malvernmugadzikwa
Bruce Chikuni
A CHILD is often described as a gift from God.
That is probably why Chegutu Pirates skipper Gift “Mheta’’ Mwinga received some blessings despite enduring a turbulent upbringing. Because of his height, strength and keen sense of the game, Mwinga is one of the few players who can be asked to play in any position on the field.
He epitomises the notion that leaders are born, not made.
Mwinga recently inspired his hometown team — also popularly known as Sugar Malaga, Dzinza and Zaire — into the top-flight league. He acknowledged that he could never have imagined such a thing in his wildest dreams.
Mwinga lost his parents before his high school education, and this birthed real trouble for him. His uncle became his only hope.
As his uncle eventually disappeared from the picture, Mwinga came under the care of his grandfather, who could not afford to pay for his school fees. Sadly, the grandfather did not live long after being tasked with this responsibility.
This left Mwinga home alone.
Mwinga was just 15 then, and he had to shoulder the unpleasant burden of looking for food, clothes and school fees.
With no one to care for him, he started to move from one spot to another in search of food and clothes.
Home became a place of extreme pain and sorrow. He turned into a popular beggar, and at the same time, he would look for menial jobs to pay for his school fees just to try to complete his Ordinary Level studies.
As misfortune would have it, Mwinga failed to raise money to sit the Ordinary Level final examinations.
But to him, it felt like a dream come true because reaching that far with no refuge was worth celebrating.
“Life was really tough for me, and I usually prefer not to talk much about it because of the things I ended up doing during my darkest hour. Begging for food on the streets is not something that can be taken lightly. That alone is enough to highlight what the struggle was like.
“I was always absent-minded at school because you are in the same class with people who are giving you food, and it made me feel less important,” said Mwinga.
When it looked like he was going to endure more pain after completing his school, football gave him something to hold onto. He started chasing his football dream and joined Chegutu Pirates.
But still, the team had no financial muscle to answer his prayers.
He teamed up with his homeboys, who were helping some farmers to sell their cattle directly to abattoirs. This move eased some of his suffering, but it also made him less of a football enthusiast.
It was, however, a seasonal errand. Profits were not generated every season.
His contract with Pirates was still running, and they blocked his move to join Herentals, who were keen to bail him out.
The Ngezi Platinum developmental side was his next destination.
He captained this side and came close to penning a contract with their Premiership side but the negotiations somewhat broke down.
“I believe if my background was not that strange, I could have played in the PSL a long time ago.
“I have never really dedicated myself to football, but people are always telling me that I’m really good.
“I invest most of my energy in being a middleman between farmers and abattoirs because that’s where the bread is buttered.
“I almost joined Herentals and Ngezi in the PSL but only God knows why those moves failed to happen.’’
Mwinga rejoined Pirates last season after ending his dance with Ngezi Under-19.
The midfield anchorman netted six times in a season, which will be difficult to erase from the minds of many of the Chegutu football enthusiasts.
Mwinga was one of their stars, providing a shield for goalkeeper Tendai Chirara, who racked up 26 clean sheets, and also chipped in with some assists in attack.
The team’s vice-captain, Lenny Chibaya, also weighed in on Mwinga’s childhood.
“I was really happy for him because he is one player whom I have always wished luck since we were young.
“Our fans are unforgiving, but Mheta always gets away with every mistake because of the soft spot they have for him.
“They love him more not because he is super talented but because he is someone they saw begging for food for many years on the streets,” Chibaya said.
Mwinga said he fought back tears when he lifted the ZIFA Division One Northen Region Soccer League (NRSL) trophy.
“It’s something which everyone in Chegutu wanted but I never imagined it could happen this season.
“I also never imagined myself lifting that trophy at Pfupajena and it got me wishing if my parents were there seeing how people celebrated what their son was part of.
“We did it against all the odds and I cannot believe that if all goes well, I will be playing in the PSL next season.’’ His exploits also caught the attention of Warriors coach Baltemar Brito when the national team played a friendly encounter against a NRSL Select.
Mwinga will now be hoping to build on as Pirates take their Premiership bow.
Online Reporter