Category: Flashback

25 June: A dark day in the history of Dynamos

The local football fraternity was plunged into mourning today, upon the announcement that legendary former Dynamos coach Misheck ‘Scania’ Chidzambwa had breathed his last.

Sadly, on this very day, 12 months ago, another legend of DeMbare, Biggie Zuze passed away.

The 25th of June, as it turns out to be, is now a dark day in the history of Dynamos.

At a time when the football-loving public ought to be commemorating Zuze’s death, which was sudden and unexpected, it have to deal with another loss, that of our former defender Misheck- brother to our legendary former coach Sunday ‘Mhofu’ Chidzambwa.

Messages of condolences continue to pour in following the loss of Chidzambwa, on a day when Zuze ought to be remembered.

FLASHBACK : Dynamos Fans Perish In Road Accident

Saturday 11 June 2016
SEVEN Dynamos Football Club supporters perished on the spot and 16 were seriously injured when an Iveco Sprinter they were travelling in burst a rear tyre, veered off the road and rolled three times in Battlefields on the Harare-Bulawayo Highway early this morning.

www.dembare.net

They were travelling to Gweru where Dynamos played Chapungu at Ascot Stadium.

Twelve of the injured were taken to Kwekwe General Hospital and four to Kadoma Hospital.

Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said the frequency of accidents caused by tyre bursts was alarming.

“We can confirm that seven people died on the spot and the accident occurred at the 173km peg between Kadoma and Kwekwe near ZRP Battlefields.

“As police we are concerned with the frequency of these accidents and we are urging motorists to check the expiry dates of their tyres. Motorists should also desist from using second-hand tyres; it gets worse if the vehicle is travelling a long distance.”

Sport and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane sent his condolences to the bereaved families.

“The Minister of Sport and Recreation is shocked by the loss of lives of Dynamos supporters who perished (yesterday) at Battlefields on their way to the Dynamos-Chapungu match in Gweru. The minister conveys profound sympathies to the families for the loss and condolences with them during this very difficult time,” he said in a statement.

National Football Association of Zimbabwe president Dr Philip Chiyangwa said it was a dark day for football.

“We are in mourning, our hearts are bleeding. Fans are the ones who make football beautiful and losing some of them in this manner is really painful.

‘‘Our prayers are with the bereaved families and we will see how we can assist them,” he said.

Dynamos president Mr Kenias Mubaiwa, who rushed to the scene of the accident, said: “This is very painful, we are pained. This is a major setback not only to the Dynamos family but the national football family as a whole.

“As Dynamos we will assist the bereaved families as well as support those injured.”

Premier Soccer League chairman Mr Peter Dube urged the football family to unite and pay tribute to the departed supporters.

“We are shocked by the deaths and as a league we feel pained that people who were travelling to watch a soccer match met their fate in such a painful manner. Our deepest thoughts are with the bereaved families and we pray that they find strength in the Lord.

“We are appealing to all football fans to unite in this sad hour and paid tribute to these Dynamos supporters,” said Mr Dube.

Zimbabwe National Soccer Supporters Association life president Mr Eddie “Mboma” Nyatanga appealed to football authorities to provide funeral assistance.

“This is a very sad day for football, what is worse is that the accident happened at a time the fans are in a celebratory mood following the Warriors’ qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations finals last Sunday.

“As the Zimbabwe National Soccer Supporters, we are calling on the football family to unite in mourning these gallant Dynamos supporters.

“This is not a Dynamos funeral, it’s a national football disaster and we are urging the Premier Soccer League and the National Football Association of Zimbabwe to assist the bereaved families.”

The Rise Of Dembare Newboy Tanaka Chidhobha

(As we continue taking a closer look at the new signings at Dembare, here we reproduce this article from The Standard of 4 June 2017 that featured then Prince Edward student, now Glamour Boy Tanaka Chidhobha)

PASS the ball to the number 11,” spectators would scream each time a Prince Edward High School player was in possession during the Hammer & Tongues St George’s Invitational final last week.

BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE

Tanaka Chidhobha (centre) poses for a photo with the Zimbabwe National Army commander Phillip Valerio Sibanda (left) and Hammer & Tongues group chief executive Brian Makwabarara (right) soon after receiving his accolade

(Tanaka Chidhobha (centre) poses for a photo with the Zimbabwe National Army commander Phillip Valerio Sibanda (left) and Hammer & Tongues group chief executive Brian Makwabarara (right) soon after receiving his accolade)

And every time the “number 11” got the ball, he would tease opponents with some astounding dribbling skills and as expected, Prince Edward came out three nil victors over St Ignatius to reclaim the coveted title.

“The number 11” scored a spectacular goal and created another to deservedly scoop the player of the tournament accolade at the fifth edition of the event.

It is no surprise that Prince Edward’s nimble-footed pacey winger Tanaka Chidhobha hails from the traditionally football-rich high-density suburb of Mbare where he began his football career before a scholarship brought him to the PE grounds.

Chidhobha, making his debut at the tournament this year, lit up the two-day event stage with some jaw-dropping dribbling skills, guiding his school to their third win in the competition after winning all their matches from the group stages through to the final.

In an interview with Sports World after the tournament, Chidhobha oozed with the confidence of a footballer who has already figured out where his talents will take him.

“I’m very happy I have been voted player of the tournament and would like to thank my coach for helping me achieve this. I knew I was going to win this award because everyone was talking about me since the tournament started,” the 17-year-old former Chiroodza Primary School student said.

The football prodigy began his career in the dusty streets of Mbare where he honed his dribbling abilities.

Chidhobha started taking football seriously when he was 11 at City Academy, a project which is no longer in existence.

Although he is currently not attached to any of the local clubs, his dream is to play in Europe one day.

“I want to achieve the best. I want to play in Europe, that is my dream. I think it’s possible because my coach always tells me that nothing is impossible,” Chidhobha said.

The lanky forward is a staunch admirer of Chelsea Football Club star Eden Hazard and he tries hard to play like him while locally he idolises CAPS United’s Ronald Chitiyo.

He says he is always trying to improve on his strength, which is to dribble.

“I know that my strength is in dribbling and I work hard in training to improve myself. Working hard in training always makes it easy for me to dribble in matches,” he said.

While Chidhobha feels that St Ignatius were not worthy finalists in the Hammer & Tongues tournament decider, he thanked the sponsor for an opportunity to showcase his skill.

“I thank the sponsors for this tournament because it’s a very good tournament. I enjoyed participating here because some of us got a chance to showcase our talent. I hope they continue sponsoring in years to come,” he said.

Born on January 6 2000, Chidhobha attended Chiroodza Primary School then attended Mbare High School for the first two years of his secondary education.

He then got a scholarship to study at Prince Edward last year. He is in Form 4.