The Sunday News
Mandla Moyo, Sports Reporter
Many times when people talk about their football heroes or football in general their discourse always focuses on head coaches and players.
Football being a sport that thrives on team work has a lot of actors who deserve recognition like their fellow counterparts. It is from efforts of such people that the success of the team and the coach at large hinge upon, hence coaches always like to work with a technical team they trust.
At Highlanders Tembo Chuma is the goalkeeper’s coach and Ariel Sibanda, the first team goal minder has been having a rich vein of form. At one time Sibanda managed to go for more than 13 games without conceding a goal. As usual praises have been heaped on the keeper himself without mentioning the man who takes Sibanda through his daily goalkeeping drills, advising and correcting him when need arises. That man is none other Tembo “Chokri” Chuma, the Highlanders goalkeeper coach.
Sunday News Sports Reporter Mandla Moyo tracked the man:
MM: Can you briefly tell us who is Tembo “Chokri” Chuma?
TC: Tembo “Chokri” Chuma was born in Binga in 1973.
MM: When did you get involved in football?
TC: I got involved in football when I was at school around 1987 at Sir Humphrey Primary School and later played for Hwange Secondary School. During those days I admired Isaac Tshuma who used to play at a local club in Hwange which was called the “Giant Killers.” He is the guy who made me become a goalie, though I was also good playing as a right winger. I even copied his habit of chewing gum from 1987 up to today. A day hardly passes without me chewing gum. It’s now an addiction. Other guys who pushed me to be a goalie are Fabian Zulu, Anthony Nakamba and Johannes Tshuma.
MM: How did you become a goalkeeper’s trainer?
TC: I became a goalie trainer in 2011 coming from Masvingo United. Initially I had received a call from Bosso to join them. I thought twice about the issue then realised that being head goalkeepers’ coach is an elevation since I had been with Masvingo United for almost 11 years. I therefore decided I needed a new challenge. MM: For how long have you been a goalkeepers’ trainer?
TC: I have been a goalkeepers’ coach for eight years now. My playing career ended in 2008 at Masvingo Utd. I worked as a manager also doubling up as a goalkeepers’ coach. I was more of a manager because by then I did not have the necessary papers to be appointed a coach. In 2009, I was an assistant to the late coach Lovemore Nyabeza. In 2010 the entire club’s executive left. Tanda Tavaruva Mhunga remained the sole sponsor and he encouraged me to continue, by then I was working alone with no assistant coaches. I did a lot of jobs, working as a team bus driver, drafting contracts for players and doing their payments, among other logistics like accommodation to mention but a few.
MM: How many clubs have you worked with?
TC: In 2011, I joined Bosso up to 2013, then 2014, I was with ZPC Kariba on a two-year contract but I served for a year after receiving a better offer from Triangle United. I went there from 2015 to 2016 on a two-year deal, and then I got another good offer at How Mine in 2017, where I signed a one-year deal. I am currently attached to Bosso whom I rejoined this year.
MM: Of all the ’keepers you have worked with whom did you enjoy working with?
TC: Of all the goalies I worked with I really enjoyed working with Ariel, Munyaradzi Diya, Tendai Hove, Tonderai Mateyaunga, Ronnie Mudimu and Ashley Reiner.
MM: National team coaches prefer foreign keepers at the expense of local ones, what’s your take on that?
TC: On foreign-based goalkeepers I think the amount of professionalism is a bit higher and the understanding of football is at a different level from local players who have not seen the other side of world football.
MM: Fans are of the opinion that Ariel is not as commanding at the back like Tapuwa Kapini, what’s your take on that?
TC: Comparing Kapini and Ariel, I think is normal. Goalkeepers can’t have the same character and behaviour. That is natural.
He has his strengths and weaknesses just like Kapini or any other goalkeeper.
MM: Do you think goalkeepers’ trainers are given enough time with their goalies like head coaches?
TC: I think you should create your own extra training time with goalkeepers because head coaches are different, some will not give you the time you want.
MM: What coaching qualification do you hold?
TC: I am a Caf trained instructor of goalkeeping, I did my local course this year.
MM: How do you spend your spare time?
TC: I spend most of my time with my family. I have three kids, two boys and a girl. When I am not playing football I will be with my family at our family home in Cowdray Park or monitoring my projects in Binga where I am building a second house and a double storey commercial stand .
MM: Which is your favourite team locally and outside?
TC: My favourite local team is none other than Masvingo Utd and outside Zimbabwe I am a Manchester United fan.
MM: People always argue about our PSL vs South Africa, which one is better?
TC: My personal view is that we are at par.
MM: Tell us about your family?
TC: My first child Sheldona, is a keyboard specialist at church, AFM. Delron my second son is a goalkeeper too. He was with Bosso90 but is now attached to Triangle United while Thenjiwe the last one is still at primary school.
MM: Thank you for your time.
TC: Ok brother, thank you so much, God bless you.
@mandlamoyo3
