By Batsirai Sango.
Very few people in this journey of life, be it in the different avenues of life we are in transcend generations, and those who do certainly would have done something beyond special that will act as an eternal benchmark, example for anyone and everyone looking to walk down in the very same path.
Zimbabwe’s football legacy is littered with so many fond tales from giants of yester year, but only one name stands out, the name Peter Ndlovu or Nsunkuzonke, King Peter, the Flying Elephant, Bulawayo Bullet, Nuddy, Silent Assassin as fans affectionately referred to him because of the pure class act he was, shows how he epitomizes, embodies the wills, aspirations of a football mad nation. The different nicknames born out of his sheer artistry on the field of play speaks to the eternal bond football fans have towards the first African player to play and score in the newly rebranded English Premier league in August of 1992.
The headline speaks volumes to the aforementioned remarks, in ecology an oasis is a fertile area of a desert environment that sustains life providing habitat for animals, and in Zimbabwean football the great Peter Ndlovu is simply that, a fertile area of our football landscape that sustains the aspirations, wills, beliefs that we can be a great football nation producing the best football exports around the globe.
His achievements during his playing days speak to that, barely out of his teens and already playing at the highest-level grabbing headlines on the world stage is a benchmark for all to emulate, most recently there have been growing calls for the former national team skipper to take up the reigns at number 53 Livingstone Avenue.
Social media platforms are a melting pot where football lovers congregate to discuss all things football and have been drumming up support for the country’s all-time leading scorer to take up the ZIFA presidency.
His loyalty, commitment to the national cause is unparalleled, here is a man who would pay for his flights just so he could come and represent his country, after giving a man of the match performance be it for Coventry City, Birmingham, Shefield United next thing he would be on the plane home and in most instances arriving a few hours before the encounter, and again putting up a man of the match performance.
Talk about loyalty and commitment to one’s country, a lesson corrupt politician of today can learn on what loyalty and commitment to your country.
Not to talk of the many instances he would bailout the ever cash strapped football mother body making sure the national team forfeits its encounters. Recently former Norton legislator Themba Mliswa an avid sports fanatic posted a video seated next to Peter saying how he would stand down if King Peter would run for ZIFA president in apparent endorsement to his candidature if he would run.
Thats the kind of respect Peter Ndlovu commands, a true definition of what a patriot is, love for one’s country Peter Ndlovu had and still has to this very day.
Zimbabwean football is in the doldrums, and Peter being a product of the efficient system that were there yesteryear will know how best to revive local football, which has also scene the venues of the many tales he wrote in Highlanders and national team colors being given a thumbs down in terms of hosting international matches, a situation that has resulted in the warriors playing home matches away from home.
His leadership skills as national team skipper bailing out ZIFA and pleading with colleagues in the national team to put the badge first, his club managerial role at Mamelodi Sundowns a giant in continental club football is for all to attest, and the mere mention of his name and the growing calls for him to throw in his candidature reflects everything good of the man football fans believe can reinvigorate our football fortunes and legacy.
The name Peter Ndlovu is a brand on its own here is a man whose face, name cooperates would want to be associated with, for the good he has done and how he put the entire nation on the world scene. I remember one Wellington Mpandare accusing King Peter of not allowing the release of Khama Billiat for a crucial tie when he was still at the Tshwane giants. The Flying Elephant responded like a true patriot that he showed us he is all those years back, saying no one should question my loyalty, later flying into Zimbabwe with Billiat to confirm that he was injured and could not play.
How can we forget his majestic headers at Tunisia 2004, against the Pharaohs of Egypt and the indomitable Lions of Cameroon, incompetency, entitlement aside, King Peter’s presidency can be the best thing to ever happen to Zimbabwean football just like his playing days were.
