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GIBSON Homela was at Independence in 1980 aged 34 and very excited about the prospect of representing his country after 10 years of international isolation.
Rhodesia was suspended from the International Association of Football Federations Associations (Fifa) because of Ian Smith’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) which intensified the quest for majority rule.
Homela, a top notch striker at his peak, good enough that five time Soccer Star of the Year George Shaya could not start ahead of him in the Rhodesia national team, described Independence as having been a relief to footballers who were eager to test their quality against the rest of the world.
The last time they had participated in a tournament was in the final qualifier of the 1970 World Cup finals. They were beaten by a solitary goal by Australia after two replays with Philemon Tigere beating his own goalkeeper Rob Jordan for a painful own goal.
The quality crop of Josiah Nxumalo, Isaac Chieza, Itai Chieza, Bobby Chalmers, Homela and Shaya was denied an opportunity to parade their skills to the world in a tournament won by a Brazil side inspired by Pele and Jairzinho who would at some stage turn out for South African Glamour Boys Kaizer Chiefs in the mid-1970s.
“We were excited about the prospect of playing against other teams in international tournaments. The last time we were 90 minutes from playing at the World Cup finals before we were suspended as a country. We were optimistic that we would do well now that the suspension was lifted,” said Homela.
He said even at 34 he was still yearning for caps for his country.
“I would like to think that at 34 I was at the peak of my playing career. I was confident that I would play for my country if merit was to be used,” said Homela who was a versatile player who played on either wing of the Saints defence, midfield and attack.
Homela was capped in the early years of Independence with his last being at the age of 35 in 1981.
He described it as unfortunate that a whole generation of players like Robert Godoka, Sunday Chidzambwa, Rodrick Muganhiri, David Muchineripi,
Joseph Zulu, Amos Rendo, Stephen Chuma and Majid Dhana had lost several years of their best in their late teens and early 20s to the raging war, restricted just to the Rhodesia National Football League action and tournaments.
Talking of soccer and politics, Homela said as footballers they were united and there were never incidents of racial disharmony on the pitch.
“Players of other racial groups respected blacks and in turn we respected them. As sportspersons we concentrated on what brought us together and we did not bring politics to it. Maybe at a personal level I did not and perhaps they knew what would happen because I would not have taken any abuse,” said the legend whose acclaimed short fuse earned him a ban from the game.
In 1979 in a drawn 3-3 Chibuku Cup final Homela assaulted a Williams who was the referee of the epic clash.
“He flashed a yellow card to Max Tshuma in a tussle for possession with Caps’ Tobias Moyo which appeared 50-50. I asked Williams why he had given Max instead of the other player. In a flash he dipped into his pocket and pulled a red card for me.
I had asked why as the team captain and I slapped him and chased the guy towards the southern goalpost and near side assistant referee Felix Sanyika fled too and we ran towards the Zimbabwe grounds outside the stadium and was caught and pinned by two officers.
One of them kicked me and I hit him back. As I was being led to the charge office, one who was more senior and a Saints supporter demanded that they release me, which they did. I was banned from the game but it was lifted at the beginning of 1980 and I was able to return to the field as a player,” said Homela.
He said the emerging crop of Shaky Tauro, Stanley Ndunduma, Joel Shambo, Madinda Ndlovu and Stix Mtizwa had carried hopes for the newly independent country whose football had remained more organised and competitive during the war despite international isolation.
Even on the rules of the game they had remained abreast with the likes of Paul Pretorius who travelled to the UK regularly helping introduce the yellow cards and red in 1972 and the Cooper test in 1978.
Homela explained how he had switched to defence.
“One game we led 2-0 and in the last three minutes we let up, which allowed Tornados to score two goals and equalise. I was angry with the defenders and I was challenged to defend by my teammates and I led by example by turning to a defender. At Saints I played in defence while in the national team Dan MacLennan played me as a striker,” said the 1977 league and cup double winner.
As a striker during those days of the 1960s Homela was up there with the likes of Ernest Kamba, Peter Nyama, Twyman Ncube, Peter Bepe and Paul Tsumbe among the country’s hottest.
Asked how travel was during the war, he said as footballers they never encountered problems relating how in one instance they stumbled on a roadblock manned by guerillas on the Mupfuri River after Chegutu.
“I was working in Harare and would drive to Bulawayo for matches with Tony Machado and Steve Kwashi both of whom were my teammates. As we were driving towards the bridge, I felt something untoward about the roadblock. When I got there, my fears were confirmed it was not the Rhodesian Army but guerillas. They asked who we were and I answered back that we were Zimbabwe Saints players. They asked who the white guy (Machado) was and when I said he was a player too, we were allowed to proceed.
We just kept our composure, it was scary, it must have been about midnight as we were from a match at Barbourfields Stadium,” said Homela who added that it must have been around 1977-78.
A former Soccer Star of the Year finalist who played Third Division football in the United Kingdom and Germany trained coach who is also an instructor, Homela was at one stage in the early years of Independence a Zifa board member and later national team coach after his retirement in 1982 at 36.
“We were involved in an accident while coming from a match in Zvishavane which forced my retirement,” said Homela.
Homela could hold the distinction of being the oldest Warriors ever having donned the jersey at 41 in 1987.
“Zifa bundled. I was sent to a tournament in Uganda, the Cecafa in 1987 with 12 players on the understanding that more would follow. They never did leaving me with just 12 and the extra player being a goalkeeper Brenna Msiska. There was an injury to one of the infield players.
As Brenna warmed up to come in, the players shouted back that instead I should step in, come in I did and played having gone there as a coach,” said Homela.
Homela coached several generations of national teams and recalls one incident when players demanded juju in camp.
“I do not believe in juju and never in my time even if the teams I played for did. So there I was with players sending Sunday to ask if there was something they would drink or smear before the match. I bought snuff and Vaseline just to appease them.
“I could see their anxiety as match time approached. So when we got to the stadium I deliberately mixed the snuff and Vaseline without the players noticing. The concoction was put by the door.
As they left the dressing room to the pitch they had to smear it to any part of the body. The first player to do it sneezed and remarked that it was a powerful medicine that works.
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Chipo Tsodzo
That psyched up the boys and we won that match as the Warriors,” said Homela who was credited with giving first team football to many youngsters, Richard Dube, Howard Mago, Godwin Mangayi, Muzondiwa Mugadza, Chipo Tsodzo, Dumisani Dube and Ronald Sibanda.
Homela was around when his beloved Zimbabwe Saints won the league and Chibuku Trophy in 1988 under Roy Barreto.
Nowadays he is involved in efforts to revive Zimbabwe Saints who begin their preparations for the year at Induba Primary School on Tuesday.
Homela does not get the recognition he deserves for his contribution to the game and also for having been Saints’ standout player over three decades.
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