Zimbabwe’s Top 5 Defensive Midfielders Of All Time

Check out who made the cut in the Zimbabwe’s top five defensive midfielders of all time list.

1. Justice Majabvi

Technical and tactical awareness are one of they key traits in Justice Majabvi’s game. Majabvi turned out for Lancashire Steel before moving to Harare where played for Zimbabwean giants Dynamos. Key outings for Dembare would see the hardworking defensive midfielder catch the attention of foreign clubs culminating in a move to Austria where he featured for LASK Linz. Majbavi had a successful stint in Austria and later on moved to Vietnam before settling in at Tanzanian topflight side Simba SC.

4. Willard Katsande

Bred in Mutare, Willard Katsande’s talents came to the fore in the Zimbabwean topflight where he turned out for Highway Football Club. Katsande would them move to Harare where he joined Gunners Football Club. At Gunners Katsande was part of a team that shone against Al Ahly at Rufaro stadium although Chando Kupisa was eventually knocked out of Caf champions league by the Egyptian giants. Following a stint at Gunners Katsande moved down South where he was lured by Ajax Cape Town. From Ajax Katsande opted for a move to Kaizer Chiefs. At Amakhosi Katsande has become a household name making the defensive midfield position his own. Katsande is also a vital player for the Warriors who are pushing to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

3. Esrom Nyandoro

Esrom Nyandoro will always be remembered for positional discipline, accurate passing, and the ability to thwart attacks launched by opponents. Nyandoro was groomed by Zimbabwe Saints before moving to Amazulu. At Amazulu Nyandoro featured prominently between 2001-2004. Nyandoro would however earn himself a contract with Mamelodi Sundowns in 2004. That same year Nyandoro was named the Psl Clubs rookie of the year. Other than his defensive abilities the man popularly known as “yellow man” for his light skinned complection had a knack of scoring vital goals. The former Amazulu and Sundowns player was a key member of the Warriors team which played at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations.

2. Tinashe Nengomasha

Popularly known as father, Tinashe Nengomasha is one of the finest defensive midfielders to be ever produced by Zimbabwe. A product of Zimbabwe Crackers, the well conditioned d-link turned out for Black Aces before moving to South Africa where he turned out for Kaizer Chiefs. At his peak Nengomasha was voted the South African player of the year. Nengomasha also boasts of having represented his country at both junior and senior level.

1. Benjamin Nkonjera

Benjamin Makanaki Nkonjera is the finest defensive midfielder ever produced by Zimbabwe. Makanaky as Nkonjera was popularly known is a product of the Highlanders junior policy. Nkonjera’s talents came to the fore at the 1991 African Games where he represented his country with distinction resulting in him catching the eye of Reinhard Fabisch. Gifted with a tremendous work rate, passing accuracy and an eagerness to occasionally venture forward, Nkonjera was often regarded as a small man with a big heart making life easy for the back four. Benjy was a key figure for Highlanders before moving abroad to join Adam Ndlovu at Swiss topflight side SC Kriens. Makanaky will perhaps be most fondly remembered for majestic performances during the dream team era, a period where Zimbabwe came within 90 minutes of qualifying for the World Cup.