The Sunday News
Danisa Masuku
Cephas Sibanda’s football life revolved around five teams – Wankie (now Hwange), Olympics, State House Tornadoes, Highlanders and Red Seal where he retired from professional football.
He was spotted by Wankie scouts while turning out for the now defunct Wankie social side- Kaizer FC. He then joined Wankie under -16 where he played alongside David Zulu, Machona Sibanda, Benson Soko, and Kakoma Kayongo. Following their impressive showing in the juniors they were promoted to senior team in 1981.
At the time the side was coached by Mwape Sakala. He reveals that it was not easy to make a breakthrough into the senior team.
“The team had talented players who had the team at heart and they gave their best. That made it an uphill task to make it into the first team,” he says.
He reveals that he had to fight for the jersey against Marko Kayongo (brother to Kakoma). Being well versed with the culture and ideology of Chipangano made him integrate well with players he found at the side.
“We felt recognised and that was a great motivation for us. As a result the four of us settled in well into the team’s philosophy,” he says.
In the first team he played alongside legendary Nyaro Mumba who was one of the finest strikers to ever emerge from the coal mining town of Wankie. He also rubbed shoulders with David Khumalo, Posani Sibanda, and Twyman Ncube.
Seeing that Sibanda was endowed with talent, Barry Daka had to lure him to join Highlanders but when they arrived at Bosso, doors were shut.
“My intention was to join Bosso but when we approached Bosso executive they said they had enough strikers and I had to join Olympics in 1984 after Barry Daka secured a coaching job,” he says.
At Olympics he played alongside Tito Paketh, Philemon Dangarembwa, Boyce Malunga, Ben Makadzange, Fortune Zengeni, Roland Papaya, Mike Mhlanga , Oliver Ncube , Joseph Ncube , Tobias Mudyambanje. Daka was the coach while Josphat Musonza was the team manager.
His best moment was when he was the top marksman for the relegation haunted side when it clashed against Bernard Zikhali coached side – Ziscosteel at Torwood stadium, Redcliff. On 14 October 1984 Chronicle Sports reporter Stan Dube aptly said in his match report.
“Sibanda justified his presence in the first team by producing a brilliant performance as he scored four goals and the other two goals came from defender Derrick Sithole and midfielder Tamburike Moyo,” wrote Dube.
After a four-year stint with the Olympics, Sibanda left for greener pastures and joined Ziscosteel. But he says he did not spend much time with the side.
“I only spent half a season. I had to leave because I did not feel at home. The strikers at the club created a tense atmosphere and as such I felt unwanted and had to leave. I then joined State House Tornados FC,” he reveals.
State House Tornados was owned by former president, Canaan Sodindo Banana, who served between 1980 and 1987. He says at State House Tornados he played alongside football luminaries like John Phiri, Godfrey Paradza, and David Mwanza.
He reveals that the owner of the club – Banana made sure they were paid handsomely.
“He loved his club and he made sure that we got our dues on the set date and we had good training facilities. Everything was on point at the club,” he reveals.
He adds: “The president (Banana) used to attend our training sessions and would motivate us to give our best and we had to produce a good performance so as to impress him,” he says.
He says after a two-year dance with the side he left and joined Highlanders. When he joined the side was coached by Daka and team manager was Lawrence “ Lofty” Phiri. The slick Bosso side had stars like Sydney Zimunya, Douglas “British” Mloyi, Alexander “Cool Ruler” Maseko, Thoko Sithole ,Titus Majola, Peter “Oxo” Nkomo, Nqobizitha Maenzanise , Netsai “Super” Moyo , Dumisani “Savimbi” Nyoni, Saul Moyo, Tanny Banda and Tobias Mudyambanje.
He says it was easy to adapt to the Highlanders’ type of play.
“The side was coached by Barry Daka who had once coached me at Olympics and I knew most of the most players as a result I felt at home,” he says.
He says his best moment was when his side beat Hwange 3-1 at Barbourfields. According to a match report that was written by former Chronicle reporter Stephen Campion the epic match was watched by Zimbabwe’s number one soccer fan, Canaan Sodindo Banana, in 1985.
“That encounter goes down as my best ever match as we played before then president Canaan Banana and won it 3-1. In the first half they were leading 1-0 and we had to bounce back in the second half. Fanuel Ncube and Tanny Banda scored one apiece and I scored the winning goal,” he recalls.
However, his worst moment was when a Bulgarian side Beroe FC that was on week- long tour of the country in 1987 chalked up a win against them.
“We were beaten 3-2 by Beroe FC. What angered me most was that at first half we were leading 2-1 but in the second half they overturned the score line to beat us 3-2,” he remembers.
According to him another match that goes down as his worst match was when they were beaten 3-1 by Dynamos in the Africa Day trophy at Rufaro Stadium in 1987. He suffered a career threatening injury as well.
“For me it was a double tragedy. We lost the Africa day Cup 3-1 and I suffered a serious ankle injury when I clashed against Dynamos defender Misheck Marimo (now Chidzambwa ) in a tussle for the ball,” he recalls.
He left Bosso in 1988 and joined a Division One outfit Red Seal. He says due to a ankle injury he had to quit soccer after spending only a season with the side.
“I could not continue because the ankle injury was now tormenting me,” he recalls.
Red Seal executive then recommended him to take the coaching job. But after a short stint the Red Seal Company withdrew sponsorship, after that the club faltered. He then secured a job with the Read Seal Company where he rose through the ranks to become a supervisor in the dispatch department.
Fact file
Cephas Sibanda was born on 20 June 1965. Sibanda’s father Acklon Sibanda turned out for Wankie FC. He was born in family of five children three girls and two boys apiece. He attended Lwendulo Primary School and Hwange High School. He is blessed with two children namely Abraham (25) and Mary (20)
