Opinion / Interviews
Wayne Albertyn remembers the old days of Zimbabwe soccer
15 Jan 2016 at 06:15hrs | Views
Wayne and son Methembe Albertyn
Everything can be killed except nostalgia for football, we carry it in every love affair, in everything that deeply torments and unties and tricks. General nostalgia is when you want 'once upon a time' things to stay the same yet you are in a different place and era.
Nevertheless, in football 'once upon a time' is actually now. So although general nostalgia is a way of remembering people and places and things and wishing things hadn't changed, football nostalgia has a sweetness to it.
Today the essence of nostalgia is taking us to an interview with Wayne Albertyn, who is known by being one of Reinhard Fabisch young apprentice during the Dream Team mania of the 1990s.
Where was Wayne Albertine born?
Born in the city of Blues... ko Bulawayo my brother.
Were you born in a soccer family?
My two brothers played for Thorngrove football club. My other brother was a referee so we all loved football.
Tell me about a tricky football encounter you were involved while at school level
At school my best memories were in primary at Mckeurtan.... I only played a couple of times for Hamilton High School but was busy with Highlanders Juniors. I remember playing against Lotshe with all the hype of Madinda's young brother playing there.... Robert Tredgold vs Ian Khumal and his team.... good rivalry.... We had a good team at Mckeurtan and we would wallop the Henry Lows...Hugh Beadles and Hillside schools etc etc.
When and how did you join Highlanders?
I joined Highlanders when I was twelve I think.
Tell me about your best and worst moments at Bosso
My worst memories were going to play against Pumula East Rovers on that field of theirs... I remember Alex Chola Munawa was hit with a brick. We always had a faithful following that came to support us at all our games. They would say Wayne... sesifikile mafana.... lOl... so much fun. Giving us a mpondo ( $2) here and there.... it was a lot of money back then. Beating Saints and scoring two past Muzondiwa Mugadza is a good memory.... We beat them 3-1 and I was involved in all the goals.
Who was your bigger and bitter rival: Dynamos or Zimbabwe Saints? Why?
Saints were bigger rivals I think.... because we all knew each other... local guys...
Who was your toughest opponent ever?
My toughest opponent I think was my own teammate at training...a guy we called Ndebele...the tackles!!!.... those would be red cards straight I tell you.... We always had these one versus ones at training.... intense.
Which were your top 3 biggest wins in a Bosso shirt?
Top 3 wins had to be the run when they gave us a chance finally in the first team... We beat Black Aces...and then Dynamos in the final.... was it Independence Cup...I can't remember.... It was great... We were ready but the competition for places at Bosso was too much....
You were briefly involved with Reinhardt Fabisch's Dream Team of the 90s as a junior.
My time with the dream team was great... I roomed with Agent Sawu and Melusi Nkiwane.... those guys took me under their wings.... Just being around the team and competing in training.... I think I earned their respect on the ground... I had to...
What do you remember the most during that time?
We played a friendly against Ethiopia under 20s and I came on as a sub during that time and had a great game.... I went from being a young boy to being respected by these guys after a few days on the ground.... you just could tell the change...
Is football still as exciting as it used to be during your times?
I watched Zim football a couple of years ago and the stadium was half empty...doesn't seem as exciting... but that was just a brief glimpse... I know BF would be filling up by 1 pm in our days....
Who is your local football hero of all time and why?
My best footballer of all time was Stanley Sinyo Ndunduma... the man was so classy... I loved him... there were others Like Stanford Stix Mutizwa and Mercedes Rambo Sibanda and Willard Mawii Khumalo....of course Peter Ndlovu... but Sinyo was my favourite by far. Rambo was like a big brother and mentor to me. Great leader.
Given a chance to say thank you to someone now, who will it be and why?
I don't understand what happened to junior football in Zimbabwe... I guess there are academies now but I think the junior leagues during our times were awesome.... I was very saddened when Ali Dube left Highlanders... they should have done everything to keep him there.
Nevertheless, in football 'once upon a time' is actually now. So although general nostalgia is a way of remembering people and places and things and wishing things hadn't changed, football nostalgia has a sweetness to it.
Today the essence of nostalgia is taking us to an interview with Wayne Albertyn, who is known by being one of Reinhard Fabisch young apprentice during the Dream Team mania of the 1990s.
Where was Wayne Albertine born?
Born in the city of Blues... ko Bulawayo my brother.
Were you born in a soccer family?
My two brothers played for Thorngrove football club. My other brother was a referee so we all loved football.
Tell me about a tricky football encounter you were involved while at school level
At school my best memories were in primary at Mckeurtan.... I only played a couple of times for Hamilton High School but was busy with Highlanders Juniors. I remember playing against Lotshe with all the hype of Madinda's young brother playing there.... Robert Tredgold vs Ian Khumal and his team.... good rivalry.... We had a good team at Mckeurtan and we would wallop the Henry Lows...Hugh Beadles and Hillside schools etc etc.
When and how did you join Highlanders?
I joined Highlanders when I was twelve I think.
Tell me about your best and worst moments at Bosso
My worst memories were going to play against Pumula East Rovers on that field of theirs... I remember Alex Chola Munawa was hit with a brick. We always had a faithful following that came to support us at all our games. They would say Wayne... sesifikile mafana.... lOl... so much fun. Giving us a mpondo ( $2) here and there.... it was a lot of money back then. Beating Saints and scoring two past Muzondiwa Mugadza is a good memory.... We beat them 3-1 and I was involved in all the goals.
Saints were bigger rivals I think.... because we all knew each other... local guys...
Who was your toughest opponent ever?
My toughest opponent I think was my own teammate at training...a guy we called Ndebele...the tackles!!!.... those would be red cards straight I tell you.... We always had these one versus ones at training.... intense.
Which were your top 3 biggest wins in a Bosso shirt?
Top 3 wins had to be the run when they gave us a chance finally in the first team... We beat Black Aces...and then Dynamos in the final.... was it Independence Cup...I can't remember.... It was great... We were ready but the competition for places at Bosso was too much....
You were briefly involved with Reinhardt Fabisch's Dream Team of the 90s as a junior.
My time with the dream team was great... I roomed with Agent Sawu and Melusi Nkiwane.... those guys took me under their wings.... Just being around the team and competing in training.... I think I earned their respect on the ground... I had to...
What do you remember the most during that time?
We played a friendly against Ethiopia under 20s and I came on as a sub during that time and had a great game.... I went from being a young boy to being respected by these guys after a few days on the ground.... you just could tell the change...
Is football still as exciting as it used to be during your times?
I watched Zim football a couple of years ago and the stadium was half empty...doesn't seem as exciting... but that was just a brief glimpse... I know BF would be filling up by 1 pm in our days....
Who is your local football hero of all time and why?
My best footballer of all time was Stanley Sinyo Ndunduma... the man was so classy... I loved him... there were others Like Stanford Stix Mutizwa and Mercedes Rambo Sibanda and Willard Mawii Khumalo....of course Peter Ndlovu... but Sinyo was my favourite by far. Rambo was like a big brother and mentor to me. Great leader.
Given a chance to say thank you to someone now, who will it be and why?
I don't understand what happened to junior football in Zimbabwe... I guess there are academies now but I think the junior leagues during our times were awesome.... I was very saddened when Ali Dube left Highlanders... they should have done everything to keep him there.
Source - Byo24News
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