Saturday, December 29, 2012

Highlanders pulled out of Rhodesian league in 1976

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The History of Highlanders

1976 - Highlanders got dissatisfied with the
national administration led by Mr. John Madzima
and pulled out of the RNFL and formed the South
Zone Soccer League (SZSL). Some disgruntled

senior members of the team broke away from
Highlanders to form their own club, Olympics.
They even took the Black&White strip. But
... highlanders survived. The teams that formed the
nucleus of the SZSL were Black Chiefs, Callies,
Portuguese, Old Miltonians and Highlanders (all
from Byo.), Black Horrors (Plumtree), Ramblers
(Gwanda), and Go Beer Rovers (Gwelo).
1979 - most Harare-based clubs saw the wisdom
of Highlanders' decision and lent their support to
the club against the injusticies of the national
association, i.e. unfair gate takings distribution,
improper methods of accounting of finances, and
that certain teams were being favoured. The

National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) was
then formed as a result.
1980 - NPSL and the RNFL were merged to form
Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA).
1986 - a group of senior players left after falling
out with the executive over money. Apprentices
were upgraded to the senior team. Players who
included the likes of Rahman Gumbo, Mercedes
Sibanda, Willard "Nduuuna" Mashinkila-Khum­alo,
Madinda Ndlovu, Dumisani Ngulube and many
others. In Zimbabwe players from Highlanders
who have played at the highest level of
professional football in the world include players
like Peter Ndlovu and Bruce Grobelaar

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Betty Makoni Pays tribute to the late Nomqhele Tshili

Betty Makoni a founder of girls child network and champion of young women has paid tribute to both Nomqhele Tshili And Adam Ndlovu. This is what I she said in her blog. (I just thought this was worth sharing)

Since the death of Adam Ndlovu was announced, I am touched to imagine what his family must be going through. I was moved like many in the world. I kept hearing though that when this accident happened there was also a 24 year old woman who died in the same car. A day or so after, I learnt from a young woman via inbox Facebook that some Zimbabweans had posted many nasty things on the news sites many of which were directed to this young woman. How sad and in our culture it is a taboo to be this disrespectful.
I do not stop on one side of the story and so I researched on who exactly Nomqhele Tshili was. First point of call I googled her. As you know even what I google about someone and especially posted by another unreliable source is not what I take with full heart. I went to her Facebook page and luckily she was a friend of one of the young women on my page. I followed her page since she opened it and from there I came up with the following story.
Nomqhele Tshili was a single mum and her daughter`s photo in uniform is the first to capture my mind since I work for girls. She is her mum`s exact duplicate-look alike. I just thought how people could so easily not choose to send condolences to a nine year old girl and choose to attack her deceased mum. In all her status updates she sounded a very spiritual young woman who uses the bible to seek for answers and it looks like she posted something that made her stay strong one of which is, `Lord Jesus you are the pillar that holds my life.` Later on, as I scrolled down her Facebook page I realised she was in fact a graduate in Bible Studies.

In following her daily posts on Facebook I discovered like many young women she had challenges but she was so determined to forge ahead with her life and she posted `It’s time to let go of e past, before it affects e future. Gudnyt people.` What I like about Nomqhele Tshili is that always she found reason to move ahead with her life and all her postings show exactly she self motivated herself daily. She wanted the future to be best which many of us do not think about.
As one reads deeper into her thoughts I shared deep sadness when she paid tribute to her late mum and the message she posted in May read like `Msng someone who wl alwys b loved. Today its e 9th year since she left m. Wl alwys her, my mum.` This message tells me she lost her mum when she was about 13 years and she might have faced many struggles as an orphaned girl and therefore to have a degree and lead in a church is quite an achievement.

I always try and find out about young women like Nomqhele Tshili. I always want to learn about their daily challenges which many do not talk about. There are many who die in tragic situations like her and society should know these young women may not be heroes like some men with big names but their daily triumphs show heroism. In this young woman, I saw a single mum determined to achieve. I saw a graduate and I saw an orphaned girl who keeps strength. In her case she found the church a place to be and it is now people in her church who will come and celebrate her spirituality.
On behalf of all girls I give strength to her daughter and hopefully all family members will unite and support her till she reaches her potential as a woman leader. One day when her daughter googles she will know women like me paid tribute and wished her peaceful rest. Our heroes are not big names only. Our heroes are young women who struggle daily.
I also say rest in peace Adam Ndlovu and I followed you from way back as you did us proud as a nation. Such heroic deeds leave pleasant memories.
Peter Ndlovu wishing you a speedy recovery.

This article is a direct extract from Betty Makoni's blog!

Sunday, December 23, 2012

A closer look at the Ndlovu brothers tragedy



 
Last Sunday the whole  nation of Zimbabwe woke up to a shocking headlines that Adam Ndlovu is no more. Adamski as he was affectionately known by his fans, died travelling to a friendly soccer match in Victoria Falls in the early hours of the morning. The car  they were travelling in allegedly burst the tire and veered of the road killing him and a young lady by the name Nomqhele Tshili 24. Peter Ndlovu who was the driver of the vehicle was taken to the hospital in serious condition. Sources say he broke some ribs and both legs during the accident that  ripped about three trees not to far from the Victoria falls airport. Tshili is alleged to be have been Peter's girl friend. Ndlovu later stabilized while Nomqhele was buried in her home area Esiphezini, not too far from Bulawayo last Tuesday.

Police have not yet released their report but, Adam Ndlovu was laid to rest yesterday on Saturday in Bulawayo. Thousands of people from various walks of life were witness to the heroic send off of one of the greatest soccer stars the country has ever produced. Dignitaries, churches and politicians from all spheres of influence made sure to register their support to the Ndlovu family especially Peter and Madinda. The three brothers were a bad combination during the 90s both as Highlanders and Zimbabwe national strikers. While Adams was the least popular of the three, he had remarkable career especially as marksman to the  famous Reinhard Fabish's "Dream team".

 It must be mentioned that the famous national side had at least eight Highlanders players, and naturally, this did not go well with people from the other side of the country. They were grumbling and complaining, despite the fact that the team achieved a tremendous  historic success. It would be to petty to talk about the fierce rivalry for supremacy between Highlanders and Dynamos in those days. As a matter of fact this still exist even to this very day. So given that fact, the three Ndlovu brothers completely and almost single handed destroyed Dynamos. They did not want to hear about Dembare, beating them home and away, most of the times. Clinching major titles and cups. If you are true Zimbabwean you know that humiliating Dembare like that is an unforgivable sin. It will take along time for the capital city's darling team fans to forget that period in history. On the other side this trio earned Bulawayo and Matabeleland's soccer royalty, even though they we darling in the national colors too.

Almost all of them have had the opportunity to coach the national team at different stages, except Adam. He a was now the head coach of Chicken Inn at  the time of his death. Madinda and Peter have coached under 23 and the senior national team in various level and season. I did not talk about Peter great exploits both locally and a broad. No one person in Zimbabwe has dedicated his life to the sport both as a player and an ambassador than Peter Ndlovu. In short the Ndlovu name is a big name in Zimbabwe's football. More powerful than local and national politicians. That is why every political party took it upon themselves to publicly show sympathy to the Ndlovu at such terrible time. Everybody and their uncle wanted a piece of not only Adam, but of the Ndlovus at large. I will not mention names.


It is also amazing that most people from Matabeleland wanted Adam to be declared a national hero. Personally, I think that was pushing it a little bit too far. Lest anybody get me wrong, I am great fan for the Ndlovus and the entire Highlanders institute.  It seem to me that Bulawayo and Matebeleland people are so frustrated in many ways, especially politically and economically. Its a fact we are the poorest region, and our people lose jobs every day, and to make matters worse we see Harare and other regions prospering daily. It has been like that for many years. I do not blame anybody for the frustration at all. We saw our fathers being frustrated, and now we the children are seeing the reality of regionalism and tribalism is action, and God forbid that we are not frustrated. Its real, not imagined. Given this back ground, I  think as much as we have been marginalized from all angle, we have tended to oppose everything that the other side says.

Sadly this happens on minor issue more that important ones. The city of Bulawayo has no water, and nobody says a word, yet people are uniting their efforts to have Adam declared a national hero. I have no doubt in my mind that Adam and many other players are sports heroes. They are celebrated heroes whether declared or not, but for us to major on the minors is losing sight on the big picture. Rest in peace Adamski. You played your role!

To be continued!