tawandamusarurwa
Langton Nyakwenda
THREE years ago, the thought of quitting football crossed his mind, as the effects of Covid-19 took their toll on local sports.
Emmanuel Mandiranga, who was then with Harare City Football Club, traded his boots for spanners, as he temporarily became a motor mechanic at the popular Chikwanha area in Chitungwiza.
“Harare City recruit Emmanuel Mandiranga has resorted to repairing cars to cope with the depression induced by the prolonged Covid-19 lockdown,” wrote The Herald on July 7, 2020.
“I am really enjoying the work I am doing these days, together with my father, Clever. We are fixing cars together at his garage in Chitungwiza,” Mandiranga revealed.
The pandemic prompted the authorities to indefinitely suspend all sporting activities and some players had to quit sport for good.
Mandiranga, however, did not.
Instead, he left the financially troubled Harare City for CAPS United in July 2022, before landing his first foreign gig with Mozambican champions UD Songo in February this year.
Last weekend, he wrote his own piece of history when he scored his first goal in the CAF Champions League.
The 27-year-old striker was on target when UD Songo drew 1-1 against Green Mamba of Eswatini in a preliminary round second-leg clash.
UD Songo progressed to the first round on 2-1 aggregate, having beaten the Eswatini side 1-0 in the reverse fixture.
They will now play Petro de Luanda of Angola, with the first leg scheduled for Estadio National do Zimpeto in Maputo on September 15.
Mandiranga is a product of the famed Aces Youth Academy.
“It feels good, to be honest. It is a dream come true because I know my name is written down as a scorer in the Champions League.
“I am so happy,” Mandiranga told The Sunday Mail Sport from his base in Maputo.
The striker got his first taste of top-flight football at Motor Action in 2013, when he graduated into the first team, alongside goalkeeper Donovan Bernard and forwards Wisdom Mutasa and Walter Musona.
He went on to play for How Mine, Bulawayo City, FC Platinum, Dynamos, Harare City and CAPS United, before opting for a move to the Mocambola in Mozambique.
“I am thankful to the Almighty because the journey hasn’t been easy,” he said.
“Remember, there was a time when some of us had to find other solutions to survive and I ended up doing mechanics.
“You know how difficult it is to leave something you love and do other things. So, I am grateful for this chance I have been given at UD Songo.”
Mandiranga currently plays alongside fellow Zimbabwean Tino Muringai.
“My stay has been good because I have a fellow countryman here. It makes it easier in terms of communication and I am grateful for that.”
Muringai is a former Dynamos left-back.
He joined UD Songo at the beginning of the year and has been having regular game time in Mozambique.
UD Songo are three-time champions and are among the giants of Mozambican football in recent years.
Mandiranga and Muringai join a list of other Zimbabwean players who have tried their luck in Mozambique, including Kelvin Mushangazhike, Eusebio Manuwere, Edward Sadomba, Willard Manyatera and Wisdom Mutasa.
“They are a bit organised here. As a nation, Mozambique wants to build their football. The league has more sponsors and I am enjoying it here,” added Mandiranga.
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Online Reporter