The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
Sports Reporter
THE song was released 30 years ago, but it still sounds like it is hot off the press.
It whips up emotions among the Highlanders faithful, invoking sweet memories about the country’s oldest football institution.
A tribute to Highlanders’ yesteryear greats, “Badlala njani” was released by Lovemore “Majaivana” Tshuma in the 1980s at a time when Bosso churned out star players who stole the show in the then Super League.
With a modest 200 000 views on YouTube, the song, however, continues to generate positive comments locally and from the Diaspora.
One follower, Solomon Somane, summed up the song and the spirit it invokes among the Bosso legion in a YouTube comment posted four years ago.
“The spirit that grips Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo at 2.45pm just before Tshilamoya (Highlanders) play will never leave me.
“It’s the only spirit that I would want to haunt me forever. Thanks Lovemore, great song, will never have enough of this.
“Have been to Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge, Anfield, etc, but the emotion and spirit at Barbourfields has been my DNA,” he wrote.
Veteran administrator Ndumiso Gumede, former Bosso goalkeeper Peter “Captain Oxo” Nkomo, Joseph Tembo, Netsai Moyo, Madinda Ndlovu, Tito Paketh and Titus Majola are mentioned in this song.
Majaivana showers praises on Dumisani Ngulube, Richard Ndlovu, Nhamo Shambira, Fanuel Ncube, Douglas “British” Mloyi, Alexander Maseko, Morgan Phiri, Josiah Nxumalo, Tymon Mabaleka and James Nxumalo.
Tommy Masuku, Lawrence Phiri, Barry Daka, Willard Khumalo and Abby Madondo are also some of the Bosso legends mentioned.
Crucially, Majaivana did not forget to celebrate Ernest “Maphepha” Sibanda, one of the finest players to come out of Bosso.
Maphepha later transitioned into an effective team manager and authoritative chairman at the club.
He was the last chairman to guide Highlanders to a Premier Soccer League title in 2006.
Since then, Highlanders have undergone a championship drought.
Sibanda also won battles as Warriors manager, his vast experience coming in handy when Zimbabwe made their second appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in 2006 under Charles Mhlauri.
He formed a dream combination with Sharif Musa that was as cordial as it was effective.
Sadly, Sibanda could not win his long battle against diabetes, as he passed away at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo on Tuesday.
He was 64.
He was buried at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo yesterday.
PSL chief executive Kennedy Ndebele, who worked with Sibanda at Highlanders before landing the top-flight body’s job, describes his time at Bosso as “the best” in his 20-year administrative career.
“Ernest Sibanda was the team manager and I was the secretary-general from 2000 to 2003. To me that is the best period in my entire administrative career.
“We were led by the late James Mangwana-Tshuma who was the chairman, and if you remember, Highlanders dominated the Premiership during that era.
“It was a team effort from Monday to Sunday and we had a wonderful time. We never left anything to chance. I remember we would start preparing for Sunday’s match on a Monday and results were there for everyone to see,” said Ndebele.
Highlanders won four straight league titles between 1999 and 2002.
“Sibanda was a passionate, talented, hardworking, dedicated and devoted football man. A disciplinarian always ready to motivate the boys.
“I shall forever treasure those great moments. The PSL was competitive those days, all the clubs were organised and it was an exciting period.”
Ndebele then took over the chairmanship at Highlanders in 2004 before Sibanda bounced back in that post in 2006, the year Bosso were to win their last championship under the tutelage of Methembe Ndlovu.
Sibanda was also the Warriors manager in 2006, when Zimbabwe made their second appearance at the AFCON finals in Egypt, with Musa as his trusted lieutenant.
Benjani Mwaruwari was the skipper.
The United Kingdom-based Mwaruwari turned 43 on Friday and dedicated his birthday to the late Sibanda.
“I wouldn’t mind honouring him on my birthday for he (Sibanda) was a true football hero,” Mwaruwari told The Sunday Mail Sport.
“With Maphepha, we came a long way. He had a juniors’ team in Mpopoma when we were still growing up in Bulawayo.
“We would later link up at the national team, where he proved his mettle as a good motivator. He had time for everyone; whenever you had a problem at home, you would feel free to tell him.
“I was shocked by his death… good guys go sooner,” he said.
The former Manchester City striker said the late Sibanda called him a few days before he was admitted at Mater Dei Hospital.
“Muzondiwa Mugadza (ex-Warriors keeper) told me Maphepha was looking for my number. The next day he (Sibanda) called me.
“He congratulated me for attaining the UEFA coaching badge. He said, ‘keep on doing well, young man.You are a smooth operator.’ Perhaps it was a way of saying goodbye.
“With Maphepha as manager, you knew everything would be in order. The way he related to players was amazing.
“He also showed his human side on numerous occasions. When my sister died in 2005, he attended the funeral and delivered a speech. I am actually at a loss for words. In fact, words alone cannot describe a legend like Maphepha,” Mwaruwari said.
Former Highlanders star defender Thulani Ncube was a key figure of the dominant Bosso side which ruled the local scene at the turn of the new millennium, with Sibanda as the team manager.
Now based in the United States, Ncube paid tribute to Sibanda in a Facebook post.
“A father, brother and friend to some of us, we have to celebrate all the good memories,” he wrote.
Ageless former Bosso goalkeeper, Tapuwa Kapini, also mourned Sibanda on social media.
“Hero, icon, legend of the game. RIP TOPI. There will be no one like u (you) Topi, safunda okhunengi kuwe. Thank you for everything, best of the best,” said Kapini.
Ex-Dynamos and CAPS United star Cephas Chimedza, who was also part of the 2006 Warriors squad, remembers how Sibanda would play mind games on opponents.
One of those was his famous routine of being the first out of the dressing room and bouncing the ball on the centre of the pitch before matches.
“When he was the team manager of Bosso, I admired him from afar. How he used to bounce the ball on the centre before matches and get the crowd all excited… He was such a character, a guy you would want in your team,” wrote Chimedza on Facebook.
“At AFCON in Egypt after the Senegal match, myself and some other guys decided to drown the stress and reset, so the drinks were put in a cake box to be delivered to my room.
“Maphepha saw it but understood it was needed and he came in the room and said, ‘boys, enjoy your cake but don’t eat too much.” What a guy,” reminisced Chimedza.
