Charlie Jones The Cheeky Forward
By Lovemore Dube 1/1/2022
THE dawn of Independence saw the emergence of new talent across the country and Arcadia United one of the best sides of the 1960s and 1970s also unleashed its own new talent.
Among those that came through the club’s ranks is Charlie Jones nicknamed Kabhasikoro for his pace.
He was a menacing striker whose dazzling speed made him a household name in the country.
A cheeky forward, Jones came through the team’s development project and was an instant hit.
It was a time when the likes of Stanley Ndunduma, Madinda Ndlovu, Machona Sibanda, Joel Shambo, Sebastian Chikwature, Edward Katsvere, Takesure Maverengo, Thomas Sandriham, Lucky Dube, Japhet Mparutsa and Ernest Mutano were the hottest Under-23s.
Jones was high among those getting a good rub off the club’s ageing legendary strikers George Rollo and Bethal Salis who were outstanding in the 1970s.
Despite an outstanding run of form, Jones was unlucky not to win silverware with his boyhood side Arcadia but would go on to star for Caps United in the mid-1980s.
He played alongside Arcadia greats like Doorman Moodley, Joey Antipas, Reg Payne, Mike Abrahams, Givemore Nyahuma, Anthony Kambani, Carlos Max, Gift Makoni, Nat Bismark and Rollo.
On arrival at Caps United, Jones hit the ground running at a club teeming with class with Joel Shambo, Shaky Tauro, Paddington Zhanje, Elisha Gejo and Charles Sibanda among the pillars.
The move to Caps earned Kabhasikoro national team call ups and a chance to play in national finals which raised his profile further and made him among the best to emerge from the coloured communities of Zimbabwe.
Upon retiring in the late 1980s, Jones went into coaching, business and administration mainly at Arcadia and Motor Action.
His greatest asset was tactical awareness and pace and the ability to shoot while on the run catching goalkeepers unawares.
In May of 2022 he was appointed chief executive officer of Caps United.
The move was welcomed by many as they felt former players are shunned from such positions in the local game.
But his arrival did not wave the magic wand as the club continued on the slump in form on the field and with a board that has struggled to get funding.
But what is certain there shall never be a class like that of Jones to emerge from Arcadia.
