Vusumuzi Dube
Yesteryear greats with Lovemore Dube
BLESSING Moyo, one of Paul Moyo’s footballing sons, may not have made much of an impression as a player in Zimbabwe, but today he is a celebrated figure in Botswana as an assistant coach at high riding Jwaneng Galaxy.
His father’s move to Botswana denied him the opportunity to rise within Hwange and be counted among the town’s legends.
He showed early promise and his advantage was his body, confidence and skill and a penchant for being naughty by deliberately playing rough tackles.
For the years he played lower-division football, he was outstanding. Galaxy have just won that country’s Premier League title and with that comes a ticket to play in the CAF Champions League.
Moyo is still basking from playing in this year’s Champions League where his team reached the Group Stages, a great feat for a Zimbabwean coaching outside the country. Born on 16 September 1976, Moyo spent his school days in Hwange where his father worked as Wankie FC coach.
His football journey took off in the open spaces of Lwendulu suburb where he played with a soccer crazy gang of boys most of whom played for either Zesa Hwange now ZPC or Hwange FC.
By the time he completed his O Levels, Moyo had made a good impression playing under legends Nyaro Mumba and Rodrick Simwanza in the Hwange Juniors.
Moyo is as travelled as his dad as in Zimbabwe he played for Intundla, Zesa Hwange, East Rovers and Ziscosteel in Division One.
He was a good defender characteristically imposing like his brother Benedict, a former Young Warriors captain and Benjamin Moyo who played for Hwange and coached AmaZulu, Chapungu and Highlanders and FC Platinum.
Moyo later moved to Botswana where he played for Notwane up to 2008 in between he had a brief stay in Albania. He was forced out of the game by injury in 2008.
At Notwane he played with Batswana legends Pontsho Moloi and Innocent Ranku. Towards the end of his career Moyo started investing in coach education starting with the Botswana Preliminary Certificate and attained the Zimbabwe Advanced Coaching Diploma in 2010. Moyo then went for Caf badges in 2010, 2012 and 2014.
“I am now looking forward to the Pro Licence. I developed an interest in coaching while still playing. Football is in our DNA, my brothers Benjamin and Benedict also inherited that from our father, Paul Moyo,” said Blessing from Botswana.
While still basking in glory after winning his first major title in coaching, Blessing says his road to coaching has been a rough ride.
“My journey in coaching has been a rough one honestly speaking, I started from lower divisions playing in dusty pitches for no salary,” said Blessing.
Blessing started his coaching at Calendar Stars and Mega Com in Division Two before getting his break in Division One with Tonota FC. He missed promotion by a whisker after reaching the play-offs and his good run saw him get attention from across the river neighbours, Taffic.
“That is when really felt the heat in coaching. I was given the task of rebuilding that big brand because they had lost 19 players the previous season. Complicated as it was, we recruited young players.
“We had energy and speed in our team and we went 10 games together winning four, drawing as many and losing just two. I had a fall out with management and I was relieved of my duties,” said Blessing
He had stints with Ecco City Greens and Mogoditshane Fighters where he was replaced by Stan Tshosane.
Blessing had a memorable stint taking Botswana Railways Highlanders to the Premiership and making sure they stayed at the top for three consecutive seasons managing top eight finishes and reaching quarter finals of a major tournament.
“As a coach, I kept wanting more and my break came at the beginning of 2023 when I moved to Jwaneng Galaxy as an assistant coach. We competed in the Caf Champions League and went as far as the Group Stages,” said Blessing.
He says playing and coaching at that level was a big learning experience in which they played against the likes of Esperance. Blessing says they are looking forward to the challenge.
“It’s normal to say we are looking forward to competing with the big boys. If we don’t lose our best players we are definitely looking forward to a good run in Africa because we have a balanced side with very good players,” said Blessing.
Blessing says his dad played a very big role in him becoming a coach.
“Dad played a big role, he was a big influencer and I played under him.
“Obviously the understanding of the game that Benjy and Benedict had but if you talk about influence I would not leave out as more came when I was a boy playing under Nyaro Mumba and Rodrick Simwanza.
Having those two legends in front of us was amazing,” said Blessing.
Of his brothers he says: “I was more technically and tactically gifted than them. They were more aggressive than me.”
Blessing also praised Chris Piningo who was playing for the seniors and would find time to come and train the juniors.
“Highlanders secretary-general Morgan Dube also played a part as my coach at Intundla and in Botswana I benefitted from expertise of Stan Mwanga,” said the former tough as teak defender who unlike his two brothers was more comfortable with the ball.
His delight has been coaching and giving young players the break. Some have played for age group teams with two now playing professional football in Algeria.
Blessing dreams of coaching in Zimbabwe one day and believes the experience he is garnering in Botswana will come in handy.
Online Reporter