The Sunday News
Danisa Masuku
JOSEPH Zulu was a star midfielder who gave his best for the Rhodesia national soccer team and Kadoma-based outfit RioTinto.
He kicked off his career at a Division One side Feoch Mine in 1968 playing in the midfield department. The impressive midfielder then attracted the interest of RioTinto in 1971.
“Feoch Mine was the sister company to RioTinto mine, as such RioTinto coaches used to come to scout for talent and when they came at the end of the season in 1971 they were impressed by my performance and took me aboard and I started playing for the side in 1972,” he tells Sunday Life Sport.
At the time he joined the side was coached by John Rugg. Peter Phiri and Robert Godoka were the most senior players and they welcomed him well and made him feel at home.
At Rio Tinto, he would play alongside Phineas Mutyavaviri, Jimmy Gilpin, Robert Godoka and Jubel Phiri.
He was a regular member for the side, playing as an attacking midfielder in the left or right wing. His memorable match was beating a strong Highlanders side at the theatre of dreams — Barbourfields Stadium.
“Highlanders were dangerous at Barbourfields Stadium and no team could come out without a loss as they were aided by quality players in the likes of Majuta Mpofu, Tymon Mabaleka and Barry Daka, among many but we managed to beat them 1-0 and that was a sweet victory for us as we had beaten a team that had stars,” he recalls.
He says his worst game was when their plans of finishing in second or third position were halted by Bulawayo Eagles which was their bogey side.
“I cannot remember the score line but they stopped our fine run and we finished the season in fourth position, instead of our target of ending in second or third position,” he says.
He says another team that gave them headaches was Chinhoyi-based outfit Mangula (Mhangura). At the time Mangula had red hot Chieza brothers Itai and Tendai, Philemon Phiri, Buka Muchema.
The ten-time Zimbabwe Soccer Star of the Year finalist received a Rhodesia national team call-up in 1975, going on to captain the team at the turn of Independence in 1980.
He has fond memories with the national team.
The national team had great players such as Oliver Kateya, Mathew Mwale, Posani Sibanda, Majuta Mpofu, David Muchineripi, Max Tshuma, George Shaya, Sunday Marimo (Chidzambwa), Daniel Chikanda and Ephert Lungu, Size Torindo, Edward Kastswere and Stanley Ndunduma, among others.
During a match in 1979 between the Rhodesia national team against South Africa national team, Zulu was spotted by Manchester United scouts and they invited him for one month trials. But the move suffered a still birth as the powers that be at RioTinto blocked it. He was set to travel with the South African duo of Gary Bailey and Colin Viljoen.
“What hurts more is that Gary went on to become the Manchester United goalkeeper and that trial opened doors for Colin,” Zulu, who was employed by Rio Tinto as welfare supervisor at the time tells the Sunday Life Sport.
“The air ticket had been sent to me by Manchester United agents but the club management felt it was for the best if I turned it down. Sadly they raised my salary with a slight margin. I believe if they had allowed me to go for trials my life could better than this. However, the company management considered their own side and blocked my move,” says the bitter Zulu.
The midfielder-cum-winger would spend 18 years at Rio Tinto, winning countless accolades and individual awards along the way.
“During our playing days competition was stiff, that is why there were a number of good players who failed to make it into the national team. Highlanders, Dynamos, Zimbabwe Saints, Bulawayo Eagles had good players and it was difficult to predict which team would clinch the Super League title. Now you go watch Dynamos versus Yadah, you get bored and that is why the number of people who pay to watch matches is less compared to yester year.
“Truly speaking the current numbers cannot be compared to our time. During our time the stadium would be packed by mid-morning and the matches were entertaining. It’s just unfortunate there were no cameras to capture those great moments for the current crop of players to see.”
Zulu feels yester year greats were fit and had more endurance than the current brigade of PSL players.
“It became a norm that every Thursday we would run from Chegutu to Eifel Flats which is 33 kilometres. As a result on the match day I would have match fitness and endurance.
“Due to that, we would win matches against strong teams such as Wankie (Hwange) and Dynamos. We were committed to football. And it was not about money and fame, everyone wanted to be the best player. I was committed towards this goal. I can’t compare our heydays to the way the players are physically prepared now. Back then it was an issue of hard work and determination.”
Contrary to some media reports that former Bulawayo Eagles player Boy Ndlovu was the one who dribbled past Sunday Marimo (Chidzambwa) leading to an injury that ended the national team coach’s career, Zulu set the record straight saying:
“We were playing Dynamos at Eiffel Flats Stadium in Kadoma in a Super League game leading 2-1. In the dying moments of the game I got a through pass and made my way towards the 18 area, Sunday was the last man and I made way past him.
“He then tried to disturb my move and incidentally kicked my six studs’ soccer boots, as a result he fractured his leg,’’ he tells Sunday Life Sport.
In a telephone interview the national team coach Sunday Chidzambwa confirmed that indeed it was Zulu not Boy Ndlovu who ended his career.
“It was in the heat of the moment, unfortunately I kicked his six studs aluminium soccer boots and fractured my right leg above the ankle, both bones were broken,’’ says Chidzambwa.
Zulu says a player that gave him a headache in the Super League was Bulawayo Eagles Boy Ndlovu and he had much respect for Dynamos’s George Shaya.
He hung his soccer boots in 1990. He coached Eiffel Flats for a number of years.
Fact file
He was born in 1952 in Mutorashanga in Mashonaland West province.
He has been married to Venenzia since 1970. The couple is blessed with one child Vivian.
He says after making savings he bought a house in Kadoma. Zulu still lives in his hometown of Kadoma. He retired from Sengwa Mine in 2012 December.
He currently runs his own mining business.
They are Catholics.
