Naledzani David "Nanana" Masase, former midfield supremo for Madombidzha Try Again, Duthuni Happy Boys, Shayandima Bob Stars and Black Leopards, is still involved in football development many years after hanging up his soccer books.
Masase and a few other former local football stars run the Thohoyandou Football Club, and the team members are doing well under their management. "The team are through to the semi-finals of the Mpho Mathoho Knockout Competition. We are confident that they will do well in the next two games and lift the trophy. But in football, one can never be too confident as anything can happen," he said.
Masase was born and bred in Madombidzha village in the Ha-Sinthumule area. He started playing football for Try Again when he was still a teenager. When he went to Tshisimani College of Education in 1981, he was snatched up by Duthuni Happy Boys, who were playing in the then Zambuck League, which was equivalent to the Motsepe Foundation League today. He later joined Shayandima Bob Stars, where he played with other megastars such as Tshisamphiri Madima, "Dancing Shoes" Tshilate, and Ace Ratshikhopha, to mention but a few.
He joined Black Leopards during the team's inception in 1983. "We managed to play in the NPSL in 1985, shortly after the football split, when the NSL was formed. I played with some of the best players, like GY Mbewe, Ace Kabode and Tokyo Mukwevho. We used to beat teams 13-0 and sometimes 15-0 in the league." He attributed the team's performance to the players' hard work. "Under China Madzena as our trainer coach, we were very fit and could play at the same pace for 90 minutes," he said.
When asked what he thought about the standard of the game today, compared to their days as players, he said that the main problem in the professional ranks was foreign coaches, who refused to allow players to express themselves on the field. "We have our own playing style in Africa, but foreign coaches do not want us to express ourselves when playing, but to just kick the ball forward. We must allow our players to play our carpet football and attack with lightning skills," he concluded.
Masase, who is a teacher by profession, also trains up-and-coming youngsters at school.