The Sunday News
Danisa Masuku “Makhumalo uyangibonisa (MaKhumalo do you see this) that guy who was phoning us has come.”
These are the words of Thabiso “Dzungudza” Dube as he welcomed us to his house. He led us into a lounge where we took a trip down memory lane on his football career which started in the late 1960s.
He earned the nickname Dzungudza due to his energy and speed attributes that can be equated to those of Highlanders striker Gabriel Nyoni.
The point of departure was Bulawayo Wanderers FC. This is the team where he kickstarted his football career. He joined Kiona Mazhiya as Bulawayo Wanderers, later known as Eagles, was warmly known at the time. He cut his football teeth as part of the Under-12 team and rose through the ranks and turned out for the senior team.
At Bulawayo Wanderers he played alongside Boy Ndlovu, Big Boy Ndlovu, Abraham Maseko, Lucky Dube and James Dube just to mention but a few. He happily talks of Abraham Maseko.
“There was Abraham Maseko who was famous for his good passes and created space for me to score as they focused on him at all times. He was capable of shooting and passing with either foot,” he grins.
The match that stands out for him was when his side clashed against Black Horrors which was a Plumtree-based outfit.
“The match was played at Barbourfields Stadium and there was a big turnout for supporters. A Black Horrors player scored a brace in the first half and we went for the breather worried that it would be difficult to bounce back. During the match analysis meeting the coach scolded me for failing to bury the chances that came our way,” he sadly recounts.
He says in the second stanza his side came back determined and hungry for success. Dzungudza proved to be a vital piece in the puzzle as he produced sublime performances that were capped with a fine goal. That goal put his team in the driving seat and they won the match.
However, he says the match left him injured and stopped training for one month. But on return, his performance did not dip; he was still Dzungudza, still dependable and known for his marauding runs.
He recounts with a bitter memory when his side won the Rose bowl Cup after beating Black Horrors.
“It was a match that we fought hard to win but what shocked and surprised me was that the owner of the team gave us Z$20 and that did not sit well with me as I had to quit and told the president of the team that I could not play for peanuts. What hurt me the most was that the owner told us that he wanted to recover his monies he had spent in preparation for that battle,”he says.
He had already made a decision to turn out for Highlanders FC and the decision became a success. At Highlanders he played alongside Ernest “Maphepha” Sibanda, Henry Jones, Macdonald Silongwe,Titus Majola,Phenius Mabaleka,Augustine Lunag, Peter Nkomo,Fanuel Ncube, Nhamo Shambira and Douglas “British” Mloyi.
He said the aforementioned players formed the mainstay of the team. At the time the side was coached by Boby Clark.
Lawrence Phiri was the team manager.
He picks out Nhamo Shambira as his best player. Why?
“We co-ordinated well. He was a player who was gifted in supplying good passes that made me to score many goals during my stint with Highlanders. He was also a good reader of the game. I can compare him to Ronald “Gidiza” Sibanda.
His undeniable flair in playing, marking and converting the chances that were created for him made him to command a regular place at Ezikamagebhula.
Veteran coach Barry Daka says Dzungudza was a disciplined player and focused.
“I used to marvel at his type of play when I was the Olympics FC coach. When he had the ball one would know that a score or an attempt at the goal would be a must. He rarely disappointed and that made him to be ranked among the best strikers during his stint at Highlanders. He was a dependable player who meant business in the field of play,” he said.
Due to an ankle injury he had to quit soccer in 1982 and focused on teaching.
He says when he took up football coaching at Mpopoma High School he met Rahman Gumbo, Ephraim Chawanda and Alexander Maseko who were students there. The players went to become luminaries in the domestic scene.
“When I was a football coach at Mpopoma I nurtured Rahman Gumbo and Ephraim Chawanda. You know as a teacher I developed their talent and instilled a sense of discipline,” he says.
He resigned at Mpopoma and went to Botswana where he took up teaching at Tsabong Secondary School. While there he got involved in boxing.
“I got involved in boxing and nurtured many players but one who stands out is Tirafalo Seko who went on to compete on many international podiums like Common Wealth Games where he won a silver medal,” he says.
He says he does not regret playing soccer.
“I had to interact with a lot of people that made me to engage in worthwhile deals that improved my life a lot. Due to networking I managed to make a deal with one of the influential football fundi who helped me secure a residential stand here at Sunninghill and I constructed my house,” he grins. He is the secretary for residents association at his suburb.
He is also a businessman as he runs a clothing shop in Kelvin North.
Dube is also involved in farming and bee keeping and during his leisure time he does gardening.
Dzungudza was born on 15 June 1955 at Mpilo Central Hospital. He is married to Nomakha Khumalo and they are blessed with three children. They are Bhekinkosi Dube, Ayanda Dube and Lindelwe Dube nee Bhebhe. The couple worships God at Miracle of City Faith church.
