Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER players that passed through the hands of legendary juniors’ coach Ali ‘Baba’ Dube have resolved to mobilise resources in an effort to honour the man viewed as the doyen of junior football in Zimbabwe. The former players are also set to approach Highlanders to request that the club introduces a special award named after Dube.

South Africa-based Mlamleli Ncube, one of Dube’s many products dotted around the globe and spokesperson of the organisers, said Tawanda Chitapa, based in the United States of America, came up with the idea.

“We’re busy consulting one another and I must say the response has been wonderful. We’re coming up with a bit of money that we want to give to utopi, not to say he’s struggling financially, but just to show our appreciation for what he did for us.

“We also understand that he now has a juniors’ team and we’ve already bought a kit and training equipment that we’ll donate to the team,” said Ncube, who played for Zimbabwe Saints and Hwange at professional level.

“Our other initiative is to approach Highlanders so that they have a special award, likely to be named the Ali Baba Award for the juniors, and we’re going to sponsor that award.”

Dube is the most revered juniors’ coach in the country gifted with a rare eye for talent.

He has always maintained that his most amazing discovery was the late Benjamin Nkonjera, who used to accompany his friend Peter Ndlovu to training.

“Nkonjera would come with Peter and just stand outside the pitch while Peter trained, until one day when we had no goalkeeper. I just ordered the boy to stand in between the posts and pretend to be a goalkeeper. I was amazed at the way he controlled the ball with his feet and so the next day I played him inside and the rest is history,” Dube said.

Other players that went on to become stars after passing through his hands include, the Ndlovu brothers, Madinda and the late Adam, Benjani Mwaruwari, Willard Mashinkila Kumalo, the late Mercedes ‘Rambo’ Sibanda, the late Lenny Gwata, Makwinji Soma Phiri, Amin Soma Phiri, the late Mackay Nyathi, Gift Lunga Snr, Gift Lunga Jnr, Melusi ‘Mabaleka’ Sibanda and Johannes ‘Tshisa’ Ngodzo, among others.

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