Online Reporter
Curtworth Masango-Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE moment the ball hit the back of the net, David Delani Chigwada wheeled away in celebration, the emotion pouring out of a first appearance in Zimbabwe colours.
It was a goal that meant far more than putting the Young Warriors ahead against Mauritius at the National Sports Stadium on Wednesday.
It was the perfect opening chapter to an international journey the England-based forward hopes will have many more memorable pages.
The Brentford youngster scored on his debut before Nisbert Muzenda added a second to seal a 2-0 victory in the first leg of their Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Zimbabwe will now take that advantage into the return leg in Mauritius on October 6.
For Chigwada, though, Wednesday was about more than the result.
It was a first chance to wear the Zimbabwe badge, to play in front of the home supporters and to represent his country on the international stage.
“It was my international debut and my first time representing Zimbabwe, so just having the opportunity to represent the country was great in itself,” said Chigwada.
“To then help the team win by scoring made it even more special. The support from the team, coaches and fans was amazing.
“As you could see from my celebration, it meant a lot to me. I have many people supporting me and watching from home, while the fans in the stadium were also behind us.”
That celebration told its own story — an outpouring of pride from a youngster who had only recently arrived in the country but already looked at home in the yellow shirt.
Young Warriors coach Marc Sanchez believes Chigwada’s debut strike offered only a glimpse of what the forward can bring.
“He is a very talented player with the ball. Since my first training session with him, I have enjoyed watching his first touch,” said Sanchez.
“He plays at a good rhythm and is also very quick. He always has the ball in his mind and can play across all the forward positions.
“He has a lot of quality and always remains involved in the game. He does not switch off when the ball is away from him, so I think he is capable of doing something special at this level.
“Chigwada is equally eager to embrace his Zimbabwean roots and deepen his understanding of the country’s football history. He has used his time in camp to learn from those around him, particularly players with senior international experience.
“Being around some of the senior players at the hotel and being able to speak to them means I can learn a lot,” he said.
“It is now on me to look more into the history of the country’s football so that I can connect with it on a deeper level.”
The warmth he has encountered since arriving in Zimbabwe has helped ease him into his new surroundings.
“Since I landed in Zimbabwe, the reception has been amazing, and the hospitality from everyone has been great,” said Chigwada.
“Whether it was the hotel staff, the fans or people around the country, everyone has been welcoming.
“It is definitely an environment I enjoy being in and one I hope to return to in the future.”
Chigwada and his teammates must now complete the job in Mauritius.
In two weeks’ time, Chigwada will be celebrating his 19th birthday, and the reality is that Zimbabwe now have a new generation of players that could change football and the way the world views the country.
Zimpapers Sports Hub understands that the Zimbabwe Football Association will put much investment into this group as the next step to change the game in the country and make big impressions at all tournaments.
Their plan is to eventually see the players graduate to form a strong national team capable of restoring the country to its rightful place in world football.
