Sherperd Murape – the Gold Digger 30/9/2022

  Sherperd Murape   the Gold Digger      30/9/2022

By Lovemore Dube

“”KWAENDA Murape tevera, panemari.”

Translated from Zimbabwe’s main indigenous language Shona, the sentence reads: “Wherever Sherperd Murape moves, it’s worth following there is money.”

Many top players always wanted to follow clubs that he went to and it is no surprise that the likes of Japhet Mparutsa, Stanley Ndunduma, Hamid Dhana, William Chikauro and Jimmy Mbewe were all prepared to sump their teams and join unknown Black Rhinos in 1983.

It is said he is one Zimbabwe coach who will never go to a coaching job where there is no money.

The clubs that he has coached around Southern Africa may give that hint too as he has been in charge of Black Rhinos and Dynamos in Zimbabwe, the Namibian national team, Blue Waters, Qwaqwa Fairway Stars, Orlando Pirates to mention a few of over a dozen teams he has coached in a career spanning 42 years.

Born on 26 July 1949, Murape grew up at a time when Youth Club activity in towns like Mutare, Bulawayo, Harare and Gweru were big. So many talents were moulded there as boys started playing informally, growing through development stages in age groups with peers.

Competitions among them against teams from other suburbs moulded them into fearless tigers.

At the age of 16, Murape made his debut as centreback at Dynamos lining up with the likes of Freddie Mukwesha, George Shaya, Josiah Akende, Obediah Sarupinda, Alois Meskano, Jimmy Finch and Silas Ndlovu.

So impressive was Murape that he was selected into the Rhodesia national team before he was 20.

Having made his debut at Dynamos in 1965, by the time he was called up for Rhodesia side beaten 3-1 by Australia in the final qualifier for the 1970 World Cup finals, he had already collected several pieces of silverware.

His fortunes continued to rise as Dynamos literally dominated the decade 1966-1976 capped with the Southern Africa Cup win over Orlando Pirates.

At the age of 27 he was appointed player/manager at Dynamos and would make history as the first league championship winner with the club in 1980 at Zimbabwe’s Independence.

He had done enough to impress as a coach that he was appointed into the national team coaching pool alongside John Rugg and Paul Moyo in 1980. He remained in the framework up to 1983 but when he joined Black Rhinos a team he led to the league title in 1984, the nation saw none of him with the Warriors – Zimbabwe’s national team.

After close to a decade with the army side, Murape disappeared only to re-appear as national team coach of newly independent Namibia in 1994.

Nomadic as ever and always chasing better deals, Murape went on to coach several clubs in South Africa and is presently attached to Magesi in the South African Division One League.

He won silverware with Pirates, Blue Water, Dynamos and the Warriors.

He is a legend at home and outside our borders having coached the likes of Licoln Mutasa, Kembo Chunga, Matthew Mwale, Stephen Chuma, Steve Kwashi, Lucky Dube, Frank M’kanga, Lyodd Katsvere, Edwatrd Katsvere, Sunday Chidzambwa, Misheck Chidzambwa, Oliver Kateya, Ephert Lungu and Joseph Zulu at club and national team