The Sunday News
Lovemore Dube
On a sunny Sunday afternoon in the summer of 1988 as Zimbabwe Saints chased their first championship in independent Zimbabwe, Mayor Eric struck a three-minute hat-trick against Dynamos at Barbourfields Stadium which stunned the football world.
Never had three goals been scored in barely less than three minutes. The feat was even broadcast on BBC and several radio stations.
Perhaps listening and reading to his life story one would not describe that as a fluke. Perhaps the guy never reached his full potential as his star shone at an early age. Judging by who he rubbed shoulders with, perhaps his talents should have reached a higher level than just the 1988 league title and the Chibuku Trophy.
After moving from Serima in Gutu, the Harare-born and bred footie went to Mukai Secondary School where he captained Mugove Munyorovi, Edwin Farai and several stars as they played junior football in Harare.
He was in 1979 among a group of youngsters invited to play for Seke Young Pirates at the newly built Chibuku Stadium in Chitungwiza.
He recalls one Aaron Dzumbira taking them through their paces in 1979 when he was in Form One as his football career started to take off.
The Highfields lad said while at primary school just behind the popular entertainment joint Mushandira Pamwe Hotel, Aaron Dzumbira would facilitate that they train and curtain raise for Black Aces at Gwanzura Stadium.
“Born and bred in Harare, I grew up in Highfields ghetto, where I went to nursery school and later primary school from Grade 5, having started my primary school in Gutu, Serima, at Kanongovere Primary where I lived with my granddad from my mum’s side.
“Then for Grade 5 at Kuwangira Primary School behind Mushandira Pamwe Hotel. That’s when I continued playing not just street football, but also joined a junior soccer club owned by Aaron Dzumbira, who would facilitate us to play as curtain raisers for the local side Black Aces FC,” said Eric.
He said scoring for him started at an elementary level.
Among his early successes was winning the primary schools’ Dairibord junior provincial soccer competition against guys like Mugove Munyorovi, Emmanuel Nyahuma, Kudzi Taruvinga, Edwin Farai and many young players who later became great Super League/ Premier League greats.
Young Pirates were based in Chitungwiza and the football crazed Eric would travel to Chitungwiza, almost 30km from the capital just to play football.
Abraham Madondo the former Highlanders winger and later his teammate at Railstars would be among the players he would travel with to Chitungwiza to play football as Highfields Young Stars from whom he was snatched up with Munyorovi and Nyahuma to play for Black Aces in 1980 while in Form Two.
He recalls with nostalgia rubbing shoulders with the legendary Achieford “Chehuchi” Chimutanda, Clever Hunda, David Muchineripi, Fresh Chamarenga, Brenna Msiska, Maronga Nyangela, Moses Chasweka, Sunday Masauso, Peter Gogoma and Brian Makuruzo as a junior at the club.
After completing his O-levels Eric was transferred to Bulawayo in early 1983 at the Ministry of Transport.
He joined Roy Barreto’s BG Cosmos where he played with Henry “Bully” Mckop, Shayne Khamal, Michael Indi and Cedric “Cia” Green.
Eric did not last long there as in 1984 he joined Zimbabwe Saints where he became a regular player and goalscorer of note in Zimbabwe’s elite league. He had a knack of ghosting from the blind side to tap-in or head past bemused goalkeepers.
“I played Premiership football for close to 15 years and got more popular as I was always hitting the back of the nets,” said Eric.
At Saints Eric played with the second last best of Zimbabwe Saints sides which had John Sibanda, Misheck Sibanda, Kenneth Mathe, Obey Sova, George Ayibu, Josphat Munetsi, Josphat Humbasha, Jimmy Phiri, Bully Mckop, Shane Khamal, Stanley Mutasa, Melusi Nkiwane, Cedric and coached by Roy Barreto, and managed by Isaac Banda and later Gibson Homela.
“The highlight of my career was scoring a hat-trick against a Dynamos that had David Mandigora, Misheck Marimo, Oliver Kateya, Angirai Chapo, Memory Mucherahohwa, Clyton Munemo and Eddie Muchongwe in a match won by Saints 4-2 in 1988,” said Eric describing it as one of his best football moments.
He described the aftermath of the three-goal feat scored in three minutes as one career highlight that has remained in his heart as it was allegedly entered into the Guinness Book of Records and aired by several international radio stations including BBC.
“Scoring goals and match reading were my biggest assets as I had a very slim and tiny body but had a good jump and heading technique with very sleek mobility and a good engine to keep running and a good pace,” he boasted.
His scoring exploits accompanied him to wherever he paraded his skills. He turned out for Gweru United, Bata Power under William Sibanda and at Shu-Shine playing with talented players like Isaac Riyano, Tavaka Gumbo and Martin Ncube.
“Later as age was catching up I was involved in talks with NRZ general manager Alvord Mabhena, Roy Baretto, JB, Beta and NRZ employees to request NRZ to buy a Premier League franchise for the company that became Railstars, which after leaving Saints after the Great 1988 team I went on to captain under coach Ernest Mpala. I later took up coaching and was recruited by legendary Gibson Homela to assist Lazarus Juju and later handed over to Max Tshuma and John Sibanda.
“From there I went to coach junior teams and ladies’ teams like New Orleans with Pardon Nkomo and Mpala and Railstars assisted by Janota before going overseas to UK and later here in Sydney, Australia, where I kept playing and coaching and became part of the founding guys who formed the famous Zimpride in Australia,” said Eric.
His wish was to help talented Zimbabwean young stars out there to find their feet in the game and return to play for the national teams.
“We want to see the boys break into the A League in Australia,” he added.
He says Zimbabweans have gathered and play regularly at major holidays like Easter.
At 54 he still finds time to play social football and misses the Zimbabwe vibe. When at home on holiday he finds time to play with his old friends at Raylton Grounds.
Eric said competition for places during his time, be it at Saints or any of the clubs he played for, was very stiff.
“The calibre of the players was very high. Getting a jersey at any one of the teams was not so easy.
During my soccer playing days there were tough defenders, some smart ones like the toughest I played against was my friend Netsai Moyo. I used to cherish playing against Rahman Gumbo when he used to play left back at times for Eagles before he moved to Highlanders.
“It was nice to play with Barry Daka, Boyce Malunga, Mai Maria Andrew Kadengu, Max Tshuma and Sugar Muguyo even the likes of Madinda, Willard Khumalo, Nhamo Shambira, Douglas Mloyi and there was a good crop of goalies too,” he said.
Eric said he played across a number of generations and learnt as much as he gave on the field.
