THIS week, Sunday Life caught up with the legendary Jimmy Phiri, scorer of the odd goal that sunk Highlanders in the 1988 Chibuku Trophy final at Barboufields Stadium.
It was at a sombre occasion as thousands of city residents mainly from Sizinda and Tshabalala came to bid farewell to Ephraim Mwale at the Holy Cross Parish and Umvutshwa Cemetery.
Mwale, the former Eagles and Caps United winger died recently in South Africa.
Phiri was the most recognisable of the former players with the other being Mwale’s younger brother, Thomas Chimenya, the former Railstars and ZPC Hwange bomber.
Apart from the fact that Mwale tried his luck at Saints with no joy as Phiri was establishing himself, the former Chikwata midfielder was there as a family member.
Phiri took time to speak about his career and Zimbabwe Saints.
He recalls an accident in 1981, in which he said they were lucky to survive with minor injuries with the worst affected being Gibson Homela who was the driver on the day.
Chikwata who were in the Super League, had played lower division side Shabanie Mine in a friendly in the asbestos mining town of Zvishavane. There was so much excitement about the game because a majority of the players were trialists coming to replace the old guard of Gibson Homela, Max Tshuma, Ebson Muguyo, Emmanuel Sibanda and the likes of Itai Chieza who were 30 and above.
“The players that were in the kombi were Misheck Sibanda, Chemmie (Jethro) Hunidzarira, I can say the entire team and the leaders were involved in the accident. They were still building our team to be strong,” said Phiri.
“After the match, as some players were drinking, so we looked for beers. Suddenly, after finishing buying beer and eating as the players, Homela was driving us on our way back, the kombi hit a cow, I heard people shouting inkomo, inkomo, I couldn’t see because I was seated in the boot, after that I don’t know what happened, we found ourselves at Zvishavane Hospital.
“Homela was the last man in the car because his feet and body were stuck in the car. He was removed by patriotic Zimbabweans and he feared that may be players had died. That’s why even today his leg still gives him (Homela) some problems, we were supposed to die but due to our Gods’ grace that saved us, no one died,” he said.
Phiri said it would have been a dark day for the club. He said Homela and Jani were the only ones injured on what was the first trip for many with Zimbabwe Saints.
He said the vehicle fell by its side and rolled three times with Homela remaining trapped while some of the players were thrown out and others retrieved from the wreckage.
Chiwororo, very prominent since their Nyore Nyore Cup win of 1974, the Castle Cup and league title of 1977 as well as the 1979 regional league title, had over half a dozen aging players and succession was top of the agenda.
Ephraim Mwale
“We came to life around 4am in the morning and most of us were shocked to find ourselves in a hospital,” said Phiri.
Phiri paid tribute to club veterans Muguyo, Philemon Dangarembwa, Tshuma and Douglas Maneto for welcoming them into the fold.
He said the club was very patient and kept the boys together adding a few towards making a great side.
He said players had a torrid time getting to play for Saints if one was not from Mzilikazi suburb.
Phiri and his young colleagues got a chance to play for the first team when senior players went on strike on the eve of a cup game and were thrown into the fray.
“It was difficult if you were coming from suburbs like Tshabalala to play for Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints. We were brave enough to go and experience the competition,” said Phiri.
By the time the likes of Ephraim Chawanda arrived with Joseph Machingura in the 1983-84 period, Misheck Sibanda and Phiri were now established players playing alongside Josphat Munetsi, Josphat “Mazhambe” Humbasha, Hunidzarira, Mayor Eric and Andrew “Mai Maria” Kadengu.
Phiri retired in 1991 and at one stage was manager of Railstars.
Saints have since 1988 failed to make a big impression on the local scene despite producing good players like Lloyd Jowa, Howard Mago, Dumisani Dube, Phathisani Hlabangana, Nkosana Gumbo, Mlungisi Ndebele, Ronald Sibanda and Muzondiwa Mugadza.
Phiri an enterprising and hardworking midfielder was among the 1988 Soccer Star of the Year finalists, in a season Ephraim Chawanda was voted Zimbabwe’s Player of the Year.
Jimmy Phiri’s Saints X1
John Sibanda, Misheck Sibanda, Josphat Humbasha, Josphat Munetsi, Kenneth Mathe, Ephraim Chawanda, Jimmy Phiri, Stanley Mutasa, Obey Sova, Labani Ngoma, Joseph Machingura
