This was when most of the senior players kept boycotting matches, protesting against poor remuneration and pathetic working conditions at the Bulawayo giants.
“Since childhood soccer has been a big part of my life,” said Webb, who went on to play a big leadership role as captain of Njube Rundowns, whom he led to the PSL and helped to become a competitive outfit. He played alongside other Bulawayo boys who, also became household names, like Kelvin ‘Mtshawa’ Maseko, Gift Lunga Jnr, Bekithemba Ndlovu, Richard Choruma, Mike Zivira and Golding Dube.
It was from the Mpopoma-based club that Madinda Ndlovu plucked Webb. But the midfielder only lasted a season, as the club continued with its rebuilding exercise centered on graduates from its own junior policy. He joined Masvingo United in 1998.
Having failed to find the fame and fortune he had sought with the busmen, the nomadic holding midfielder returned to Bulawayo after two seasons to join Njube Sundowns in 2000.
With Zimbabweans Saints headed for the First Division, Sundowns filled their spot in the PSL and gave Bulawayo football some form of respectability, completed by Highlanders, who won four league championships on the trot.
“I enjoyed competition in the PSL and we managed to survive relegation in our debut season. We were committed and our ultimate goal was to win trophies, although we were not lucky in that regard. I felt honoured to captain the club from 2000 to 2009. The club also made me grow on and off- field. I always wanted to lead by example in everything I did,” said Webb who described Joshua Mizha as the “best coach in the country”.
“I turned down many national team call-ups because I was not a full time footballer. I was employed elsewhere and most of the time I was out of the country.”
When he quit soccer, he fell back on his professional job as senior manager with a Bulawayo-based firm. Webb was named Sundowns player of the year and most disciplined player award on many occasions.
Post published in: Football