Shaw Handriade – Sports – Soccer – Former Dynamos Player / Coach

Shaw Handriade

By Lovemore Dube    17/11/2022

FROM Mbare to Rhodesia and Zimbabwe podiums reads Dynamos FC legend Shaw Handriade’s success story.

Handriade is an example of the famous Youth Club and Dynamos successful development project.

Handriade was born in the early 1950s and attended school in Mbare, Harare where his talent blossomed from an early age as he worked his way up in the dusty streets of Mbare with a brigade of talented age mates like Chita Antonio and Clever Hunda.

It is said his versatility vowed many as he developed his own followership, fans who followed his teams to catch a glimpse of him in action as he had skill, intelligence and a very good work rate.

His arrival on the big stage was no fluke as three years into the seniors’ ranks he was voted among the countries best 11 players as Dynamos fielded five of the 11.

As he reached maturity age it coincided with the formation of the national league in 1976 which saw Dynamos emerge as undisputed national champions after years of playing second fiddle to Salisbury Callies, Chibuku Shumba and Metal Box.

Joining star-studded side comprising of Sherperd Murape, Matthew Mwale, George Shaya, David Mandigora, Kuda Muchemeyi, David George, Daniel Bingadadi and Oliver Kateya. DeMbare then known as Hayinangozi, were simply unstoppable winning the league title pipping Highlanders to it and drubbing Zimbabwe Saints 8-1 in the Castle Cup final.

As if that was not enough Dynamos bundled Kaizer Chiefs out of the Southern Africa Cup semi-finals and beat Orlando Pirates to be crowned regional club champions.

Handriade continued to excel in both central defence and traditional Number 6 position for the club and was honoured to be selected in the Rhodesia national team that played South Africa in a home and away series.

Selected among Wonder Chisetera, Shadreck Ngwenya, Nathaniel Maduku, Posani Sibanda, Kateya, Sunday Chidzambwa, Max Tshuma and Shaya for the second leg, Handriade endeared himself with fans when he scored Rhodesia’s only goal in the 1-1 draw of the second leg in Harare.

He was instrumental in the 1977 league campaign in which the club achieved a top four finish after trail blazing Zimbabwe Saints claimed both the cup and league.

Dynamos were back at their solid best in 1978 with Handriade making it to the Rhodesia Select that played as A and B as star players continued to feel the brunt of international isolation.

Rhodesia was suspended from the Fifa family in 1970 and for a decade talented footballers could not play for their country except South Africa and rebel select sides from the UK like the Lexington X1.

With Caps Rovers rising through the arrival of young stars Stanley Ndunduma, Joel Shambo, Stix M’tizwa, Dickson Ngwenya and coach Ashton Nyazika, Dynamos found themselves playing second fiddle to the youthful outfit, regional and national league play off winners who also won the Chibuku Trophy.

The Castle Cup, for long the Football Association (FA) Cup was won by Zimbabwe Saints who coincidentally beat Dynamos in the final 2-1.

At Independence Handriade, Muchemeyi, Kembo, Chunga, Kateya, rising Misheck Chidzambwa, July Sharara, Licoln Mutasa, Frank Mkanga, Edward Katsvere and Japhet Mparutsa became the foundation of the team that would go on to win four consecutive league titles and represent Zimbabwe in the Africa Club Champion of Champions tournament where DeMbare clashed with the likes of Jet of Algeria.

As Dynamos sought to renew itself with the aging crop calling it a day, Handriade was on hand to offer support to the likes of Moses Chunga, Lucky Dube, Kenneth Jere, Clayton Munemo and Ernest Mutano.

The replenishing programme was trophy filled with Dynamos dominating the league championship tables in 1985, 1986 and 1989 with Black Rhinos claiming honours in 1984 and 1987.

Saints won the 1988 honours.

A knee injury forced Kodak into early retirement leaving David Mandigora to dominate the anchor-man’s position at Dynamos.

He got a job as sports officer at Shabanie and died at the age of 31 before he could plough back to the sport he loved – football.

Veteran broadcaster Charles Mabika had this to say about him: “He is among Zimbabwe’s finest footballers if not the finest. He defined the defensive link role.”