Yesteryear greats with Lovemore Dube
IS there still derby flavour in Bulawayo’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League?
Perhaps there is a need to define what a derby is. In simple terms a derby is a match between two teams from within the same neighbourhood or close location. It is believed that it originated from The Derby, a horse race in England. Its history dates back to the 12th Earl of Derby in 1780.
Derby has been used as a noun since 1840 to describe any sporting contest between local rivals. Examples that come to mind include Highlanders versus Zimbabwe Saints, Caps United versus Dynamos, FC Platinum versus Shabanie Mine, Kaizer Chiefs versus Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns versus SuperSport, Everton versus Liverpool, Manchester United versus Manchester City, Arsenal versus Tottenham Hotspurs, AC Milan versus Inter Milan, Marseille versus PSG, Red Star Belgrade versus Partisan Belgrade, Atletico Madrid versus Real Madrid,
England’s North West Derby Liverpool versus Manchester United, Bayern Munich versus Borussia Dortmund, Corinthians versus Palmeiras, Ajax versus Feyenoord, Benfica versus FC Porto, Olympiacos FC versus Panathinaikos FC, West Ham United versus Millwall, Lazio Roma versus AS Roma and even at local level like the Makwika derby in Hwange pitting Brazil and Kabwe with players like Rodrick Simwanza, Sam Mutende, Francis Mwinga, David Phiri, Jimmy Sibanda, Barton Mwalukuka and Skeva Phiri trading blows in local club colours before re-uniting to turn out for Wankie FC back then.
These matches often command so much traction, it is about bragging rights, some about religious and ethnic differences of the past that the present generations may not be aware of. The rivalry between the England North West rivals Liverpool and Manchester United heightened in the 1960s as they fought for supremacy on the field.
It got worse when sections of Liverpool supporters appeared to mock United over 6 February, 1958 plane crash in which eight Manchester United players died.
Oral history has it that Matabeleland Highlanders and Mashonaland United later to change to Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints respectively had fierce rivalry.
Zimbabwe Saints’ Onias Musana (left) in an aerial tussle with Lawrence Phiri (centre) of Highlanders and goalkeeper Peter Nkomo during a Super League match in Bulawayo in 1980
It is said fights from industrial sites of Bulawayo and townships would start as soon as the fixture was made public. Sporadic fights emanating from debate about players on either side and previous results brewed the fights.
This afternoon Chicken Inn and Highlanders will clash at Barbourfields Stadium. Unlike in the past when a Chikwata and Bosso match drew so much attention in the build up, there has been nothing to rev up the match.
Historically looking at the big Bulawayo derby pitting Bosso and Saints, there were characters on the field guaranteeing fans an afternoon’s worth of their hard earned cash.
Saints would line up Adam Maseko, Gibson Homela, William Sibanda, Aleck Mwanza, Ebson Muguyo, Simon Supiya and Emmanuel Sibanda. On other end Highlanders would feature Cavin Duberly, Tommy Masuku, James Nxumalo, Lawrence Phiri, Itai Chieza, Stanley Nyika, Josiah Nxumalo and Ananias Dube.
These were brilliant footballers. Parents saw their kids in front of their homes playing with plastic balls and nicknaming themselves after the great players. Move to the 1980s Jethro Hunidzarira, Jimmy Phiri, Ephraim Chawanda, Misheck Sibanda, Joseph Machingura, John Sibanda, Henry Mckop, Agent Sawu, Shayne Khamal, Obey Sova, Norman Gumbo illuminated the scene alongside their counterparts Madinda Ndlovu, Mercedes Sibanda, Dumisani Nyoni, Alexander Maseko, Douglas Mloyi, Richard Ndlovu, Ronnie Jowa, Fanuel Ncube, Nqobizitha Maenzanise, Tutani Moyo and Mpumelelo Dzowa.
Barbourfields would be packed to the rafters for the Big City Derby. Every suburb would be caught up in the euphoria emanating from the derby build up as both fans and players wanted to win the ego contests. Going into this afternoon, both Chicken Inn and Highlanders will be out to parade their best players. There is no hype around the match. It is like any other match that these teams will be out to play.
Derbies often get the best out of the players. They want when they meet in the streets or tshisa nyamas to boast about conquering. It is difficult for today’s sports journalists to conclusively mention four to five players who could carry the day for either side. There has been a talent dearth and crowds speak for themselves.
The demise of Zimbabwe Saints robbed football of Highlanders’ eternal “enemy”. Just the fact that Highlanders were paired for the weekend was a seller on its own. Going into this afternoon’s match Bosso’s ultra-defensive approach is not enticing and the strike force is impotent because of the quality of the players and lack of a killer pass in the final third of the opposition’s end.
Rarely do fans want to go to watch a team defend. Fans want attacking football, brilliant midfield play, great goalkeeping and plenty plus goalmouth action. Tafadzwa Kutinyu, Genius Mutungamiriri, doubtful for the tie Brian Muza, Richard Hachiro, Clive Augusto, Michael Charamba and George Majika will be expected to conjure up something in attack to light up Barbourfields Stadium. Nowadays derbies are lackluster affairs.