THE Premier Soccer League era which came into being in 1993 has been one of the most exciting times of Zimbabwean football with a number of milestones achieved by the local game.
At the end of 1992 then Super League clubs decided that they wanted to run their own affairs. They wanted independence to look for own sponsorship for their activities and have a final say on the distribution of revenue instead of being run directly by the Zimbabwe Football Association.
The Premier Soccer League was born with Highlanders FC the first champions in the new era in 1993.
They would go on to win the same title in 1998/99, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2006. Today Sunday Leisure will mention some of the names to make a big impact for their teams and others went beyond and impressed for the country.
Karim Abdul
It is in the Premier Soccer League days that a Zimbabwe soccer club defied odds and went as far as the final of the African Champions League Cup. The feat was achieved by serial league champions Dynamos in 1998 when they went on to lose in the final to Asec Mimosa of Ghana.
An executive led by Lloyd Thabani Hove with Leslie Gwindi as secretary-general and the Dynamos legend as a good football and administration adviser, the team played some breathtaking football and pushed themselves beyond the limit to put Zimbabwe football on the map after years of the “nearly men” tag.
Notably the Zimbabwe senior national team has enjoyed its most successful spell since Independence after the PSL was born. The Warriors have become serial qualifiers for continental show pieces such as Afcon and Chan finals and are rated up there with the likes of Angola, South Africa and Zambia in the Cosafa Region.
While the argument is that the class of Moses Chunga, Madinda Ndlovu, Stix Mutizwa, David Mwanza, Ephert Lungu, David Zulu, Japhet Mparutsa, John Sibanda, Francis Shonhayi, Alexander Maseko, Willard Khumalo, Charles Chirwa, Shaky Tauro, Stanley Ndunduma, Misheck Chidzambwa, Ernest Mutano and Mercedes “Rambo” Sibanda were better players, the draws and qualifying processes were more difficult than the present one.
Lloyd Chitembwe
More Zimbabwe players have moved to leagues around the world and impressed. A great number have even played in continental tournaments across the globe.
Among some of the players that were shipped out during the PSL era and had mixed levels of success are Teenage Hadebe, Kuda Mahachi, Noel Kaseke, Kennedy Chihuri, Musa Mguni, Zenzo Moyo, Joel Luphahla, Khama Billiat, Vitalis Takawira, Alois Bunjira, Stewart Murisa, Charles Yohane, Innocent Chikoya, Edlebert Dinha, Takesure Chinyama, Dickson Choto, Eddie Mashinya, Patrick Daka, Mamba Chisoni, Joseph Kabwe, Methembe Ndlovu, Mkhokheli Dube, Wayne Albertyn, Thabani Moyo, Rodwell Chinyengetere, Chris Samakweri, Darryl Nyandoro, Carrington Gomba, Tino Kadewere, Knowledge Musona, Wuisdom Mutasa, Zimisele Moyo, Prince Dube, Never Tigere, Dominic Sithole, Marshall Munetsi, James Matola, James Phiri, David Mkandawire, Gary Mkandawire, Webster Kurwaisimba, Denver Mukamba, Fabian Zulu and Knox Mutizwa.
Mercedes Sibanda
This is not even a quarter of the number of the players that have left Zimbabwe for greener pastures.
But it is in the context of who would make the PSL X1 or in commemorative mood a Best 30 players since 1993 who have made the biggest impact in the league. When the PSL was formed, a great number of the 1990s mob was fizzling out but still good enough to make an impact.
Stanley Chirambadare
Names that come to mind are players like Knight Mathe, Shepherd Muradzikwa, Madinda Ndlovu, Willard Kumalo, Mercedes Sibanda, Stanley Chirambadare, Venacio Ncube, Mebele Njekwa, Misheck Sibanda, Kenneth Mathe, George Ayibu and Maronga Nyangela were still active. They would, for a few years, rub off their might to a new crop of stars that were released to the market around 1990 and led by the legendary Peter Ndlovu.
It would not be an easy debate in arriving at the best players. Sunday Leisure looks at some outstanding players for some of the big clubs in the land since 1993.
It would be exciting to see clubs come up with their own lists and celebrate the landmark achievement while the bigger event could be one where the PSL through its own independent panel comes up with the psl@30 Top 30 players.
Caps United
Abdul Karim, Laugher Chilembe, Josseph Kamwendo, Ian Bakala, Alois Bunjira, Stewart Murisa, Blessing Makunike, William Chari, Lloyd Chitembwe, Silver Chigwenje, Joe Mugabe, Shingirai Arlon, Maxwell Cheche Billiat
Dynamos
Ernerst Chirambadare, George Mandizvidza, Peter Fanwell, Murape Murape, Kaitano Tembo, Chamu Musanhu, Vitalis Takawira, Claudius Zviripayi, Ocean Mushure, Desmond Maringwa, Clive Mwale, Tauya Murewa, Denver Mukamba, Makwinji Soma, Gift Muzadzi, Tonderayi Ndiraya, Callistu Pasuwa
Highlanders
Zenzo Moyo, Tapuwa Kapini, Thulani Ncube, Dazzy Kapenya, Thabani Masawi, Mercedes Sibanda, Noel Kaseke, Manase Mwanza, Dabwitso Nkhoma, Ralph Matema, Mamba Chisoni, Richard Choruma, Mkhokheli Dube, Vusa Nyoni, Honour Gombami, Gilbert Banda, Eddie Nyika, Eddie Dube, Adam Ndlovu, Cleopas Dlodlo, Vusa Nyoni, Bekithemba Ndlovu, Blessing Gumiso, Sautso Phiri, Johannes Ngodzo
Willard Khumalo
AmaZulu
Muzondiwa Mugadza, Ronald Sibanda, Master Masiku, Mkhuphali Masuku, Joseph Kabwe, Herbert Dick, Vorster Chitemu, Norman Komani, Costa Chiimba, James Phiri, David Mkandawire, Patrick Daka, Ferdinand Mwachindalo, Dominic Sithole, Misheck Makota, Richard March, Mlungisi Ndebele
Zimbabwe Saints
Mlungisi Ndebele, Ronald Sibanda, Matambanashe Sibanda, Chipo Tsodzo, Dumisani Dube, Themba Ndlovu, Henry Ndlovu, Lloyd Jowa
Air Zimbabwe Jets
Hubert Munjanja, Zvidzai Kunaka, Benjani Mwaruwari
Hwange FC
Chenjerayi Dube, Chingumbe Masuku, Cosmas Ngwenya, Stanley Nkomo, Chabuka Mwale, Fabian Zulu, Gilbert Zulu, Carringtion Gomba, Gerald Ndlovu, Brian Njobvu, Norman Njelele, Malvern Longwe, Simon Njeleza, Fortune Ncube
l Next week we continue with players from other clubs that played in the Premiership who could make The Sunday News PSL Era Top 30 chosen by the readers.