Chindungwe almost pulls a Radebe

Fungai Muderere
FOOTBALL has been blessed with accidental goalkeepers in the past, talk of retired Paraguayan keeper Jose Luis Chilavert or Manchester United shot stopper David de Gea aï¿½ï¿½ the list is endless and if push comes to shove, on the local scene Highlanders can produce one.

Dreadlocked Bosso captain Felix aï¿½?SaNickyaï¿½? Chindungwe started off as a goalkeeper during his days on the streets of Tshabalala before he switched to an in-field player.

Last Sunday he was nearly asked to go back between the sticks when Bossoaï¿½ï¿½s first choice keeper, Ariel Sibanda aggravated his shoulder injury.

Sibanda, who has been in the treatment room for over two weeks, had come in as a substitute in the 29th minute to replace injured and equally good goalminder Prosper Matutu during Bossoaï¿½ï¿½s league match against How Mine at Barbourfields Stadium.

In the event that Sibanda had failed to continue in between the sticks and with third choice Njabulo aï¿½?Popoaï¿½? Nyoni not selected on the match day squad, Bosso would have been forced to use an in-field player.

It would have been a tricky situation but captain Chindungwe had it all figured out.

aï¿½?When Ariel went down in pain, I openly told the team manager that I was getting ready. I even told my teammates on the bench that there was nothing to worry about since I was once a goalkeeper when I was a youngster,aï¿½? said Chindungwe.

However, Sibanda soldiered on after being treated by the clubaï¿½ï¿½s medics, in the process denying his skipper a chance to do a famous yesteryear Lucas aï¿½?Rhooaï¿½? Radebe stunt.

Radebe, a club legend at Englandaï¿½ï¿½s Leeds United had one of his many highlights back in 1996. Radebe, who started out as a goalkeeper before he switched to central defence at Kaizer Chiefs, was forced to go back between the sticks when Leedsaï¿½ï¿½ first choice keeper, Mark Beeny, saw red.

This was during a game against Manchester United and Beeny was sent off in the 16th minute. Leeds boss Howard Wilkinson called Rhoo to put on the gloves and replace the keeper.

What followed was a virtuoso individual display that saw Radebe keep out Ryan Giggs and Andy Cole with impressive saves.

Only Roy Keane was able to beat Radebe in goal on that day as United got away with a 1-0 win.

This heroic performance was perhaps the start of Rhooaï¿½ï¿½s journey towards acquiring his legendary status at the club.

Asked if ever he ever regretted his switch to an in-field player, the Tshabalala-bred Chindungwe, who went to Mahlabezulu Primary and Embakwe High School said:

aï¿½?While I could have been plying my trade at the opposite end of the pitch, it was out of fun that I played as a goalkeeper during my days at school. No one stopped me from being a goalkeeper. I donaï¿½ï¿½t regret anything now as I have achieved a lot in the game as an in-field player.aï¿½?

So his story is an opposite of aï¿½?Torres: My mum stopped me being a goalkeeper.aï¿½? It has been reported that former Chelsea striker Fernando Torres could have been a goalkeeper rather than one of the worldaï¿½ï¿½s deadliest strikers but his mother would not let him.

Chindungwe added that his glimpses of brilliance as an in-field player started showing in the lower wrungs of Zimbabwean football when he turned out for the now defunct Ostrindo, Tshabalala Pirates, Tshabalala Bucs, Tagarira and Piggott Maskew.

He had junior team stints in the high density suburb of Tshabalala alongside Bulawayo City trio of Mkhokheli Dube, Mthulisi Maphosa and Thomas Chimenya. He also played alongside former Railstars midfielders Edward Tembo and Blessing aï¿½?Marabhaaï¿½? Ngwenya.

The player, a former national team and Chicken Inn centre back, went on to joinAï¿½ now defunct PSL clubs that include Underhill and Shooting Stars, where he was team captainAï¿½ from 2008 to 2010 after the club earned promotion into the Premier League in 2007 from the Southern Region league.