adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
FOREIGN-BASED footballers Vusa “Sgcebhe” Nyoni, Kuda Mahachi, Marvelous Nakamba and Ezra Siyaduba on Thursday told Bantu Rovers’ up-and-coming stars that hard work and discipline were key to the success of a soccer player. The quartet took turns to address Rovers’ players ahead of today’s crunch Southern Region Soccer League tie against Bulawayo Chiefs at Fairbridge.
Nyoni, who has been plying his trade in Belgium since 2007, said players need to develop self-confidence if they are to realise their dreams.
“Dreams without goals remain dreams. You need to build self confidence and every time you go to a match you’ve to be upbeat. Lift your spirit and if you do that, you enjoy your game. Nothing is impossible as long as you believe,” said Nyoni who has been training with Rovers since the beginning of the month.
The former AmaZulu and Highlanders utility player said he has managed to stay long in Europe because of respect for his profession.
Nakamba echoed Nyoni’s sentiments.
“This journey has no destination unless you give yourself a target. Bantu Rovers might not be the best club for you but it could be a stepping stone for your career. Through this club I managed to get an opportunity to go to Europe and never looked back. Good things might come to you if you work hard and you know what you want in life. The amount of work you put in training, perfecting your technique and a little bit of luck will determine your destiny,” said Nakamba who plays in the Netherlands for topflight club FC Vitesse.
The left-footed midfielder, who earned his first national team cap when Zimbabwe beat Malawi 2-1 in Blantyre last week, will be competing in the Uefa Europa League qualifiers when the European season resumes.
He is proud to be one of the four players who passed through Rovers that were part of the Warriors’ victorious squad in Malawi.
Nakamba, Mahachi, Chicken Inn’s Danny “Deco” Phiri and Teenage Hadebe, who is on loan at Highlanders from Rovers, are former Tshintsha Guluva players that were part of the national team.
Mamelodi Sundowns’ attacking midfielder Mahachi urged players to have wisdom in choosing friends.
“I also grew up ekasi but I never let that affect my dream of playing outside the country. I grew up in Mzilikazi, known for all kinds of people, but I never let my destiny be affected by people who didn’t have the same vision as I had. As players, the things that one has to avoid are naughty friends and alcohol. You’ve to respect your coaches and stay disciplined,” Mahachi said.
Siyaduba, who plays college soccer in the United States of America, said players’ commitment starts with being early for training sessions.
He said youngsters should work hard, push themselves an extra mile, manage their on and off the field behaviour and reach for their goals.
Some of Rovers’ Under-20 players that the foreign based quartet was targeting are Onwell Gombami, national Under-17 midfielder Denzel Khumalo, 16-year-old Gladman Bharibhari, Thabo Lunga, Mthabisi Tshuma and Lucky Ndlela.
The five players are likely to be in the squad that takes on Bulawayo Chiefs at Fairbridge this afternoon in a city derby. Ndlela and Lunga played in the 0-1 defeat to Bulawayo City last weekend.
Southern Region Soccer League Fixtures
Today: Bulawayo Chiefs v Bantu Rovers (Fairbridge), Old Nic Mine v Amagagasi (Old Nic Mine), Ntabazinduna v Technosphere (Ntabazinduna), Indlovu Iyanyathela v Black Boots (Brad Barracks), Casmyn v ZPC Hwange (Turk Mine), Hwange Juniors v Trumus (Hwange), Bulawayo City v Mpumalanga (Luveve), Nust v Makomo (Luveve, 1200hrs)
l All matches start at 3PM unless indicated
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