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Langton Nyakwenda
STANDING at 1,63 cm, Hardlife Zvirekwi is not the ideal right-back. Defenders are usually imposing individuals who strike fear into their opponents well before the kick-off whistle is blown. However, the Warriors and Caps United defender makes up for his lack of height with a big heart and a work ethic that very few can match.Warriors coach Kallisto Pasuwa acknowledges that Zvirekwi’s height can be a problem when it comes to guarding the back post or clearing aerial balls on the blind side. “However, it’s not something that we cannot solve,” the men’s national soccer team gaffer is quick to highlight. Zvirekwi’s club coach Lloyd Chitembwe reckons the defender is not getting due recognition.
“I haven’t seen many players like Hardy, honestly. Think of any wing-back in the Zimbabwean context who has so much talent and you will find a few, or none at all,” asserts Chitembwe. “His ability to control the ball, pass and cross are some of his major attributes. He is also good at containing one-on-one situations. Zvirekwi is the kind of a person you can only enjoy working with. The boy is very humble and focused. He is one player who is not getting enough recognition.”
Zvirekwi’s Warriors starting slot has come under the spotlight in recent weeks with Pasuwa calling up Burnley defender Tendai Darikwa and DRC-based right-back Oscar Machapa for this afternoon’s friendly against Tanzania.
Darikwa has not answered the call to national duty but Machapa is in the country, ready to make his case ahead of the trip to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon. Zvirekwi is unmoved.
“Knowing that I am competing for the same jersey with high profile players like Darikwa actually drives me. It motivates me to work extra hard so that I retain my place in the Warriors squad ahead of the all important Afcon finals,” he says.
The 29-year-old defender has played over 2 000 minutes of league football this season, the most by any player at the title-chasing Green Machine. Zvirekwi started two of the Warriors’ six Afcon qualifiers, putting up solid shows as Zimbabwe thumped Swaziland 4-0 and Malawi 3-0 at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
He did not travel to Guinea for the last qualifier as Pasuwa opted to try fringe players in the dead rubber that the Warriors lost 0-1. Zvirekwi was also the skipper of the Warriors local ensemble at the 2016 Chan finals in Rwanda in January this year.
“I have had a fair season for both the Warriors and my club Makepekepe, but in football no one is guaranteed a jersey. I always try to improve on my last game because once you relax, someone else will overtake you,” he says.
“It is not easy to make it into the final squad for a huge tournament like the Afcon because there are so many quality players itching to go and play for the country. I am just praying that I keep fit so that I stand a chance of being selected.”
As Pasuwa ponders on what to do with the right-back position, Zvirekwi’s record at big tournaments may sway him. The national team coach recently told The Sunday Mail Sport that Zvirekwi raked in more individual performance points than any other Zimbabwean player at the 2016 Chan tournament.
“At the conclusion of tournaments like Chan or Cosafa, we usually get feedback from the experts, assessing individual performances, and Hardlife always scores higher points. He was one of the best players at Chan 2014 and early this year in Rwanda, his points were also high,” said Pasuwa.
Online Reporter