The Sunday News
Danisa Masuku
Laban Kandi’s football life revolved around Dynamos, Rio Tinto and Zimbabwe Saints before he retired to venture into music.
In his early childhood stages Kandi was a striker but later he had to change to goal keeping after he discovered his strength in goal keeping. He tells Sunday Life Sport about the shift.
“In my teenage years I thought I would become a great striker because I was so good and I was a trusted striker in my school team. But when I joined Highfields Youth Centre I discovered that I had goalkeeping skills and I discovered that I was a good goalkeeper and that was to be my position from then,” he says.
Kandi joined Dynamos juniors in 1969 but due to family pressure he had to retrace his footsteps to Highfields Youth Centre and was to re-join Dynamos in 1975. But he could not disclose the reason behind returning to Highfields Youth Centre.
However, his return to DeMbare was via Rufaro Rovers and Mutanga United.
“When I returned to Dynamos I was then loaned to original Rufaro Rovers in 1971 to 1972. I then joined Mutanga United 1973-1974. At the end of the season I then went back to Dynamos,” he tells Sunday Life.
When he rejoined DeMbare in 1975 he was thrust in the reserve side where he played alongside the likes of Angirai Chapo, Biggie Zuze, Henry Chari and Stanley Chirambadare.
After spending two years playing in the reserve side in 1977 he was loaned to Rio Tinto where he spent a season and had to bounce back at the end of the season.
Kandi was part of the trail blazing Dynamos squad that won league championship in 1978.
He was an outstanding figure in that title deciding match against Wankie (Hwange) as he made some wonderful saves from the penalty spot to earn the Glamour Boys a famous 2-1 away win that earned them a title on the last day.
Naturally he describes that epic encounter as his best and memorable match in DeMbare colours.
“My best game was the 1978 league title decider against Wankie at the Colliery when I saved a penalty that was retaken three times in a game we won 2-1 and became champions that year,” Kandi tells Sunday Life Sport.
He reveals that he thought the referee of the day wanted DeMbare to lose the match.
“I strongly believe the referee wanted us to lose the match because the first attempt hit the post and I saved all retakes after he adjudged that I had moved in all instances. And I believe it was our day and God had sealed that we would win the match,” he recalls.
During his playing time there were good goal minders and he picks Mike Mhlanga who turned out for Arcadia, Musa Muzanenhamo who played for Zimbabwe Saints, Frank Mkanga who was the trusted goalie for Ziscosteel, Runga Mutanga and Victor Dhliwayo who both turned out for Gweru United as one of the top goal keepers in the Super League. He says Posana Sibanda who turned out for Wankie, Chibuku Shumba was his best goalkeeper.
The former shot stopper also talked about his years at Rio Tinto and he rates John Rugg as one of the best coaches that he ever worked under.
“Among the best coaches who coached me was John Rugg who coached me while I was with Rufaro Rovers in 1972 and in 1977 when I was Rio Tinto. I salute him for imparting some good goalkeeping skills that shaped my career and made me one of the best goal minders in the league,” he says.
He says he had great moments at Rio Tinto.
“We beat Black Aces 2-1 in the BAT Rosebowl Cup final and as a result we clinched the Cup,” he tells Sunday Life Sport.
When he was loaned to Zimbabwe Saints in 1981, Laban played alongside great players like Gibson “Homeboy” Homela, Andrew “Mai Maria” Kadengu, Max “Shaluza” Tshuma, Onias Musana, Ebson “Sugar” Muguyo, Douglas Maneto and Boyce Malunga among others.
“These were great players and the type of football that we played at times was mind blowing and top drawer. In my opinion that was the greatest Zimbabwe Saints squad,” he says.
At the end of the season in 1982 he rejoined DeMbare and played for the side up to 1984 when he hung his football boots.
To enhance his coaching career, Kandi tried his luck in the lower leagues where he took charge of Harare Sheraton (now Rainbow Towers) between 1987 and 1988 in the Zifa Division Two League.
In 1989, he moved to ZRP Tomlinson where he came across a young Claudius Zviripayi and Boniface Kabwe before recommending them to Dynamos the following year.
At Sheraton he also groomed players such as Mike Chipembere and Herbert Mbabvu, who later played for Dynamos and Black Aces respectively.
Kandi was back at Dynamos as a goalkeepers keepers coach in 1994 when he helped to shape the careers of such players as Peter Fanwell and Tichaona Diya.
He was also instrumental in the recruitment of goalkeepers George Mandizvidza (late), Ernest Chirambadare and Gift Muzadzi.
He was at Dynamos when the team reached the Africa Champions League final where they lost 4-2 to Ivorian side Asec Mimosa although he did not travel for the decisive second leg in Abidjan.
Kandi left the club in 2008 to pursue a career in music and acting, something he cherishes a lot.
“I left to pursue my other passion as a musician and actor which I’m still doing up to now,” he says.
He reveals that the name of the band is Ganyambira which means a mixture of sounds.
“My musical group, which plays heavy rock and Afro jazz, is called Total Package. We have two albums under our belt — Nzwisa and Expression of Love. We are working on the third album which will be released in July,” he says.
A footballer is always a footballer, from 2011 up 2017 Laban was the Under-20 national team goalkeeper’s coach. He prides himself for having coached Tatenda Mukuruva, Nelson Chadya, Tonderai Mateyaunga and Donvan Benard.
He is of the view that the standard of soccer is going down in Zimbabwe.
“I feel lack of prioritisation of junior policy is killing our soccer, if you look at it very well most of the PSL clubs have a number of players who are over the hill,” he says.
Fact file
Laban was born in Murehwa in 1952 . He was born in a family of nine — three boys and six girls.
His brother Elisha tried playing soccer but gave up during trials at Dynamos. He is married to Marian and the couple is blessed with three children namely Tatenda (31), Varaidzo (34) and Ngoni (37).
His wife and children are based in the United Kingdom. They worship at Anglican Church. He did his primary education at Chengu and Rusvingo Primary School. For his secondary education he attended Highfields Secondary School.
He was employed by PTC FROM 1971 until he retired in 2004. He now runs Braeside Soccer Academy and is the goalkeeper’s coach for a Division Two side — Grain Tigers.
