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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
WILMORE Chimbetu should have won his maiden Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title with FC Platinum last season.
He had principally joined the four-time champions on loan from Herentals but the deal somehow collapsed in a sensational manner.
He had to retrace his footsteps back to The Students and he needed some time to recalibrate as Prince Chama had taken over the right-back position which Chimbetu, though a utility player, usually prefers.
The only footballer from a family of famed musicians, like his late uncle Simon and deceased father Naison as well as his sibling Tryson, only entered into the fray around mid-season.
He would play a pivotal role in Herentals’ fine run in the Chibuku Super Cup with The Students going all the way to the final after beating strong contenders FC Platinum along the way.
Chimbetu is now on a one-year loan at giants Dynamos. But he missed the first 11 matches, just like last season as his registration took ages to complete.
He only debuted for the Glamour Boys in their match-day 12 fixture against ZPC Kariba at the National Sports Stadium a fortnight ago. The 25-year-old was getting frustrated but he is happy he can now fulfil his long-cherished dream.
“You know growing up, you get to know about how it is to play for a big team like Dynamos and getting to feel how it is really about makes me very happy.
“I have spent weeks on the side-lines, training hard every day but the glitches in my registration have been driving me mad. It was mentally tiresome for me,” said Chimbetu.
“But I am happy the process has now gone through and I can finally enjoy my time at a team that I always wished to play for.
“Dynamos is a big brand and it feels great to be playing for this team. I am very grateful to have been given an opportunity to kick a ball in the Dynamos strip”.
But Chimbetu will have to work hard to earn a starting berth in the team’s structure with the right-back position currently a preserve for vice-captain Emmanuel Jalai.
“I am at Dynamos to give what I can for the team to achieve their targets. I am ready to contribute towards the team’s success.
“I am not at the club to compete with anyone because every player has got their attributes which can be different from the other.
“I am just here to work hard, give it my all and play a part towards the attainment of the team’s objectives.
“We have a very good team with quality players and I have no doubt we will be able to compete very well this season.
“We have already played a third of the season’s entire stretch and I am sure you can see we are not far off the leaders. We are still within reach and this is what we are working towards as a team. The language at the club is the same. We need to win matches and compete for top position at the end of the season”.
Chimbetu could as well be deployed in the strike force given that the Dynamos forwards have been firing blanks.
The four strikers at Dynamos who include Nyasha Chintuli, Elie Ilunga, Jayden Bakare and Tinashe Makanda have scored just two goals between themselves in 12 match days.
Dynamos coach Herbert “Jompano” Maruwa has been scratching his head over the blunt strikeforce and told The Herald last week that he was working towards bring back Evans Katema into the fray. Katema is still contracted to Dynamos and has been training with the team while not registered with the Premier Soccer League. Maruwa also hasn’t ruled out taking Chimbetu to the forward roles.
“He can play any position and this is the reason why we lured him to Dynamos. Chimbetu is a complete player and if it means he will play as a striker and proves that he can, then let it be.
“What I know is that he can give us something being the player he is,” said Maruwa.
Online Reporter