SOMETIME in August 2014, on a mildly windy Saturday afternoon, I decided to pass through University of Zimbabwe (UZ) grounds to watch a scheduled Harare Professionals Soccer League (HPSL) match between Joma and Zim Lawyers.
The latter was a title contender, and my team – Obama Boys- was their most realistic and closest challenger.
The match was scheduled to kick off at 1300 hours but started late. Joma, jointly led by Davison Mushambi, Waddington Gandiwa and coming from Chitungwiza, was delayed. As a league executive member, I went to the touchline to say my greetings to Mushambi- himself a founder member of the league. Mushambi was both a coach and the only player on the Joma bench.
But before I left, I expressed my deep disappointment with how Mushambi and his team seemed unprepared. He looked at me with a smile and apologetically told me that “munhu ane kit mota yake yaita breakdown.”
Yet, no hard feelings, as a Joma’s defeat by Zim Lawyers was almost always a foregone conclusion.
Technically it should have been a walkover to Zim Lawyers because Mushambi’s team had no uniform, although teams made decisions about forgiving their late opponents. Joma’s players were clad in jeans with a few in khaki three-quarter shorts. The only consolation was their white T-shirts, though; two of their players had formal shirts on.
On my arrival, Zim Lawyers had already scored the opener. “So Tinashe (Mundawarara), Zim Lawyers manager, is chasing a goal feast,” I thought to myself. I grudgingly left the UZ grounds for another HPSL encounter featuring Fresh Pro and Truworths at Belgravia Sports Club, whose 1500 kick-off was almost due. Tinashe had fielded himself as a box to box midfielder. Obviously, my frenemy was sensing a high margin victory against the dishevelled Joma outfit. Well!
Now, in my calculation, a high scoring win for Zim Lawyers would have paid to my team’s title chances. Every Zim Lawyers match was, so, crucial for us just as they cared about ours too. Joma’s seemingly uncompetitive spirit was so a spoiler. “How dare these churchmen come so unprepared,” I kept wondering.
Fast forward to the Truworths: Fresh Pro break, I saw Tinashe; upon seeing me, he came charging and shouting at the top of his voice.
“We want our three points for walking over Joma,” he bellowed.
“They came late, and they had no uniform!”
Ah well! I initially thought the match had ended on a 1-0 scoreline in favour of Zim Lawyers, and they wanted two more free goals.
Confused, I reached out for Never Siziba, the official handling the Joma/ Zim Lawyers match. Without revealing why the call was important, I made a polite inquiry. His response: “Zim Lawyers 1, Joma 1.” Ah! Shuwa.
The situation before me was a difficult one. As league treasurer, Tinashe wanted a decision truly beyond my office, but my sympathetic voice usually made a difference in such matters.
In its second year, the HPSL had allowed me the liberty to double as league official communicator, sharing fixtures, match results and log standings each week. I dutifully fulfilled the assignment, but moments like the one I created by Mushambi and Tinashe were never prepared for.
My interest that the result stood as a 1-all draw was obvious to Tinashe despite his protestations. I understood and often leaned towards the good of the league on most accounts.
I called Mushambi to find out whether he was willing to compromise. To Mushambi, the match was a done deal. No need to discuss it further. He was happy to pay the ZWL$25 fine for not having uniforms but pleaded for mercy.
In his usual humble demeanour, he declared: “Tadrowa, next week tineyi?” I told him his next opponent and hung up. Zim Lawyers’ protest never went beyond Belgravia, and Tinashe later told me that they also had their fears of having come to the match without a goalkeeper.
In his humility, Mushambi united us in both hilarious and sober ways. He succumbed to a Covid-19 related illness on July 18.
A gentle giant, Mushambi would also get involved in some matches as a utility player filling in where his team were found wanting. To him, matches were never about results but pure social occasions to stretch and sweat.
A founding voice in the HPSL community, I became his avid fan and that of Joma. In a league match against Surface Wilmer, Mushambi allowed me to feature as a guest player.
I looked forward to playing Joma at Eastridge Primary school grounds, but Mushambi would insist we use Harare International School (HIS) grounds.
“Toda kuuya ikoko, tipe time,” he would say.
Upon their arrival at HIS, the towering figure of a smiling Mushambi would change the atmosphere from a potential contest to a truly social event.
In 2018, he would lead Joma to its first trophy- winning the HPSL Silver League against illustrious opponents including GSC Wolves, St Georges Dragons and ZRP Southerton.
In my role as HPSL chair, I had the pleasure of presenting him and his colleagues with the medals and trophy. Deserved champions and an occasion celebrated by both Joma and the dragons!
“Some people do not realise that we are not about religion only,” he once shared.
“Our team has accountants, doctors and other professionals making us the most legitimate member of the Professionals Soccer League.”
Covid-19 has robbed HPSL and many sectors of society of its icons. It’s painful.
Hardly a few months back, we celebrated the life of Protector Rangers’ Blessing Shirichena, another Covid-19 victim. It’s devastating. We always pray to see the end of this. Mushambi, Shirichena and others who were promoted to glory will always have a place in our hearts. True icons of recreational football in spirit and action.
Author: Sizani Weza is the HPSL chairman and president of Obama Boys Inc (incorporating Bayethe, Real Mavericks and Edgars Stores Football Clubs).
