The Sunday News
Mandla Moyo, Sports Reporter
THE most unavoidable stage in life is that of getting old which all of us have to go through as it is “cast in stone” by the Almighty.
When it final arrives a lot of changes happen in our bodies starting with wrinkles moving on our lifestyle including and our habits.
One can hardly notice old age as it set in, however, you will realise that most activities that you could do with ease, you are now doing slower and that includes taking longer to recover from fatigue as a result of the previous day’s load.
Most of the time when you decide to do something, no matter how much your mind is willing to execute the order the body is either tired or not up to the task.
In Cowdray Park, a man aged 60 years has defied age and as is as fit as a fiddle. In addition to that, he is highly active, playing football with a energy and passion like never seen before.
When most of our players are hanging their boosts at around twenty nine (29) often due to drugs plus alcohol abuse, that would have taken their toll on their promising careers.
Handsome “Highlander” Sibanda has remains exceptionally fit for his age by remaining an active member of social league playing under 94 Strivers football team.
He sweats it out other players some of which are far much younger than him, five days a week including on match days.
During public holidays his routine is much more hectic as the league usually fixtures teams to play double headers on Saturday as well as Sunday.
Even when the programme is packed he has remained committed and does not miss any game nor seem to be affected by fatigue.
Those who follow BSSL are now accustomed to seeing him run tirelessly up and down the pitch closing down opponent trouble makers
Not only does he enjoy social football he is also an ardent follower and registered member of Highlanders Football Club.
As result of his undying love for “iteam yezwe lonke,’’ he has been nicknamed “Highlander” by his friends and the community.
When his favourite teams both the social and professional ones are going through a bad patch he suffers alongside them as shown by his low morale on those days.
This social soccer enthusiast is retired soldier, a veteran of many battles and is a war veteran. Sibanda is married and a father of four. He spends most of his time watching television, playing soccer as well as making a follow up on the progress of his team.
Bulawayo Social Soccer League
Today’s Fixtures
Pool A : 94 Strivers vs Old timers (TM Cowdray Park), Fund’ukulinda vs Santos Thand’abantu (Tshabalala Ext), Iminyela Timers vs Tigers (Ndola, Number One),Ndola Stars vs CreamTata (Ndola, Number one), Makwee vs Vule Vale (Mazai, Makokoba), Congo Chiefs vs Patapata (Inyathi , Mpopoma), Man United vs Stars FC (Emakhandeni), Zulu Chiefs vs FC Pirates (Marisha, Old Magwegwe), Brotherhood vs Fireworks (Desert, Njube), Glenkara vs 70 Combination ( Somhlolo, Nkulumane), Khami Hydon vs Edgars (Khami), Magwegwe Bullets vs Cowdray Masters (Magwegwe High), Emganwini Legends vs Mthala (Emganwini).
Pool B: Pumula Crackers vs Gwabalanda (Old Pumula), Real Magwegwe vs Real Shwelele (Magwegwe High), Zinwa vs Pioneer (Mambo , Tshabalala), Lobels vs Matshobana (Matshobana), Skippers vs Mayihlome (Bango, Mpopoma), Wembley vs Njube Crackers (Lobengula Sec), West Com vs Nkulumane (Nduba Pry, Pelandaba), Robert Sinyoka vs Ntumbane Bombers (Emarorini, Pumula South),Siyabangena vs FC Zonke (Phekiwe , Nkulumane 12), Shwelele vs Pelandaba (Inyathi, Mpopoma), Mabutweni vs Finance (Insukamini, Njube), Emganwini Celtics vs NJC (Emganwini), Happy Valley vs Zobha (Mazai , Makokoba).
