‘You will have the last laugh’ – Super Netsai Moyo recalls difficult times under Bobby Clarke

Highlanders legend, and member of the Club’s 1983 team that went for nine opening league matches without a win under coach Bobby Clarke, Netsai ‘Super’ Moyo believes the current team that has gone on a seven game winless streak is not far away from finding a winning formula.

Moyo, who has had an opportunity to watch the team fail to pick maximum points despite dominating possession and creating glorious scoring chances said the boys should remain positive and tell themselves that they can still turn things around.

The former Bosso defender is of the view that the players must refuse to be held hostage by conspiracy theories doing rounds on social media that the team might be failing to score because of voodoo, adding that such narratives are not helpful to the psychological well-being of the players.

“I have had an opportunity to watch a few matches, they are playing well. They should tell themselves that they can turn things around because they are almost there. I don’t think its (voodoo) the issue. Such narratives actually kill players. They need to keep on pushing. Coaches should also keep on giving them confidence,” said Super.

He spoke highly of the current crop of Highlanders players, which he said should not be associated with relegation, considering that only eight league games have been played so far.

Moyo recalled how they turned the tables after finding themselves in an even worse position in 1983 under coach Clarke. In that particular year, Bosso managed only one draw in their first nine league matches.

Clarke had revolutionised the Highlanders team, injecting a lot of youthful players into his squad, most of whom had been promoted from the club’s junior structures.

“It was in 1983. Bobby Clarke came and retired a couple of senior players like Tymon Mabaleka and Cosmas Zulu. I remember we were being sponsored by Hang Ten, and people will make all sort of jokes about it (that coincidentally we were heading to our tenth league match without a win),” recalled Moyo.

The then 18-year-old forward was not overwhelmed by the club’s predicament, and he attributes this to his age and trust he had on his teammates.

Moyo had confidence in players like the current technical manager Madinda Ndlovu, Willard Khumalo, whom he had flourished with in their Under 18 team that was popularly known as ‘Liverpool’.

“Personally it never (that we had gone for ten matches without a win) affected me. I think it was because I was young. I had just turned eighteen, and I had been only introduced to the senior team together with Willard Khumalo the previous year (1982) at the age of seventeen. I also had confidence with the team. Even the coach believed in us, and he would say to us very often, ‘you will have the last laugh’,” added Moyo.

Clarke went on to guide the team to a fourth place finish, much to the appreciation of a multitude of Highlanders supporters.

His team also had names such as the late Mercedes “Rambo” Sibanda, Peter “Oxo” Nkomo, Sydney Zimunya and Nhamo Shambira.

Clarke left his project to Barry Daka, who went on to guide the the team to the famous 1986 glory that earned them the nickname “Cup Kings and Stars” after winning the Chibuku trophy, Rothmans shield, Natbrew cup, and the Independence trophy.

The team also reached the semi-finals of the BAT Rosebowl and the finals of the Africa cup.

The late Fanuel Ncube,Titus Majola, Alexander Maseko, Abraham Madondo, Tobias Mudyambanje, Dumisani Ngulube, Ronnie Jowa, Tito Paketh, Mpumelelo Dzowa and Amin Soma were also key members of the squad.

 

 

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