Nkulumo “Daidzaivamwe” Donga was a whirlwind of talent – fast on the track, a good basketball player – yet he traded his myriad of gifts for a football jersey, writes sports journalist Fanuel Viriri.
He went to earn a living from the beautiful game and entertaining the nation.
The ball would literally stick to his feet as if owned it and ripped on opponents thus they nicknamed him Daidzavamwe.
And defenders would not dare take on Nkulumo single handedly.They would need a gang to stop him.
His crowning moment was when he was voted among the Soccer Star of the Year finalists in 1994 – the year big prize went home with Dynamos legend Memory Mucherahowa.
Many argue that Donga was underated and unsung as he should have been part of the Soccer Stars of the year for several years had it not be for the national selectors bias towards players from the then big three Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United.
Over the years, national selectors, a panel of select sports journos also had bias towards Bulawayo and Harare team players.
Nkulumo Donga was born and bred at Gweru’s Bata estates housed at the once big shoe manufacturer Bata Shoes Company.
His dad was a worker at Bata. In 1980, when he was in grade 7 at Bata Primary School, Donga was already making waves in primary school soccer.
The school team once hammered Chikumbiro 6-0 and Donga was a hero in that match.
He did his high school at Chaplin high school in Gweru. He was multi sports talented and was a star sprinter and was also a good basketball player.
While at Chaplin he was already making the grade at the the Super League side Bata Power playing with the likes of the late Onias Musana and Machona Sibanda known for packing a hard shot during the days of the Puma, Adidas and Qagga boots manufactired by Bata.
He was so good, Donga was on the radar of provincial selectors. He played for the Midlands Under 18 side.
He scored the second goal when Midlands beat Mat North U-18 in 1982 winning the inaugural Coca Cola inter-provincial championship at Rufaro Stadium.
The trophy was presented by the late President Canaan Banana.
Some of the players in the Under 18 squad played for other clubs like Gweru Utd, Ziscosteel, Zimalloys, Shabanie Mine and Gaths Mine. The likes of Alan Jalasi (RIP), Gideon Nhundu, Jonathan Boriwondo ( RIP), Asan Karigeni ( RIP), Peter Mazarire, Sam Muvindi, Samuel Nhemachena to name a just a few.
Donga was also called to the Zimbabwe Under 20 squad.
When Bata Power coach Lovemore “Dhidhiri” was appointed the Chapungu coach then Air Force, Donga also moved to the Air Force of Zimbabwe side witv him.
The two were attested into the Air Force with Nyabeze being given a Flight Lieteunant rank, a Mazda 323 and a big house in MQ (an surburb with upmakert houses for commissioned officers in the Thornhill Airbase) while Nkulumo Donga started as a corporal then.
At Chapungu, Donga played with the airmen side’s two generations. He played in the team that had Jonah Mrehwa, Sam Mangava, Thomas Mudzengerere, Victor Murehwa, Sam Muvindi, Gina Mamvura, Perkins Nyamutamba, Brighton Dzapasi, Beavan Gwamure, Moses “Gwejegweje” Chasweka, Choddy Chirwa, Bampton Nchengela, Kennedy Chihuri, Bekezela Moyo, Gary Mkandawire and Kudzanayi Taruvinga.
During that time Donga and Chirwa went for trials at English side Liverpool.
Donga also played with Chapungu second generations the likes of Maxwell Dube, Cain and Abel Muteji, Pascal Masamba, Eliot Mkonto, Alexander Milanzi, Frank Phiri, Charles Gutu, Wellington Shangiwa, Moreblessing Wachi, Alphonce Mugovera, Brighton Muchambo and, Thomas Banda.
In all these generations he led from the front. Donga later retired due to ill health but coached Chapungu briefly before passing away. #fblifestyle