LAST Sunday was unforgettable for legendary former Zimbabwe and Highlanders football star Madinda Khathazile Ndlovu — the oldest of the three football brothers, Peter and the late Adam — who left an indelible mark on the local football landscape. BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
Madinda, a quick and immensely talented winger during his heydays — from independence to mid-1990s — was in the starting line-up of the Zimbabwe legends’ exhibition match against Barcelona legends at the National Sports Stadium.
Young brother Peter Ndlovu — who lit up the English Premier League at his peak and guided the Warriors to their maiden Africa Cup of Nations — captained the side that drew 2-2 on a colourful afternoon the Zimbabwe football fraternity celebrated its own legends.
In the midst of all the pomp and fanfare, an emotional Madinda, who entertained the capacity crowd with his footwork before he was replaced by Agent Sawu, could not help but wish that his late brother Adam was around to also enjoy the afternoon.
“Brilliant afternoon. You can see how everybody was just happy. We didn’t just play an ordinary team, we played a team that is dominating in the world with great names and great players and it’s an overwhelming experience,” Madinda said in an interview with The Sports Hub after the match.
“This is a day when you wish some people could have been able to be part of it, like my brother Adam. He is one boy who could have added colour to this whole event, but we have to thank the Lord that Peter survived the accident that took Adam and he was here as our captain. But what Adam did for Zimbabwean football will never be forgotten and will stay in our hearts forever.”
Adam — a striker who represented Zimbabwe 34 times between 1992 and 2004 — died in December 2012 in Victoria Falls in a car crash while travelling with Peter, who survived the accident.
His football career took off from Highlanders to Swiss clubs SC Kriens, SR Delémont and FC Zürich in Europe as well as Moroka Swallows, Dynamos and Free State Stars in South Africa.
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“However, it’s not our family that has contributed to Zimbabwe football but all these guys here have contributed so much to development of football in this country and today was to celebrate each one of them,” the Botswana-based coach said.
Madinda spoke about the memories he has had at the giant National Sports Stadium in his football career.
“My first memory of this place is the fact that I was one of the players who opened this stadium when Highlanders played against CAPS United in the late 1980s. I have cried here, won games as player and coach; there are a lot of memories but this [the exhibition match] was all about uniting all Zimbabweans. It was all about seeing people that played football a long time ago meeting in a happy mood, not like what we always do — meeting at funerals.
“It should be done more often, depending on how the organisers can make us happy and I think we are very much in a position to give ourselves to such an initiative.”
The football legend has been coaching in the Botswana top flight league for the past 10 years and is currently managing Orapa United.
Ndlovu holds the record for winning three consecutive league titles in Botswana, twice with Mochudi Centre Chiefs and another with Township Rollers Football Club between 2012 and 2014.
