Online Reporter
Curtworth Masango
At just 20 years old, Cobert Junior Chimedza has already experienced the highs and lows of professional football.
Once hailed as a trailblazer for becoming the first post-independence, Zimbabwean to sign for a Portuguese top-flight club, his dream move to Gil Vicente was derailed by an agonising delay in international clearance.
Now, on loan at lower-tier side AC Marinhense, the dynamic winger is determined to prove he belongs among the elite.
Chimedza’s journey to Europe was anything but ordinary.
Born in Harare, he moved to London at 14, where his raw talent was spotted in a casual football match by scouts from English club MK Dons.
His rapid rise saw him nearly sign for Turkish Süper Lig side Adana Demirspor in 2023 before the deal collapsed.
Then came his big break, a contract with Primeira Liga side Gil Vicente, making him a pioneer for Zimbabwean football in Portugal’s top division.
But just as he prepared to make his mark, bureaucratic hurdles left him in limbo, unable to play.
“It was frustrating,” Chimedza said.
“I had worked so hard for this opportunity, only to be sidelined by paperwork. But I’ve learned that setbacks are just setups for comebacks.”
Determined to keep his career on track, Chimedza secured a season-long loan to AC Marinhense, a club competing in Portugal’s Campeonato de Portugal.
The move offers him the one thing he desperately needs, regular playing time.
He didn’t waste any time making an impression, debuting in a 1-0 victory over Peniche and quickly endearing himself to fans with his explosive pace and creativity.
“This is the perfect environment for me to grow,” he says.
“The coach believes in me, my teammates have been supportive, and I’m getting the minutes I need. My goal is to dominate here so that when I return to Gil Vicente, I am ready to compete at the highest level.”
Chimedza’s journey carries historical weight. The only other Zimbabwean to play in Portugal was the late Freddy Mkwesha, who featured for Sporting Braga in the 1960s.
Now, over half a century later, Chimedza is determined to carve out his own legacy.
“I know the significance of what I am doing,” he said.
“Not many Zimbabweans have played in Europe, let alone Portugal. I want to inspire the next generation back home, to show them that with hard work, anything is possible.”
While his immediate focus is on impressing at Marinhense, Chimedza’s ambitions stretch far beyond the lower division.
A strong season could earn him a recall to Gil Vicente’s first team, and possibly even a debut for Zimbabwe’s national team, the Warriors.
“Representing my country is a dream I’ve had since I was a boy,” he says.
“But first, I have to prove myself here. Every match is an audition for my future.”
This loan spell could be the springboard that propels him to the heights he is always believed he could reach.
