COLLINS Mbesuma did not have a chance to play alongside Knowledge Musona at Kaizer Chiefs having been signed seasons earlier than The Smiling Assassin, a forward considered one of best ever at Naturena.
Mbesuma was signed in 2004, a year after the exciting Kelvin Mushangazhike had been loaned to Black Leopards by Kaizer Chiefs and years after Robson Muchichwa had donned the gold and black.
Mushangazhike was so good, French giants Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are said to have had to be parried off him after they came knocking.
Ntofontofo, as the Zambian legend was known, did play with Tinashe Nengomasha though and it is The General he rates high above Musona, Mushangazhike, Muchichwa and the list of Zimbabwean players who have turned out for The Glamour Boys of South African football.
To Mbesuma, Nengomasha was an ultimate machine, a seasoned player whom he said delivered each and every week during their title winning campaign in the 2003/04 season and when they defended their championship (2005/05).
“Of all Zimbabwean players to have played for Kaizer Chiefs, The General stands tall. I pick Nengomasha,” said Mbesuma in an interview with BHORAFRIKA Magazine.
The former Zambian international, who made history at Amakhosi by scoring the most goals in a single South African Premiership season (35 in the 2004/05 season), was clear and confident in his choice.
His choice seemed an easy one despite the list of Zimbabwean stars that have played for Kaizer Chiefs.
Never mind Musona, Mushangazhike and Muchichwa; Naturena has been home to one of Zimbabwe’s most celebrated attacking midfielders Ovidy Karuru, celebrated defender Thomas Sweswe, current Warriors vice captain Teenage Hadebe and forward Kingstone Nkhatha.
Gritty central defensive midfielder Willard “Bute, Salt and Vinegar” Katsande who took over from Nengomasha did not disappoint for Amakhosi, in fact he is still celebrated as a legend having given a decade of his career to the South African giants.
Lefties Zhaimu Jambo and Onismor Bhasera complete a list of names who could have walked and started for any team in the South African premiership at their peak.
Musona might have grabbed highlights, smiled as Mbesuma watched him destroy bitter rivals Orlando Pirates from the lofty and fancy executive stands of Soccer City but he stands below Nengomasha on the pecking order.
Katsande might have won the league title in 2013, been as gritty as ever and cemented his legendary status but according to Mbesuma, Nengomasha remains King.
Nicknamed The General because of how he commanded and directed the movement of his side, accolades and statistics side with Mbesuma on Nengomasha however.
Added Mbesuma: “There has not been a better player in his role and those who felt it were not just us, his teammates, but opponents as well when we won our first of two league championships then.
“We always knew we had enough cover and ultimately he was rewarded for it.”
Father, as he was more commonly referred to back home because of his national team performances, clinched the South African PSL Players’ Player of the Season and the PSL Footballer of the Year awards in the 2003/04 season.
Mbesuma claimed the PSL Footballer of the Year award in the 2004/05 when he netted 35 goals for Amakhosi.
