By Sheldon Hakata
THE journey of Zimbabwean football has been long and colourful. From the pre-independence days to the modern era, the sport has etched itself into the daily lives of fans across the country. While standards may have dipped over the years, the passion and loyalty from supporters have remained unwavering.
Supporting a football team goes far beyond entertainment it’s an emotional bond, almost a marriage. The commitment is akin to the vow ’till death do us part’. This enduring connection shows that for many, football is not just a sport; it’s a lifestyle.
There are many reasons why people choose to support a football team. For some, it’s a deep-seated need to belong to a community, a town, a culture.
Others are driven by tradition, supporting the same team as their parents or grandparents. Local pride plays a key role, as does the emotional satisfaction that comes with victory or shared heartbreak in defeat.
Fans aren’t just observers; they are participants. Their loyalty manifests in chants, colours, rituals and even emotional extremes. Behaviour ranges from cheerful support to passionate outbursts, all driven by an intense identification with their club. Traits like diligence, directness, and emotional expressiveness often stand out in these dedicated followers.
For many, football is deeply personal. As cheerleader, CheMhofela, recalls:“Personally, it links me to a wonderful childhood growing up in Mbare in the 1980s. I remember riding on top of buses with friends, and sometimes my father lifted me onto his shoulders so I could see everything. The crowd, the noise, the colours
— it was magical. That’s why I continued supporting Dynamos into adulthood and took my own children to matches.” Such stories illustrate how football becomes woven into the fabric of one’s identity. It’s about community, tradition and continuity.
Zimbabwean football owes its lifeblood to its fans. Over the years, legendary support has come from the faithful of Highlanders, Dynamos,
CAPS United, the colourful ‘Ndochi’ Blackpool fans, and Pisa Pisa supporters of Gweru United who celebrated victories by burning paper in the stands.
Barbourfields’ Soweto Stand in Bulawayo and the Vietnam Stand of Rufaro Stadium in Harare have long been iconic gathering points for the most passionate fans, especially during the fierce ‘Battle of Zimbabwe’ clashes between
perennial arch-rivals Bosso and DeMbare. These rivalries, while often intense, were largely about football bragging rights and nothing else.
Match days would split Harare into a green CAPS half and a blue Dynamos half. Fans came armed with stories, trivia and statistics, forming a living archive of football folklore.
Many in the football fraternity argue that the game peaked during the 1980s. That era, under the chairmanship of Nelson ‘Jumbo Jet’ Chirwa and with British American Tobacco (BAT) sponsorship, brought high-quality football to every corner of the country.
Numerous knockout tournaments like the ZIFA Castle Cup, Chibuku Trophy, BAT Rosebowl, and Rothmans Shield added to the excitement. Iconic coaches such as Obediah ‘Wasu’ Sarupinda, Gibson ‘Homes’ Homela, Lovemore ‘Mukadota’ Nyabeza, and Mick Poole graced the touchlines.
Referees like Felix Sanyika, Paul Pretorius, and later Felix Tangawarima, who rose to continental and international fame, upheld the integrity of the game.
Meanwhile, sports journalists like Allan Hlathwayo, Sam Marisa, Jahoor Omar, Limukani Dube, helped build the legend through their vivid reporting.
Commentators brought games to life — Choga Gavhure’s famous “Zvinhuzvaita manyamaamirenerongo!”still rings in the ears of thousands of aedent soccer fans,
while Nesbert Nasasara, Evans Mambara and Charles Mabika added flair and drama.
Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980 brought fresh hope and sport thrived. Football was finally back on the international stage. The national
team’s first major post-independence triumph came with a win over Zambia, featuring legends like Sunday Marimo (Chidzambwa), David Mandigora, Oliver Kateya and Shacky Tauro.
While this new dawn marked the end of an era for stars like George Shaya and Chita Antonio, it also heralded the rise of new icons.
In the 1980s, Dynamos were the dominant force, winning the league in 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, and
1989. They weren’t just coasting, they faced fierce challenges from teams like Rio Tinto, Gweru United and Arcadia United.
Dynamos’ success stemmed from a rich squad that included Japhet ‘Short Cat’ Mparutsa, the Marimo brothers Sunday and Misheck, Moses and Kembo Chunga, and Oliver Kateya. Their biggest challenge came from Black Rhinos, an army side formed in 1982, which disrupted their dominance by winning the league in 1984 and 1987.
CAPS United, affectionately known as ‘The Cup Kings’, boasted midfield maestros like Joel Shambo, Stanford ‘Stix’ Mtizwa, and Shacky Tauro. Their
attacking brilliance made them the team
to beat in knockout competitions.
Rio Tinto’s super-fit squad featured talents like Ephert ‘Chimamuna’ Lungu and Joseph Zulu — who was named among the Soccer Stars of the Year finalists no less than 10 times. Gweru United’s PisaPisahad crowd favourites like Ashton Mhlanga and Wonder Chaka.
Meanwhile, the beautiful game lived on in Bulawayo with the passing artistry of Zimbabwe Saints and the hard-nosed
style of Black Aces, while Wankie FC (now Hwange FC) offered one of the toughest away fixtures.
The 1990s brought what many call the golden generation, the Dream Team.
Under German coach Reinhard Fabisch, the national side galvanised the entire country, delivering memorable victories, like the 4-1 thrashing of South Africa
at the National Sports Stadium. Peter Ndlovu’s stunning goal in that game is etched in memory.
That team featured Bruce Grobbelaar,
Madinda and Peter Ndlovu, Rahman Gumbo, Norman Mapeza and Agent Sawu. The unity it fostered across racial and ethnic lines was unprecedented. Sadly, they narrowly missed out on AFCON 1992 qualification, falling to a Kalusha Bwalya header in a heart-breaking moment for the nation.
Over time, many great clubs — Rio Tinto, Gweru United, Arcadia United — have faded, while Dynamos, Highlanders, CAPS United and Hwange have continued to endure. The quality may not be the same, but the spirit endures.
There’s still hope. A return to strong administration, grassroots development, and meaningful sponsorships could bring Zimbabwean football back to its glory days.
The fans are still here. The stories, the songs, the rivalries, they’ve never left.
They are the beating heart of the game. Football in Zimbabwe lives on because of them.