By Sheldon Hakata
THE largest ethnic group in Zimbabwe is collectively known as the Shona and consists of sub-groupings of the Manyika, Zezuru, Karanga, Korekore and Ndau, making-up about 76 percent of the country’s indigenous population.
The second largest ethnic group is the Ndebele, which is about 18 percent of the population.
About two percent of the population is of non-African origin, mainly European, Asian and Coloureds.
Coloureds are a phenotypically diverse group of people descended from historically and culturally diverse backgrounds who held an intermediate status in the Rhodesian hierarchy that was distinct from the white and African populations.
The first group of Coloureds to settle in the country consisted mainly of people descended from ‘mixed race’ unions from Mozambique,often termed asimilado, roughly meaning people born out of the assimilation of two races, mostly white and black.
One prominent product of this community is the late midfield maestro Hamid Dhana, born on May 26 1958 in the ‘Coloured’ suburb of Braeside of Salisbury, now Harare.
A former soccer star at Dynamos, Arcadia and later Black Rhinos, Dhana was one of the finest midfielders and a multi-talented footballer.
He was also a soccer coach in his later years.
Dhana was midfielder of note to both club and country. He was blessed with immense ball skills, great ball control, vision and a cultured left foot which sprayed many defence-splitting passes. Dhana scored some spectacular goals from long range.
He will always be remembered for his distinctive and fascinating turn arounds, with the ball firmly under control. He was good at producing defence-splitting passes to the likes of Gift ‘Ghetto’ Mpariwa, Oliver Kateya, Stanley ‘Sinyo’ Ndunduma and Jerry ‘Dzungu Man’ Chidawa, to mention but a few.
‘Midz’, as Dhana was also called by his legion of fans, was unquestionably one of the most dexterous players to ever ply his trade on Zimbabwe’s pitches. He was not a defensive shield but one given the licence to roam around the field creating openings and chances for strikers. He did all this very diligently.
Dhana would move smoothly up-field looking for openings to cause mayhem to the opposition defences.
Then, of course, there was that incomparable back body swerve where he would be facing his own goal, and all of a sudden his marker would stumble following that amazing twist.
The midfield magician’s power was mainly concentrated in his left leg; that special foot which helped him craft a career in football.
“Dhana was not one of those ordinary players, but an all-time great,” according to former teammate Charlie Jones.
Hamid played for Arcadia United alongside his late elder brother, Majid Dhana, Carlos ‘Murehwa’ Max, Mike ‘Mabhurugwa’ Abrahams, Bethal Salis, Charles ‘Kabhasikoro’ Jones and Shaun Charters, among others.
At Dynamos, he formed a solid midfield partnership with David ‘Yogi’ Mandigora, in a team that included goalkeeper Japhet ‘Short Cat’ M’parutsa and Kembo Chunga, to mention but a few.
For one to make it into Arcadia, Dynamos and Black Rhinos teams of the 1980s, he simply had to be good. There was no room for mediocrity. Those who were not good enough would simply be exposed at training sessions and cast away from the stars.
He was so at Dynamos, back in the days when ‘DeMbare’ represented greatness in club football. That was long before the Glamour Boys were reduced to this shell they are today.
‘Muzukuru’ was loved for the value he brought to their beloved Dynamos. That cultured left foot helped them to maintain their status as the dominant football club in the domestic premiership.
His departure to Black Rhinos, along with other stars, moulded the army side into a formidable force.
Black Rhinos, aka ‘Chauya Chipembere’, captured the championship in 1984. It was the first team after independence to actually stop Dynamos from winning the league championship, something the ‘Chazunguza’ had monopolised from 1980 to 1983.
However, Dynamos stormed back to winning the championship back in 1985, after finding an innovative jewel in their crown in the form of Moses ‘Bambo’, ‘Razor Man’ Chunga. They defended the title again the following year.
Once their juggernaut was stopped by the Dhana-marshalled midfield at Black Rhinos who snatched their second league title in 1987.
Stanford ‘Stix’ Mtizwa and Dhana, at Black Rhinos were in one of their finest forms to beat Zambian club Power Dynamos in the Champions League.
“I played against him when he was at Arcadia United and I was at CAPS United. Then we met at Black Rhinos during its formation in 1982. I was part of the formation but, unfortunately did not play due contractual issues with CAPS United until 1984,” M’tizwa told The Patriot.
“We played in the Champions League and I remember beating Power Dynamos. We were the first to beat them in Zambia, and we made history. They had nine players in the Zambian national men’s football team, the likes of the Musonda brothers, Emy and Michael, Alex Chola, Peter Kaumba and Lucky Msiska. The team was coached by Praise Mwila, first Zambian export who played at Aston Villa. We won 2-0 in Lusaka and drew one all to qualify for the quarter-finals. I remember having a terrific combination with Joel Shambo at CAPS United which replicated with Dhana at Black Rhinos.”
Dhana was a top class player who won the league title with Dynamos in 1982, before winning league and a cup double for Black Rhinos in 1984.
‘Midz’ ended his career at army side Black Rhinos where he won the championship in their first year with several other players like M’tizwa, Stanley ‘Sinyo’ Ndunduma and Gift ‘Shaft’ Makoni, among others.
Dhana died on September 29 2019 at the age of 61 after a long battle with colon cancer.
He is survived by his wife Bridget, six children and 11 grandchildren.
May his dearly departed soul rest in eternal peace!
