Dzoto: From Nothing To Stars !!!

Dzoto is a Ndau word for a rural-made football usually made from waste paper and some sort of rubbish. In the absence of enough financial resources in the rural and poor locations ("Ghetto" Suburbs) in Zimbabwe, young boys would improvise to make this great tool (football) that has a unique capacity to bring people together. I wrote this Ndau poem to celebrate all the football stars and star makers that did not live to accept that they did not have enough but became creative enough to make-do with what they had/have. 

Today in the humble town of Chipinge we talk of players like Lovemore Maphuya, Eddie Dube, Blessing Makunike, Zabron Grison, Millas, Gift Soko,the Chemura brothers, the Bvunzai brothers, the late Aaron Ngorima, the late Donald Shadreck, Chubwi, Mr. Mandaraza, Davie Magobeya, Nasho, Shacky Machuwaire, Casper Mlambo..the list is endless but tapping into these humble beginnings will go a long way to inspire the ordinary individual that greatness is not determined by where one is today but by what lies within themeselves. 

The poem below is an extract from my book called Maungira eChindau (Echoes of Ndau). I would like to hear your views, comments and suggestions and i also take critisim positively.

Dzoto 

Lovemore Maphuya - Dynamos FC

Muchariziya ere dzoto? 

Bhora rekanyi 

Ndiro rakatikudza 

Ndiro raitibatanidza 

Andiriyarwi 

Kubve mudzotomwo 

Vamweni vakatambire kundla huru 

Waizwe kweyaa dzooridwa 

Tooende kwaNyamahumba 

Teihlongana neafana ekwaMatoro 

Gare gare raabukuta 

Ndeisuka afana 

Ana Goko naana Mariya teibadzura 

Wati ideya ere rendaibeka 

Ndiani wakauya nedzoto? 

Zvirozvi andichazvioni mukanyi 

Ngei tagume pakadaro? 

Inhamo ere, kana kuti chiinyi?

Tisarashe njiradzi vakhiti 

Kubatana kunounzwa ngezviro zvidokozvi 

Typical Dzoto Match

Musariyarwa dzoto

Muchamuziya ere Yogo Yogo, Soko 

Thula, Eddie Dube, Zabron, Millas 

Shecky Machuwaire, Kenzo 

Zebedhiya waridze mhururu 

Wainga mushando wachona chikwehle 

Chiro chega chega Chinoumbwe kubve ngepashi 

Musariyarwa dzoto!!!

By: Simba Mwaingeni

It is these humble setups that gets everyone to look back and in most cases we find joy and pride in where we came from. In view of these and other backgrounds, i would like to challenge you to inspire some of those whom are still back there - do something, find something to give back; be it your time, your smile - It will go a long way!!!