By Noah Pomo– Zimba Wave Media, Harare
Peter Ndlovu and Charles Mabika in clash of the dazzlers interview.
Castrol released a video Town House style interview of decorated former Warriors Captain and EPL legend Peter Ndlovu. The interview was conducted by legendary football commentator, Charles Mabika. Castrol sponsored a free viewing of the EPL trophy in Harare recently. Ndlovu accompanied the trophy to Harare.
Ndlovu holds the accolade of being the first African EPL player in 1992 when the centuries old competition rebranded to become the Premier League. His peer, the decorated Bruce Grobelaar was now prematurely in the twilight of his own career which began in England with Liverpool before joining Southampton.
One of the greatest midfielders in the England, the Scottish international, Graeme Souness (Liverpool), played with Kenny Dalglish, Bruce Grobelaar, Alan Hansen and John Barnes. When Souness retired in 1989 he returned to Scotland to coach Rangers.
When Championship winning coach Kenny Dalglish quit Liverpool midseason in 1991 due to stress caused by the Hillbrow disaster, Souness replaced him. Souness dismantled Dalglish’s winning side. He bought a young David James to replace legendary goalkeeper Bruce Grobelaar, still at his peak, as seen by his international form for Zimbabwe. In a few seasons Liverpool realized they were not going anywhere with Souness and fired him. It would be 30 years before Liverpool won the league again. Souness was wrong to think James could succeed and emulate Grobelaar. James got the nickname “Calamity James’ for his howlers.
Souness benching Grobelaar in 1992 ensured Ndlovu became the first African player to play in the re-branded English Premier League at 17 with Coventry city. Ndlovu shed more light on his debut in the interview with Mabika:
“I blended well with the youth team until 1992 and learned more about the game. I appreciate Coventry giving me a contract. I was surrounded by nice good professionals that helped me adapt to the weather.”
Ndlovu comes from a family of some of Zimbabwe’s best forwards. Madinda dazzled Highlanders and Zimbabwe in the 1980s. His younger brother Adam was next to break out as an outright goal scorer and scorer of great goals. Peter surely had his work cut out to succeed his celebrated and talented siblings. The pressure was on, or so we thought
Mabika said Arsenal came to sign Ndlovu but Coventry closed the door. “It was just speculation and transfer gossip. 4 million pounds was offered. Now a good player goes for 120m. it’s a transformation from our days. It was an honor for me that a team like Arsenal came after me. The strange one was Liverpool. I had a chance to speak to Liverpool. Coventry’s Bobby Gould treated me like a son. When Liverpool came for me, he said: ‘Speak to them and give me their offer.’ Liverpool offered me 3 years. He said ‘You are the chief of Coventry. Let’s compare the offers.’ They offered me a 4-year contract matching Liverpool’s 3 year offer.”
On his 1990 debut against Dynamos Ndlovu said: “It felt great. When I was 8 or 9 I was already playing against under 14s and sometimes Under 16s. It was easy for me because I was used to the kicks from the big guys. The opponents made me a clever player by kicking me. You would see opponents resorting to bandages to avoid playing against me. My mum feared for me and said: ‘They willl break my son’s legs!’ By the way my mum is 95 years old and I am so grateful she is still with us. We lost our father when I was 10 years old. My mum raised 11 of us alone.”
Mabika complained jokingly: “Every time you had the ball cutting inside I would shout my voice hoarse and I got tired of saying it’s a goal. 4 or 5 times my voice would be gone the third time.”
Charles Mabika’s commentary in its infancy enlivened radio with a voice that poetically narrated the action. Unfair comparisons followed him as he succeeded Evans Mambara on Radio one and the vernacular legends.
Mabika’s career was boosted particular by the emergence of Madinda’s younger siblings, in my view. Great journalists have emerged while cracking a breaking story. It’s all about the story. And so Mabjka’s earlier commentary on Adam and Peter sounded too good to be true, until they backed it up with goals. Mabika was onto something.
Ndlovu’s first season in the Premier League was no fluke. He was that good. He scored 34 electric goals and had 13 assists in 154 games. His 3 goals at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium (94/95) broke a 30-year old record which was only recently equaled in a game against Brighton. Ndlovu was a force of nature pursued by Arsenal and Liverpool. Coventry dramatically denied to sell their valuable asset.
On the Liverpool away hat trick he said: “I was not aware of the record. Ron Atkinson was the coach. He asked a repeat of the Leeds game and I said I will do better today. Small teams are motivated against big teams. Our chairman offered a winning bonus. It was very relaxed and a proud moment for me. I later learned it had been 30 years since a player scored a hat trick at Anfield. We appreciate the history as an African boy. I knew I had support from my family and my fellow Zimbabweans. Andrey Ashravin and Leandro Trossard have since equaled Peter’s achievement.”
Often overlooked are his 100 caps for Zimbabwe and 38 goals. He led spearheaded African Cup of Nations And World Cup campaigns for Zimbabwe from around 90/91. In 2003 he became the first captain to successfully lead The Warriors Afcon 2004 and then in 2006.
A fan called R Dube asked Ndlovu: “Against Cameroon at Afcon you took on Rigobert Song a proud moment. Do you have any goal from the Warriors that you feel proud of scoring?”
Ndlovu answered: “Difficult one. I would say the South African game. We had been talking about their first game from sanctions for almost a year. Footballers overthink. They try too hard. The South African goal stands out to me.”
This response was surprising for one who scored so many great goals. It was a great goal, that began with Ndlovu and an SA defender chasing a ross field ball. Ndlovu outran the Saouth African before dribbling past his marker, then dribbling his way between 2 defenders and then sending a pass from his right foot to his left, then tapping in with his left past a bemused South African goalie. Ndlovu utilized his unknown status in South Africa’s first game since the end of apartheid and its sporting exile.
Mabika said: “You got to see it to believe it. It’s world class. Iwas doing commentary as well. He swept past the entire South African defence from the left flank as if they were not there. The Diego Maradona goal against England after the Hand of God. Mark Anderson was SA keeper playing for Chiefs. I don’t know what he did. He did an Ali shuffle. Mark Anderson was coming. He slid it. I kept saying in the commentary box: “No I can’t believe it.” 10 times. The producer said: “Charles we have had it. Move on!”
That goal and his career in England ended his unknown status decisively. From there Ndlovu
was a marked man, not always ethically. He was marked by all means necessary.
His goal in a 2-1 win against Angola was my all-time favorite. Ndlovu’s strike rate is understated. One chance, one goal. He got a pass while facing his own goal in the opposition half. He didn’t need to look behind his shoulder to feel the arms of his marker on his body. There was nowhere to run. That is, until he pretended to sprint with his controlling pass. The defender knew if he didn’t take off with Ndlovu he wouldn’t catch him. The Angolan anticipated the take-off of Ndlovu and took off on a sprint. Except Ndlovu didn’t sprint with the ball. He killed the ball and flicked it almost waist height and stayed on the same spot despite a left leg faint feint. Ndlovu controlled the ball from the left wing waltzed into the arc of the box with a quick pass to John Phiri on the right of midfield for Zimbabwe before a quick and short return pass found Ndlovu who was approaching the 18-yard box and placed the ball to keeper’s right from the arc of the box with the winner.
Agent Sawu had scored the first goal from a Henry Mckop free kick. Angola equalized before Ndlovu scored the winner. Faulty memories insist no one would score after Agent Sawu. Not on this day. Amazingly video footage of this goal was edited just after Ndlovu’s dummy flick which would have made interesting viewing of the 1993 match. The feint and flicks seem to have been entirely lost unlike the South Africa goal.
Peter scored 4 in a match against Swaziland in 2004. Mabika said: “Again, I got tired of saying: ‘Peter Ndlovu: it’s a goal.’ I said it 4 times.’’
Mabika expressed a desire to see Ndlovu coach Zimbabwe.
Ndlovu said: “It is my intention to come back and give something back as a coach or advisor but the systems have to be in place. I was happy to play in the Premier League but I appreciate Castrol for bringing me close to the trophy. I was never close. It is the first time I have been close to it after playing so many years. The support for English teams here is unbelievable. People fight and become friends again”
Such a combination of International and European club success is definitely rare for anyone. It’s either or. Some games came within 24hrs on 2 continents, with Ndlovu going from Stadium to airport to airport to another stadium so often he missed games due to jet lag.
Ndlovu then faced audience questions.
Question 1: “You are my legends. In 1992 when you scored a wonderful game against South Africa are you ambidextrous? Do you kick with both legs?’
Ndlovu answered: “When I was at Highlanders all my goals where with my right foot. I asked the coach why? I will do everything with my left foot. Ali Baba was baffled. He said: ‘I just want you to score goals.’ That season I scored mostly with my left. I was born right footed but my left is now stronger. I can also write with both hands. Most of my 100 goals were scored with my left.”
Mabika corrected Ndlovu: “It’s actually 111!”
Question 2: “Being a 17 years old in England. How did you get on in Coventry in winter?”
PN: “I hate the heat. The weather was good for me. I loved playing on the snow. I went with my brother once and he was struggling with the weather. It was easier for me because I prefer the weather. I am a Liverpool supporter. 100%. This trophy is coming back to me.”
Mabika invited Ndlovu’s wife Lerato for the closing moments.
