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Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ONLY a few months ago, striker Obriel Chirinda was going through what can best be described as an monumental crisis!
The nights were the worst as he experienced nightmares, not knowing where his career was headed.
His career had hit an unexpected iceberg following a contract dispute that resulted in him missing the first 14 games of the Castle Lager Premier League season.
The footballer had a nightmarish start to the 2024 season. He was at the centre of a vicious contract wrangle with Dynamos after his intended move from Bulawayo Chiefs to the Harare giants flopped.
The striker chose defending champions Ngezi Platinum Stars instead, obviously due to the prospects of getting better financial rewards and an opportunity to play in the CAF Champions League. It was not a smart move on his part, especially after he had accepted part payment from Dynamos.
And the price was a heavy one as he was frozen out of action, while the matter was being attended to by the authorities.
Due to his inactivity, he was not available for selection for international competitions that included the recent 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Lesotho and the 2024 COSAFA Cup. It took the intervention of the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe to resolve the impasse that dragged for more than three months. Now, that is all in the past.
Chirinda is on cloud nine, celebrating a call-up to the national team for the two 2025 AFCON qualifying matches against Kenya and Cameroon. He is one of the nine locally based players in the 24-member squad that was called by the new Warriors coach, Michael Nees.
“It’s a privilege and an honour. I am truly humbled to be called for national duty,” he told Zimpapers Sports Hub.
“I am always prepared and ready to do duty for my country.”
After getting the greenlight to play, Chirinda did not waste time, scoring in three consecutive games upon his return and going on to win the June PSL Player of the Month.
“Firstly, I want to acknowledge my family and my coaches, especially coach Deco (Takesure Chiragwi), who kept on encouraging me to continue working hard in preparation for the day that I will get an opportunity to play, and my teammates for helping me go forward,” he said.
In a league where strikers are struggling to score consistently, his call-up to the national team was somehow justified.
The Warriors also have had the same predicament in front of goal and the coach has to try all possible options.
The other strikers who have been called by Nees are France-based Tino Kadewere; Polokwane City’s Douglas Mapfumo; and Prince Dube, who is also making a welcome return after reinventing himself at Tanzanian giants Young Africans.
Chirinda is looking to grab the opportunity with both hands if he is asked to play in the AFCON qualifiers.
“You know, you get better by playing more games, and scoring goals is what makes me happy. It is what keeps me going,” he said.
Zimbabwe will play Kenya in the opening match of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers Group J at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Uganda, on Friday. They will then host five-time African champions Cameroon at the same venue on Tuesday next week.
And Chirinda believes a strong start will lay a good foundation for the campaign.
“I think we need to make sure we are solid at the back and take our chances in front of goal. I urge the nation to support the team through and through,” he said.
Online Reporter