The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
Sports Reporter
EXACTLY 29 years ago, one of the biggest shocks in local top-flight football was brewed at Rufaro Stadium.
It was on September 26, 1992 when Darryn T walloped pre-tournament favourites CAPS United 4-0 in the Castle Cup final in what has remained one of the Cinderella stories in local football history.
Whereas CAPS United coach Freddy Mkwesha (now late) had the luxury of a tried-and-tested squad that included the late pair of Joel Shambo and Joe Mugabe, Carlos Max, Never Chiku (late) and Morgan Nkathazo, his opposite number, Wieslaw Grabowski, opted to use his new discoveries on the grand stage.
And they delivered.
Alois Bunjira, who scored a brace, was still 17, Norman Mapeza was only 20 and Lloyd Chitembwe was 21 when they featured for Darryn T in the final of the country’s then biggest knockout tournament.
Goalkeeper Japhet Mparutsa, Wonder Timoti, Felix Antonio, Forbes Ndaba, Edelbert Dinha, Stewart Murisa, John Phiri and Usman Misi completed Darryn T’s starting line-up.
George Nechironga came from the bench to score the fourth after Antonio had netted the third for Grabowski’s charges.
“I still cherish that day even up to this hour. 4-0 against CAPS United in a big final was wonderful. The boys made me proud,” Grabowski said.
Darryn T may now be defunct, while Grabowski has disappeared from the radar, but the Polish gaffer, who unearthed massive football talent in Chitungwiza in the 1990s, remains proud of his project.
He is particularly happy with the progress his protégés Mapeza and Chitembwe have made as coaches.
He discovered the fire in Mapeza’s belly long before the former Warriors captain became a national football icon.
Mapeza has since grown into a revered coach on whose shoulders now lie the hopes of millions of Zimbabwean football supporters, as the Warriors prepare to play Ghana in back-to-back World Cup qualifiers between October 6 and October 10.
That is why Grabowski is backing his student to revive the nation’s hopes that were battered during a hard-to-bear period in which Zimbabwe won only one match in 14 outings.
ZIFA, however, finally woke from their slumber and fired the clueless Zdravko “Loga’’ Logarusic on September 15.
Mapeza comes in as an interim coach until December 31, by which time Zimbabwe would have completed their World Cup qualifying group games.
After the back-to-back clashes against the Black Stars, the Warriors will travel to South Africa on November 11, before Ethiopia fly into Harare for the final round on November 14.
The Warriors anchor Group G with a single point — three behind log leaders South Africa — going into the third round of fixtures. But Grabowski believes that “with the right attitude from everyone involved”, the Warriors can turn around a campaign that appears doomed.
“I am convinced Norman (Mapeza) can do it; he has the knowledge of modern football and he listens to advice.
“So he is not someone who will jump into a swimming pool without water, you get what I mean?
“We have the players — very good players. Players like Marshall (Munetsi) are quality players; we have players playing in the United Kingdom, so I think we have the quality,” he said.
“What was probably lacking was motivation of players. Mapeza has got to make the boys start believing in themselves again.
“I know Mapeza from a very young age; he had this self-dedication, self-discipline also. He always craved to win; he was so amazing.
“He could also encourage others on the pitch. So you could detect his leadership qualities from a tender age.
“He was a very good talent; self-motivator also, and one who could motivate others; always observing what others are doing and motivate them.”
The firebrand former Warriors and Young Warriors coach also urged ZIFA to support Mapeza.
“We are still in. Zimbabwe can win the remaining games and win promotion into the next round . . .
“But, for success, you need to have dedication, not only from Norman, but from the players as well, because fans will give them 100 percent support if they see there is some dedicated movement and there is aim.
“Norman needs support from the administration. First of all is good camp organisation, probably get a sparring partner and stuff like that.”
He believes Mapeza’s biggest attribute is his ability and willingness to learn.
Grabowski, who coached the Young Warriors to a silver medal at the 1995 All-Africa Games, might not be grabbing headlines anymore but he is still identifying and nurturing talent.
“We still have boys we are training, we still send some boys to play professional football in Europe, but we just don’t make noise,” he said.
