Oliver Kateya
By Lovemore Dube 30/11/2022
FOR one who went to school and played football with the likes of Rodrick Muganhiri, Chita Antonio, Shacky Tauro and Peter Augustino, it does not come as a surprise what Oliver Kateya got to be.
Coached by Ndumiso Gumede in the last years of the 1960s, Kateya’s Highfields High School was a powerhouse in football. They swept all what came before them and in the end provided the country with top professionals in a number of fields including sport.
Kateya who grew up in Harare, started off as a striker and established himself in Boys Clubs at Mai Musodzi and Stodart Hall while playing with equally talented youngsters. Because of limited entertainment opportunities, football was the main attraction for boys who wanted to show off their skills and machismo.
After leaving High School Kateya joined Metal Box who with Arcadia, Dynamos, Mangula, Chibuku Shumba and Mashonaland United were among the top clubs in the country.
At Metal Box, Kateya rubbed shoulders with the likes of Sunday Chidzambwa and Antonio.
Their most memorable year was 1973 when they won the regional league championship. That earned them the ticket to face Highlanders FC who had emerged tops in the South Region and were 4-1 winners of the national play-off.
In 1974, Kateya top scored nationally with 62 goals and with the team collapsing due to sponsorship challenges, Dynamos became his preferred choice where he met a galaxy of stars who were key in defining attacking and flowing football in Zimbabwe led by George ‘Master Mind’ Shaya.
Clever Hunda, David George, Shaw Handriade,Shadreck Ngwenya, Kuda Muchemeyi, Matthew Mwale, John Revai, Daniel Dididi Ncube were some of the very gifted players at the club.
Sterling performances in 1976 saw Dynamos pick up several trophies, the league title, Castle Cup in which they beat Zimbabwe Saints 8-0 and the BAT Rosebowl.
A giant that had shown its might in the 1960s when with players like Jimmy Finch, Shaya, Fred Mukwesha, Bernard Marriot, Josiah Akende and Alois Meskanos, had bounced back to roar teams like Salisbury Callies, Chibuku, Metal Box and Highlanders who had appeared to run away with honours in the early to mid 1970s.
With Murape having taken over from FA Badge holder Morrison Sifelani as coach, Kateya was moved to leftback, a development that through rising Edward Katsvere and opportunity to come in on the left wing of the Dynamos attack in around 1978.
Dynamos won the 1978 championship, surrendered it to Caps Rovers in 1979 before winning it four times on the road in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983.
Black Rhinos stole it in 1984 and 1987 with Dynamos getting engraved on the shield in 1985, 1986 and 1989 when he was retired.
At his peak with Dynamos he won everything Zimbabwe football had to offer.
He was among the first players called up for the first Zimbabwe national team that played in the four team tournament won by the newly independent State.
Kateya, a good marker who had pace when converted to a defender, found himself lining up with the likes of Onias Musana, Tauro, Max Tshuma, Wonder Phiri, Sunday Chidzambwa, Ephert Lungu, David Muchineripi, Graham Boyle, Stephen Chuma in national colours from 1980 until the emergency of Eddie Muchongwe and Ephraim Dzimbiri.
The most exciting of his duels on the left flank were when he faced pacy and dribbling wizard Madinda Ndlovu of Highlanders. It was action-packed all afternoon as he would give either Fanwell Ncube or Mercedes Sibanda on the right flank of defence an afternoon to remember.
Loved all over the country for his great sportsmanship and talent, Kateya made it into the Soccer Stars of the Year calendar.
His calling of time allowed a new generation of players like Stanley Chirambadare and Eddie Muchongwe to take over in the late 1980s.
But none of them made as much of an impression as Flying Saucer or Dzunguman as fans called him because of his pace.
He would deliver great crosses and pack powerful shots.
At Dynamos in the 1980s, he played with Misheck Chidzambwa, Kuda Muchemeyi, Kembo Chunga, Moses Chunga, Kenneth Jere, David Mandigora, Clayton Munemo, Biggie Zuze, Edward Katsvere, Lucky Dube, Leon Ntawatawa, Japhet Mparutsa, Frank Mkanga, Labani Kandi, David Masubeyi, Licoln Mutasa, David Muchineripi, Eric Aisam, Ernest Mutano, Colsen Mabeza, Shaw Handriade and Archieford Chimutanda.
He was an everyday wonder as he rarely put a foot wrong even when Dynamos were struggling, fans looked up to him to conjure something from his bag of tricks to set Dynamos on victory trail.
Kateya died in the 1990s.
The history of Rhodesia and Zimbabwe football is incomplete without this great player’s mention.
