adminBruce Chikuni
WAS Denny “Deco” Phiri a man on a mission?
The veteran midfielder was the star performer when Bulawayo Chiefs shocked Dynamos 3-2 in a Castle Lager Premiership match at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
He justified why he was Benjani Mwaruwari’s top target during his tenure at Ngezi Platinum Stars.
Phiri told H-Metro that he was considering retiring when the “Undertaker” invited him for trials at Baobab. Benjani left the club when he was on the cusp of handing the former Golden Arrows’ man a contract.
For the 2015 Soccer Star of the Year, his romance with Ngezi was over.
Interestingly, Phiri also revealed he was rejected by both Dynamos and Chicken Inn.
On Sunday, he dominated the midfield and came back to bite DeMbare, for rejecting him, with one of the best individual performances in the league this year.
Phiri rewarded the coach who brought him to Chiefs, Lizwe Sweswe, with a fine brace as he powered the Ninjas to their first win in six attempts.
He hailed Benjani and Sweswe for coming to his rescue when it seemed to be the end of the road for him.
“I’m very grateful to Chiefs and Sweswe for the faith they have shown me, I’m enjoying being part of a good squad of players,” he told H-Metro.
“I also want to thank coach Mwaruwari for reviving my confidence.
“I joined Chiefs with the intention of staying fit but, somehow, coach Sweswe was impressed with my performance during the pre-season.
“I’m happy to be playing again with a bunch of good upcoming players and I’m also learning from them.”
He added:
“I always had faith that I would play even though sometimes it was hard with the rejections.
“I have enough confidence that our team will finish in a respectable position and the signs are starting to show.”
Phiri said he was expecting the Ninjas to build on their win against DeMbare when they entertain Yadah Stars tomorrow.
Online Reporter