornerstone of his longevity and success.
“Discipline is all encompassing and not just in the field. What you eat, what you drink after the match, being able to keep time, but you have to continue learning and adapting to new methods to be able to fit in. When I moved to AmaZulu, I managed to implement the professionalism I learnt during my stint with Coventry FC in the United Kingdom in 1992, as owner, Delma Lupepe agreed to contract players and turning them into full time professional footballers.
“The players became available the whole day for training instead of coming in the evening from work and the move resulted in a change in the footballers’ working conditions as other top clubs followed suit,” he said.
Tsano said tangible financial rewards at AmaZulu made his time at the club the best in his football career as all the other times he never got financially rewarded. He said despite toiling for Highlanders and being there for the team in times of need he has been let down by leadership that has not valued his contribution.
Zulu said the club has given importance to foreign coaches forgetting those who have been ready and willing to assist the club when chips were down.
“Foreign coaches are paid handsomely while we are given little. Why can’t they reward us for being faithful and coming to assist the team in times of need? When I think about this issue my heart bleeds.
“At the moment our salary is not coming but the leadership is not even making an effort to at least give us money for transport. How do coaches get to receive the same bonuses with players, whether it’s the league or cup games? Isn’t it logical that coaches get more than players?” queried Tsano.
Zulu is married to Regina and they have five children, 10 grand children and one great grandchild and have spent the better part of their married life at Entumbane in Bulawayo.
Outside football, Tsano started work as a waiter and rose through the ranks to manager at Four Star Restaurants before joining Dunlop in 1979 where he was later to become production manager and in 1999 he joined Rubber Products Manufacturers and left in 2006.
