Willard Khumalo
By Lovemore Dube
WILLARD Khumalo rates among the best midfielders ever to don the Highlanders FC and national team strip.
He was a strong contender for the Highlanders 1980-89 Player of the Decade alongside Mercedes Sibanda and Madinda Ndlovu.
Khumalo a stockily built player helped define Bosso and led it to several cup victories in a spell that saw the club wrest the Cup Kings tag from Caps United in 1986.
Born in Bulawayo in 1966, Khumalo died on 23 June 2015 at the age of 49.
Khumalo who went to Northlea High School for his secondary education, was a typical township fellow who grew up in Mzilikazi playing street football with friends Mercedes Sibanda and Sydney Zimuya. He was mentored by the legendary Ali Dube and at 16 in 1982 he burst into the Highlanders first team.
Having grown up in the team’s juniors and the most famed Liverpool, Castle Cup winners over Mhangura in 1981, like most members of the team, his career seemed set for zenith heights.
He played with the likes of Oliver Ncube, Summer Ncube, Babsy Ncube, CB Mahlangu, Francis Muringayi, Hagai Moyo, Netsai Moyo, Godfrey Paradza and Harold Tshabalala for the Highlanders Under-18 team of 1981-2.
In the first team he found veterans like Peter Nkomo, Madinda Ndlovu, Richard Ndlovu, Rodrick Simwanza, Barton Mwalukuka, Douglas Mloyi and Fanuel Ncube. These seniors were able to embrace the budding star.
The arrival of Bobby Clark in 1983 was perhaps the crowning moment for the budding star as he was made a regular and national team call ups to the Zimbabwe Under-20 national team followed where he cemented his place and would go on to win the SADC Under-20 Championships in 1985.
He featured for the Matabeleland North Under-18 side alongside Labani Ngoma, Joshua Mhizha, Pernell Mckop and Garikai Rwodzi.
Khumalo and Madinda played a blinder as Highlanders won the 1984 Chibuku Trophy final, 2-1 against Dynamos at Rufaro Stadium.
Soon senior national team call ups followed and would regularly be named among the 11 most outstanding players on the domestic scene.
He competed for slots in the national team starting line up with legends David Mwanza, Joel Shambo, Stix Mtizwa, Rahman Gumbo and Memory Mucherahowa and lasted close to a decade in the national team and was part of the famed Dream Team under Reinhard Fabisch.
He had an outstanding 1986 where Highlanders won the BAT Rosebowl, Independence, Heroes Cup, Castle Cup, Chibuku Trophy and the Rothmans Shield and deservingly selected among the top three players in the land.
In 1987 he toured Germany with Highlanders and impressed there and would join Emsdetten 05 at the end of 1988 another colourful club season for him.
In 1988 Bosso won all the cup tournaments except the Chibuku Trophy lost to Zimbabwe Saints courtesy of a Jimmy Phiri goal.
Khumalo enjoyed a good spell in Germany and played a few games in the league and cup winning campaign of 1990.
Highlanders flew him from Germany for the Zifa Cup against Dynamos and he did not disappoint with the crowd roaring Mawiii!! With every touch of the ball. He would serenade the chants with a majestic gallop which became a trade mark for him.
With Cleopas Dlodlo, Rahman Gumbo, Adam Ndlovu, Peter Ndlovu and Benjamin Mpofu, Highlanders were just too good for DeMbare winning 3-1 for a first for the club in the domestic league – a unique league and cup double triumph.
It was Bosso’s first league title in independent Zimbabwe and went a long way in cementing his and other players inclusive of coaches Barry Daka, Roy Barreto and Cosmas Zulu in local football folklore.
In 1994 after a fallout with the technical team Khumalo moved to Shushine who had relocated to Bulawayo.
He had a stint with Zisco in 1998 and moved to Lancashire the following season.
Khumalo started his coaching journey with East Rovers of Pumula East and later rose to Highlanders assistant coach under Fred Mwila and at one stage he was head coach.
He died of diabetes challenges in 2015.
His place in football history is guaranteed as he was a rare gem, intelligent, powerful and a natural leader on the field who gave football his all without prejudice.
