From gloves to spanners: Tafadzwa Dube forging Grand Legacy’s title foundation
He stood between the posts for Dynamos, Gunners and FC Platinum.
He lifted league titles, cup trophies, and was twice voted the PSL’s best goalkeeper.
He guarded Zimbabwe’s goal at COSAFA and the Afro-Asian Games.
Now, the legendary Tafadzwa Dube is back at work, but this time with a coaching board in one hand and a spanner in the other.
The former Warriors goalminder is the goalkeepers coach at Pacific Storm Eastern Region Soccer League outfit Grand Legacy FC.
And in Murehwa, the man with more than 20 years of top-flight experience is quietly forging the foundation for a promotion push.
If Zimbabwean football had a hall of fame for goalkeepers, Dube’s name would be in bold.
Two-time PSL Goalkeeper-of-the-Season in 2009 and 2011, CBZ champion, Mbada Diamonds Cup winner, Chibuku Super Cup, Independence Cup, COSAFA winner with the Young Warriors in 2002 and with the Warriors in 2013.
He also kept goal for Lancashire Steel, CAPS United, Harare City, Manica Diamonds, TelOne FC and many more.
Most notably, Dube single-handedly denied ZPC Kariba the league title in 2014.
On that unforgettable last day at Gwanzura Stadium, his heroics for CAPS United secured a win that handed Dynamos the championship.
It left Saul Chaminuka and his ZPC Kariba side, plus a section of CAPS United fans, in tears.
Now the gloves are off, but the voice in the box is still loud.
And the first lesson in his Murehwa classroom is hard work.
“Being voted PSL goalkeeper was an achievement for hard work and dedication. It paid off. That creates a winning mentality. So I make sure that my goalkeepers understand that. Hard work will finally pay off,” explained Dube.
The proof is already in the pudding as last month Danny Tagara was voted Goalkeeper of the Month in the PSERSL.
“It’s always good winning such awards. It motivates us to work extra hard to maintain. Being on top is not easy but to maintain is more difficult. I had to make sure that Danny improves in all aspects of his game. And he has been very cooperative. Basically all the goalkeepers we have at the team,” said Dube.
Dube who is a qualified mechanic after graduating with a National Certificate in Motor Mechanics from Mutare Polytechnic, is preaching preparation beyond 90 minutes.
“Yes it’s wise to prepare for life after football. Not all players will become coaches. So investing in education whilst playing is very vital. I made sure that I strike a balance so those two lines of my work don’t clash. I encourage the goalkeepers to start planning now for life after football. They should start projects, businesses whilst they still have the funding. It’s also a good thing that Danny is a university graduate. I’m happy he has already started taking that good direction.”
From fixing engines on Monday to fixing defensive lines on Saturday, Dube is showing the next generation that you can be elite between the posts and smart outside them.
As Grand Legacy push for promotion, the numbers back up Dube’s philosophy.
Sitting 4th on the Week 17 log with 32 points from 16 games, Willard Katsande’s men boast the league’s stingiest defence, just 7 goals conceded, with a +18 goal difference.
For a man who’s won titles with Dynamos, Gunners and FC Platinum, that foundation is everything.
“Look, a good goalkeeper and a solid defence wins titles and championships. A good attack wins us games. So we really make sure we cover all the aspects of defending and goalkeeping at one go. We have a good coach in Katsande. And it makes our jobs easier. We have a very good understanding and we coordinate very well when defending is concerned. We always make sure we are solid at the back every time with the command of the goalkeeper,” added Dube.
