The Sunday Mail
Don Makanyanga
Sports Reporter
ANYONE who has been in contact with Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu will attest to his strength of character and an over-the-top personality.
He is a jovial fellow, always quick with a joke and there is a never dull moment in his presence.
He can be a bit talkative at times, and his interview with The Sunday Mail Sport from his Bulawayo base, lasted the entirety of a football match (90 minutes).
Now 71 years old, the former Highlanders, AmaZulu, Railstars and Zimbabwe Saints coach has a combined 53 years of football experience and is one of the most decorated yet underrated coaches on the local scene.
Of the 53 years he has been in football, “Tsano” spent 40 years in the dugout, and has amassed 32 winners’ medals.
His playing days’ pale in comparison to that of his illustrious coaching career.
“In my 40-year coaching career, I have been in most of the cup finals that have been played in this country.
“In that time I have won 28 Cup finals, and four championship medals, and could very well be one of the most decorated coaches on the local scene,” he said.
Humility has never been his strong suit.
Zulu, a former striker in his playing days, also happens to be one of the longest serving coaches not only at Highlanders, but in the country.
“I started off as a player/assistant coach at Highlanders, back in 1981, and I am currently employed as the goalkeepers’ coach by Ngezi Platinum Stars.”
Zulu began as a player/assistant coach to Lawrence Phiri at Highlanders in 1981, a role he would also serve under Scottish expatriate, Bobby Clarke and Barry Daka until the early 1990s.
It was then he was elevated to the Bulawayo giants’ technical manager role in the early 90s, a role he would later quit in 1995.
Bosso are a club he had an on and off relationship with yet much of Zulu’s success stories as a coach were achieved while with the Bulawayo giants.
“I am the longest serving coach in the history of Highlanders, and there is no coach who has won as many trophies as I have done with Bosso.
“It is with Highlanders that I have won almost everything. I have numerous cup finals medals with Highlanders and two Championship medals that I won in 1990 and 1993,” said Zulu.
Despite all this, the 1996 Division One and 2003 league championship title with AmaZulu are the two titles that Zulu holds dear and closest to his heart.
“Despite valuing my medals in the same way, the titles I won with AmaZulu remain my most cherished treasure,” said Zulu.
Now a specialist goalkeeping coach, Zulu revealed how it all started.
“Back then we did not have goalkeepers’ coaches, it was only until Clarke came into Zimbabwe and asked me to be a goalkeepers’ coach that my story began.
“It was something new, and it didn’t take much convincing for me to take up the offer.
“I doubled up as an assistant coach and goalkeepers coach, until I was appointed the technical manager of Highlanders.
“In 1992 I was chosen as the best coach in the country, which saw me being attached to Coventry City Football Club in the UK together with two players Benjamin Nkonjera and Simon Tshuma.
“This was an eye opening experience in terms of my coaching and football administration,” said Zulu.
But how has he survived the football jungle for four decades?
Zulu had a one-word answer . . . professionalism.
“What has kept me all these years in football is professionalism.
“I started my footballing career at 1615hours on January 20, 1967 and I have 53 years of an uninterrupted journey.
“This professionalism is premised on three Ds: Discipline, Devotion and Dedication. With these in your pocket you can achieve anything in life,” said Zulu.
But how did the name Tsano come about?
“I was born in Masvingo and when my father retired from the mine where he was working we moved to Mt Darwin.
“It was there that my elder sister came and took me to Bulawayo.
“I went to a training session at Hartsfield Grounds, and by then I didn’t understand any Ndebele. When we were practicing, and wanted the ball, I would shout ‘Tsano’.
“That is how that name came about, and it has stuck with me to this day,” said Zulu.
He revealed that apart from football, he is a motivational speaker, comedian and a journalist.
Asked why he is always cracking jokes, Tsano said: “You use less muscles when you smile and laugh than when you are angry, hence I like to see people smiling”.
When football finally resumes after the long Covid-19 induced hiatus, Zulu will be hoping that he can add another championship medal to his trophy cabinet, this with the ambitious Ngezi Platinum Stars.
