The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
WHILE Maxwell “MaRhino” Dube is now pursuing business opportunities in the United Kingdom, after a successful career that saw him being crowned king of the domestic Premiership in 2001, his former teammate at Chapungu, Joram Siwela, is serving a life sentence at Harare Central Prison. Siwela, a former Chapungu fringe player, who arrived at the Airforce side in 1992 as a junior, alongside the likes of Dube and former Dynamos forward Bheki “Pisa” Mhlotshwa, has been in jail for the past 21 years. He was convicted of murder after a night club fracas that turned fatal in Gweru.
Jail life has taught Siwela several lessons and if he had the power to turn back the hands of time, he says he would not repeat what happened at that Mkoba night club, popularly known as “Kwa Toyo.”
lf Siwela’s life could be taken back to the 1990s, there’s only one thing he would do – play football to “the maximum.”
But, that’s no longer possible given his age and the grim prospect that he might never taste freedom again in this lifetime.
However ,despite his situation, Siwela has remained hopeful.
He attained both ‘O’ and ‘A’ Level qualifications in jail.
He says he now wishes to attain some coaching badges.
“Having served 21 years in jail so far, I believe I am now ripe for the next Presidential amnesty. Once I get another opportunity to live a normal life, I will definitely pursue coaching.
“I will need to go for coaching courses and possibly become the first one to coach a top flight team after serving a long jail term,” said Siwela, when the Harare Central Prison inmate got a rare chance to mix and mingle with former national team players, who visited the institution last Wednesday.
Dickson Choto and Tinashe “Father” Nengomasha, both respected for being part of the first Warriors group to qualify for the African Cup of Nations in 2004, were part of the former stars who toured Harare Central Prison.
Former Caps United skipper David Sengu, former Dynamos midfielder Justice “Chief” Majabvi and Devine Sena, who turned out for the now defunct Motor Action, were also part of the crew that visited Harare Central Prison inmates.
This group, which calls itself the Ambassadors, also has the likes of Shingi Kawondera, Stewart Murisa, Kelvin Mushangazhike and Edward Sadomba, as some of its members.
After a short exchange with Majabvi, who is the vice chairman of the Ambassadors, Siwela expressed his coaching desire.
“Football has always been a part of me, ever since the early 1990s when I had a brief stint with Chapungu before my incarceration. “It was around 1992 and I was still a teenager then. I was one of the young guys who had been brought to Chapungu through their network with Gweru schools.
“Maxwell Dube was also part of the juniors, whose school fees were being paid by Chapungu. I remember ‘Pisa Pisa’ (Mlotshwa) also attended Chapungu training sessions for a few weeks before he joined Dynamos. “The likes of Innocent Chogugudza, Nkulumo Donga, Cain and Abel Muteji, Wellington Shangiwa and Gary Mkandawire were some of the established players at Chapungu those days. That team was coached by the late Lovemore “Mukadota” Nyabeza and Misheck Marimo (Chidzambwa),” said Siwela.
He is still active in football, as he is the captain of the Harare Central Prison team that will play the Ambassadors, during the Prisons Day commemoration at Gwanzura on October 5. Majabvi pledged his group’s support to the inmates, before donating a football kit and a match ball to them.
“This visit has taught us not to take life for granted. It is good to have people who do not give up, like Siwela. Once he gets an opportunity to pursue his coaching dream, as the Ambassadors, we will support him in any way we can,” said Majabvi.
To some, a jail sentence is the end of the world. But, for Siwela, there is always a window of opportunity in every dire situation.
When he is not doing some routine chores, Siwela reads newspapers and listens to the radio.
“I follow football news. I can tell you ZPC Kariba went to the top of the Premiership log after drawing 1-1 with Dynamos last Saturday. Caps United play Harare City at Rufaro today (Wednesday) and if Makepekepe win, they also go on top.
“I also follow Chapungu, they have had a decent season so far, but they need to be more consistent,” said Siwela.
