adminDanai Chitakasha
Special Correspondent
PLAYERS come and players go.
After their stint in our local stadiums, many depart to seek new pastures in foreign lands.
This is the story of former Bindura United, Masvingo United, Arcadia United and ex-CAPS United midfielder Elias Chinyemba, who has just been promoted into the Botswana Premier league as head coach of Matebele Football Club.
Quite remarkably, this is his third promotion in his adopted country.
He has had two other promotions with Tafik United.
His current club is based in a small village Matebeleng, some 10 km outside the capital Gaborone.
Keen followers of Zimbabwe football will remember the dynamic Chinyemba, a fan favourite nicknamed “Hohodza ” after the star-studded local musical group led by Portia Gwanzura.
How did the nickname come about? I asked the former midfielder.
“I used to keep dreadlocks and in one match I played a blinder. Apparently someone who followed Hohodza band thought that I looked like one of the band members of this group.
“He started calling me Hohodza and like all good nicknames, it caught up and became my trade name! I accepted it because it set me apart and I also started enjoying the music of Hohodza!” he said with a chuckle.
According to Innocent Mupatsi, an avid CAPS United fan, Elias was a hardworking midfielder who combined the rare qualities of ball-winning and good passing. For this reason, he became a fan-favourite.
After moving to Botswana towards the tail-end of his career, Elias embarked on his coaching career. He credits Nelson Matongorere for encouraging him to get his coaching badges as soon as possible.
“I had a desire to learn and he quickly identified that in me. He pushed me and I seized the opportunity. I hold CAF B and this has equipped me for this journey.”
Like many Zimbabwe football coaches, he hopes that CAF A will resume soon so that he can get the qualifications to coach anywhere in Africa.
“It’s urgent, we are desperate for the CAF A courses to resume, we have been waiting for a long time,” he pleaded.
It is also true that many Zimbabwe coaches have helped to develop the game in Botswana. From the early days of Daniel Chikanda, Clever Hunda, Ezekiel Mpofu, Bernard Zikhali to later arrivals like Madinda Ndlovu, Rahman Gumbo, Fabian Zulu among others, the desert nation has benefitted.
Players too have improved the league with legends such as Fabian Zulu, Kenneth Jere, Gary Mkandawire and many more having played there.
Elias Chinyemba adds to the growing list of coaches who went to Botswana, saw and conquered.
About his promotion charge, he had this to say, “Last year I was appointed by the Matebele hierarchy to help the team. I took over the team when they were eight with seven games to go.
“I managed to push them to fourth by winning the remaining seven games. We also had a good run in the Orange FA Cup the equivalent of our now defunct ZIFA Cup but we were knocked out in the semi-final. But together with my technical team, we had done enough to impress the club owners.”
The owners were happy with the progress made.
“In the 2023 season, they gave us the mandate to get promotion into the Botswana Premier league. In Botswana the football pyramid has the Premiership as the apex.
“Below there are two First Divisions, North and South. The winners of the divisions get promoted automatically to the premiership.
“The second placed teams go for a playoff and the winner is promoted. So three teams are promoted and three are relegated.
“My team played in the South Zone and we won 13 games, drew five; and lost four, garnering 44 points. With this we clichéd the title and we will be playing in the Premier next season. ” he said, his voice gushing with pride!
Elias is already making plans for next season and he hopes that the progress the team has shown this season will be sustained.
Online Reporter