CARLOS Max
By Lovemore Dube
CARLOS Max’s legacy in Zimbabwe football lives on.
He is one of the best talents to come out of Harare’s Arcadia suburb.
Arcadia was formerly a preserve for Mixed Race Community and football was the rallying point for a community which enjoyed third class treatment during the colonial era.
Like most towns of that era, the Colonial Masters built recreational centres for the different ethnic groups for socialisation, sport and also as a way of ensuring that if they were emergencies at work, the most likely place would be these centres.
So out of Arcadia in Harare emerged a 22 year old to dominate the rightback position at Arcadia FC in 1984.
Through primary and secondary school (Morgan High School), Max was an outstanding athlete with football his passion.
The year 1984 saw him break through eager to live up to the legacy of the club created by players like Bethal Salis, George Rollo, Stewart Gilbert, Edgar Rodgers and Kim Raftapolous who shone national in football and basketball and gave their Community reason to be noticed and respected.
Arriving at the club in that year, Max found a great side driven by the likes of Anthony Kambani, Doorman Moodley, Joey Antipas, Mike Abrahams, Reggie Payne, Charlie Jones, Richard Manda, Majid Dhana and Givemore Nyahuma.
It was a very composite side strong in all departments and driven by a very passionate community at Danny Bismark Stadium.
He just fitted into the side and saw his worth increase with every outing.
Max faced Joseph Zulu, Joseph Machingura, Madinda Ndlovu, Boy Ndlovu, Tanny Banda, Samson Phiri, Kakoma Kayonga, Stanley Ndunduma and Friday Phiri. These were superb wing players who were a fright to many defenders in the old Super League.
Max’s first taste of silverware in the elite league was a sumptuous 1-0 win over Highlanders in the 1985 Chibuku Trophy Cup final.
Arcadia were a regular top eight club in the 1980s.
In 1987, Max had a stellar season and was close in the Soccer Star of the Year selection but only to lose out to Socver Star of the Year Mercedes Sibanda who appeared to take the rightback position in the Zimbabwe Super League Best X1.
But the great showing was noticed, a move to one of the top four sides of the time Caps United for whom he debuted in 1988.
Ever lucky to find good stars to accomodate and make him acclimatise with ease, Joel Shambo, Edward Muchongwe, Friday Phiri, Clever Muzuva, Paddington Zhanje and Shaky Tauro.
Max won the Independence Cup with Caps in 1992 after Makepekepe beat an Adam Ndlovu driven Highlanders 1-0.
Among his career highlights was being selected to the Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year 11 in 1991 and 1994.
In between those years, he was in and out of the Dream Team in which he competed in both left and rightback positions with the likes of Claudius Zviripayi, Mercedes Sibanda, Paul Gundani, Norman Mapeza and Abraham Mbambo as Zimbabwe was swept by a wave under the charismatic and influential Reinhard Fabisch.
In the Dream Team he also played with Peter Ndlovu, Madinda, Agent Sawu, Sherperd Muradzikwa, Max Lunga, Bruce Grobbelaar, Brenna Msiska, Ernest Chirambadare, Francis Shonhayi, Alexander Maseko, Ephraim Chawanda and Rahman Gumbo.
Max was a pillar playing alongside Mpumelelo Dzowa, Joe Mugabe and Maxwell Cheche Billiat when Caps United win its first league title in independent Zimbabwe in 1996 with Alois Bunjira and Stewart Murisa orchestrating attacks.
An ankle fracture in 1998 ended his career but Murewa as he was nicknamed established himself as one of the best players in the land.
His legacy is still growing in his community as he is with Charlie Jones and Shaun Charters busy trying to revive Arcadia FC.
Max is in the transport industry and is one of those former players who invested wisely for time after the final whistle.
