Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE selection of Scottland midfielder Abubakar Moffat and Hardrock goalkeeper Martin Mapisa into the Warriors squad has left one of their former teammates, Barney Kirimi, who is walking the same path they walked, longing to come back into the local league.
Moffat and Mapisa have been drafted into Ramon Catala’s provisional squad that will do duty in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sierra Leone and the DR Congo later this month.
Although Mapisa was somehow called into the national team during his days at Spanish lower league sides, he never got to play a part while Moffat’s talent only got to be recognised after he decided to join the local league.
It was Mapisa who first left Spain to join Dynamos two years ago, and Moffat followed suit from the same lower rungs of Spanish football, joining MWOS during the mid-season window last year.
The duo has tremendously transformed themselves into giants in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, with their team currently entangled in a two-horse race for the championship.
The two players left ACES Youth Soccer Academy at the same time as their colleague Kirimi. While Mapisa and Moffat joined FC Malaga City Academy in Spain, Kirimi got a football scholarship at the Trinity Baptist College in Florida, US, before eventually joining Greek side Olympiakos Zakharos which he helped earn promotion into the third tier of the Greek football system.
The 27-year-old has since opened talks with different Premier Soccer League teams after being inspired by his former colleagues who are starring in the Castle Lager PSL.
“I really love the game, and I also love my country,” said Kirimi.
“It gives me excitement to see my former teammates at ACES Academy doing well in the Zimbabwean league.
“Look, I moved together with Mapisa and Moffat, who went to Spain, while I went to the United States of America to pursue both education and football.
“I never neglected the game, and I am currently playing in Greece.
“I am considering joining a club in the Zimbabwean Premiership, and that is coming from the inspiration I am getting from seeing the two (Moffat and Mapisa) doing well after moving back from the Spanish lower leagues.” Kirimi is seriously exploring that idea just a year after Moffat revealed Mapisa’s profitable move back to Zimbabwe had prompted him to follow suit.
“I am good friends with Martin Mapisa, and when he moved to join Dynamos two years ago, we talked about it,” said Moffat.
“When he joined MWOS, I was more than drooling, and when the opportunity came, I couldn’t wait.
“At the end of the day, I was on the Soccer Stars calendar and all these Warriors call-ups.”
Kirimi is already in touch with them, plus a handful of others whom he played alongside at ACES Academy, like Jarrison Selemani, who plays for FC Platinum.
