Yester year greats with Lovemore Dube
“IT was a great feeling sharing a room with the late Benjamin Nkonjera, more so at the Holiday Inn, the first time I had ever been to a hotel,” said Gift Lunga (Jnr).
The former Highlanders left back recalls the experience of being called up to the Highlanders first team and being made to share a room with a big player at the club. He described it as one of the best moments of his life.
This was in 1997 when he had just returned to the club after a year with Charles Mhlauri’s exciting project — Phinda Mzala.
Jnr sat it out on the bench on the match day, a humdinger played before a full to the rafters Barbourfields Stadium.
“Dynamos won 2-1. We scored first through Simba Rusike and I remember one of the goal was scored by Tauya Murewa,” said the former Bosso star.
It did not take long for the gifted star to start at Bosso.
He was thrust into the side in a 5-0 annihilation of Tanganda in which he scored the third goal and the rest as they say is history for the star.
He could not believe his stars that he was now playing with guys he had grown up watching. A big number were his childhood heroes.
“There was Willard Khumalo, Mercedes Sibanda who we used to watch as he passed through G Square (Mzilikazi) from his S Square to a jog on Old Falls Road. He was a big figure we all admired, then there was Lovemore Ncube and Nkonjera, a national team star to compete with in midfield. There was an element of fear coupled with good competition for places,” said Jnr who dislodged Jones Mulenga on the left wingback position to make it his own till retirement in 2010.
Jnr recalls an incident that happened after scoring against Tanganda that had tongues wagging on the terraces.
“After I scored I ran and then dived on to the beautiful Barbourfields Stadium turf. In the process I swallowed a chewing gum and as I tried to retrieve it, I vomited, leaving fans believing I had taken opaque (amasese) before the match.
“There was no way it could have been beer because I was from camp. Worst still those days we camped for two days before a match,” said the left wing dynamo.
He also took time to explain why he is called Junior. When he arrived at Highlanders Gift “D Gong” Lunga had already established himself. There was need to differentiate the two hence one was named Senior and the other Junior.
For 24 years Jnr has stuck to him. A product of the successful Bulawayo junior policy, it all began at Mzilikazi Primary School and Zimbabwe Saints juniors.
He praises the role played by the late trio of Lazarus Zimangi, Jani Gwede and Surgery Mpofu at Zimbabwe Saints Under-14s.
“They discovered me but it would not be long before Ali Dube called me with Lindani Kurairwa and Richard Choruma to join Bosso. We played there until we were Under-18s when Charles Mhlauri came knocking and promising allowances. It was sweet music to our ears as youngsters being told about a youthful project — Phinda Mzala where we met others like Bekithemba Ndlovu, Mike Para Zvivira and Witness Gumbo,” said Lunga.
He credits Mhlauri with giving him the break and developing his self-confidence on the pitch. The former Phinda Mzala gaffer believed in boys exploring their natural talents and then harnessing their strengths to teamwork to make everyone glow.
He was among the stars of the show and it was no surprise that Nkululeko Mabhena and Barry Daka at the end of the year came to his home and asked him to return to Highlanders.
“It was an offer I could not refuse and I took it up with Madinda Ndlovu welcoming me and making me feel comfortable with good advice and coaching hints. But it would not be on a silver platter getting to play as there were good midfielders and wingers to compete with,” said Lunga.
He would go on to make a huge impact in his first season making it to the Zimbabwe X1 with Muzondiwa Mugadza and Thulani Ncube.
Unfortunately they would not find their way onto the calendar as the sponsors withdrew their funding following a shameful selection in which Walter Chuma landed the top gong ahead of favourites Edelbert Dinha and Tauya Murewa.
Dinha was disqualified at the last minute. The lad from Mzilikazi won four championships on the trot in a mercurial Highlanders side that had Zenzo Moyo, Thabani Masawi, Blessing Gumiso, Dazzy Kapenya, Mubariki Chisoni, Noel Kaseke, Siza Khoza, Simon Sibanda, Alexander Phiri, Amon Chimbalanga, Edmore Sibanda, Joel Luphahla, Bekithemba Ndlovu, Sautso Phiri, Darlington Phiri, Eddie Nyika, Eddie Dube, Melody Wafawanaka, Adam Ndlovu, Stewart Murisa and Charles Chilufya.
“Ernest Sibanda was a disciplinarian and motivator. Every Friday after the last training session he would visit every player at home to ensure we would not go clubbing on the eve of a game. We played for each other and for the fans.
The chemistry was there and we had it going for ourselves too under coaches Rahman Gumbo and Eddie May,” said Jnr.
Four league titles, an FA medal and countless other trophies are part of what Lunga Jnr has as his collection for years of bruises on the pitch for the Bosso badge.
He said every game for them mattered. He said there were no friendly matches because fans expected results every time the boys donned the Bosso kit.
The legend left Highlanders and spent two years at Caps United. He said he had his fair share of a good football time in the capital but his heart was always at home with Bosso.
After Methembe Ndlovu won the league title in 2006, he recalled Lunga and he played until his retirement in 2010.
Lunga played for the Zimbabwe national Under-17 side and on numerous occasions was part of the Cosafa Castle Cup. He said he is happy with his achievements on the field and now wants to inspire the next generation of stars.
The 45-year-old gaffer is working in the development structures of Bulawayo City Football Club. Jnr attributes his success to a supportive wife and Highlanders family that never turned its back on him.
He is among a few players ever to be appreciated and loved by fans so much that on a bad day, his teammates would be blamed for being too slow or out of position for his stray pass.
Stocky, unpredictable, creative and brainy he was a marvel to watch on the pitch. He gave coaches several options and ensured the width of the pitch was utilised in attack.
A great asset he had was the knack to play his teammates to their strengths. He created dozens of goals and scored several beauties in open play.
On the defensive end of his game, pace may have been a weakness but he consolidated that with a biting kick that saw many opponents shy away from him unless speed was an attribute they could count on.
His duels with the likes of Collin Nyambiya, Kelvin Mushangazhike, Albert Mbano and Musaleka Jenitala were ever exciting.