The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
Sports Reporter
HE was so good that Orlando Pirates fans nicknamed him “Shakira” because his legs did not lie, just like the Colombian singer’s hips, in the hit song “Hips Don’t Lie” released in 2005.
Shakira twerks in that video, the same way Malawian Joseph Kamwendo shook defenders with that amazing left foot, prompting the Buccaneers fans to nickname him after the Colombian songstress.
“The name came about when I was with Orlando Pirates. The Sea Robbers, who are the supporters of the Buccaneers, started calling me Shakira. I then sought to find out why they were calling me Shakira. That’s when I was told through the office that supporters were saying my legs never lie like Shakira’s hips don’t lie.
“They were saying my legs don’t lie,” the 34-year-old Kamwendo told The Sunday Mail Sport from his base in Malawi.
Kamwendo joined Orlando Pirates in 2007, two years after starring for domestic Premiership giants CAPS United, where he won the league title and the Soccer Star of the Year award. Sixteen years later, Kamwendo remains the only foreigner to have won the Premiership’s top gong. He was crowned on December 9, 2005 but never got to enjoy the prize money, which was donated to charity after a clash of interests between then league sponsors Econet Wireless and CAPS United’s sponsor NetOne.
Nonetheless, Kamwendo, who is now the Malawi Under-20 assistant coach, still cherishes that momentous night when he was crowned the king of Zimbabwean football.
“It was the best feeling of my career,” said Kamwendo.
“I only stayed in Zimbabwe for only eight months and winning that big trophy wasn’t a joke. Knowing that I am still the only foreigner to win that award gives me happiness. It’s a great feeling but at the same time I dedicated the trophy to the CAPS United squad of 2005”.
Kamwendo joined CAPS United from Malawian outfit Mighty Wanderers at the beginning of the 2005 season, in a deal facilitated by renowned Malawian agent Felix Sapao.
“Zimbabwe at that time had too many good players. You can name them, Ian Bakala, Cephas Chimedza, Laughter Chilembe and all those guys who were in the same league with us, so winning the Soccer Star award was something else.
“I never saw it coming but knowing that I had had a very good season with CAPS United gave me the confidence even though I had stiff competition. We had the best team in the league, we had the best technical panel, the best players. I decided to dedicate the award to the team and most importantly the owner of the club at that time Twine Phiri. I still respect him (Phiri) up to this day,” revealed Kamwendo, a former Malawi national team captain with over 100 caps.
He still vividly recalls the banquet and the aftermath which saw his prize money being donated to charity.
“I was presented with a dummy cheque and in the end, I never received the money. It’s something that is water under the bridge now.
“Winning the trophy was enough, it was more exciting. The money was donated to charity, something that I have also been doing since retiring from the game.
“I am into charity, and at that time I never thought about it. I wanted to achieve more and more on the field.”
Kamwendo retired in 2019 at Mighty Wanderers, the team where he launched his career that briefly took him to Denmark before winning a CAF Champions League medal with TP Mazembe in 2015.
He describes winning the CAF Champions League medal as his “highest point”, but regards winning the Soccer Star award in Zimbabwe as the “best feeling” of his career.
“Here in Africa, winning the Champions League is a dream for all players. I won it with TP Mazembe and I will regard that as the highest point of my career. When you talk about African club football you talk of the Champions League.”
The former Flames skipper played for nine teams in a 16-year career, but holds CAPS United in high esteem. Kamwendo played for Mighty Wanderers, CAPS United, Nordsjaelland in Denmark, Orlando Pirates, LD Maputo, Vasco Da Gama, TP Mazembe, Don Bosco and, Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila.
“Yes I played for nine teams and I have so many memories with different clubs but CAPS United made me who I am today.
“Shamwari when you talk about my second home, Zimbabwe will always have the best and special place in my heart.
“Zimbabwe sharpened up my game being someone who was coming from the Malawian league which was a bit inferior. Even up to today, the Zimbabwean league is far much better than our league here. “So, when I was there, I could tell Zimbabwe was the best place to start my journey as a professional footballer.
“Ndakanakirwa neZimbabwe shamwari, especially Harare, where I made my name. I got massive support from the fans.
“I won’t forget the Zimbabwe Football Association. I will always respect Zimbabweans for their professionalism. Yes, problems are always there but I want to urge the football leaders in Zimbabwe to continue trying their best.
“I am who I am today because of Zimbabwe. Makaita basa. “CAPS United I will never forget that team. Makepekepe bhora! They sent me to the world, they gave me the platform.I have to visit Harare and meet all the people and share the memories,” he revealed.
Kamwendo is still in contact with most of the players who made up the CAPS United squad of 2005, which won a tight league title race with 58 points, two ahead of second-placed Masvingo United. It was Makepekepe’s second title on the trot. Ex-Warriors gaffer Charles Mhlauri coached that side which included Leonard Tsipa, Hadj Tambala, Ashley Rambanapasi (Muza), Lloyd Chitembwe, Limited Chikafa, Brian Badza and Tsungai Mudzamiri.
Quincy Antipas, James Kachinga, Laughter Chilembe, Milos Phiri, Cephas Chimedza, Charles Manjera, Masset Zengeni, Tineyi Meda, Washington Pakamisa, Takesure Chiragwi and Danger Fourpence were also part of that squad. CAPS United still managed to retain the league title even after the departure of some key players including vice captain Artwell Mabhiza, David Sengu, Silent Katumba and Tichaona Nyenda, who remained in the United Kingdom after the team’s tour of Bradford mid-2005.
“I am still in contact with most of the legends of 2005. I am on the same WhatsApp group with most of them.
“The group is called CAPS Ambassadors, it has most of the players who were part of the 2005 squad. Mainly we talk about football but we also share ideas. Most of us are now into coaching, some are training the youths and some are into football business. We are together as a CAPS United family.”
Kamwendo hailed Mhlauri for moulding him into the player that he became.
“You may recall that we had the best technical panel and we had the best players in each and every department. So it was easy for one to come in and gel. When you talk about Charles Mhlauri’s philosophy, it was easy because he wanted his team to play beautiful football. He was under pressure most of the time but he was also there to encourage us his players.
“Charles Mhlauri played a vital role that season. He gave me so much confidence, he told me to believe in my game and allowed me to play with freedom. Even when the chips were down, Mhlauri was there to lift you up. He was always giving me guidance.
“I still miss him as a person, as a father figure but most importantly as a coach that gave me the confidence to really express myself on the pitch.
“That Makepekepe squad was united for sure. We were like a team and we had to be friends. So we were friends as a whole team and it is difficult to really name one guy I can say was my best friend. We were so united . . . it was difficult to say this one is a friend of this one. However, I had some who were closer to me like Leonard Tsipa, Laughter Chilembe, Bla Lodza (Chitembwe), they were all my friends.” A number of foreign players have starred for different clubs since the Premiership’s inception in 1993. They include the late Derby Makinka, Webster Chikabala, Bakala, Robert Ng’ambi, Dabitswo Nkhoma, Ferdinand Mwachindalo, Clive Mwale, Kelvin Kaindu, Charles Chilufya, Sandros Kumwenda, Francis Kasanda, Ryan Harrison, Christian Joel Epoupa and, George Owusu. But, Kamwendo has a special record which has stood for 16 years. He is still the only foreigner to win the Zimbabwe Soccer Star award.
