Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo in BEIJING, China
FORMER Dynamos goalkeeper Tichaona Diya says things could have taken a different direction had his way to the Warriors not been blocked.
At the turn of the century, Diya walked away from the game for around three years after learning that ex-Warriors coach Clemence Westerhorf had called him up in the national team only for his Air Zim Jets handlers to second his understudy Shaiso Chiduku instead.
“I was so hurt when I learnt about it. It’s not like I heard about it after a long time, I learnt about it as things unfolded.
“So Westerhorf was new and I was having the game of my life, keeping nine clean sheets in nine games.
“So the coach requested for me in the Warriors squad. But the coaches including head coach, Charles Sibanda, chose to second my sub Chiduku.
“Maybe they wanted me to keep around to continue working for the team but I didn’t take it that way.
“I was working so hard to make the cut for the national team and when the chance came, someone decided to stand in the way.
“I had been at Dynamos before along with good goalkeepers and I had gone to Air Zim Jets to get game time.
“So I just decided that maybe football wasn’t for me and for about three years, I was home after telling myself not to return again.”
But fate would draw him back into the picture playing for Dynamos once again in 2006-2007 before former DeMbare coach David “Yogi” Mandigora (late) appointed him the team’s Goalkeepers’ coach.
And the lanky trainer has now shifted base to settle in China where he is now moulding the next generation of not only goalkeepers but outfield players with Jadel Football Academy.
Diya is one of the veteran former players currently fine-tuning JFA stars for the upcoming Thaiwoo Cup and 100-Team Cup tournaments.
“I am very happy to be part of this visionary project fronted by former Zimbabwe youth international Walter ‘Ringers’ Musanhu.
“We hope to make a positive impact moulding upcoming stars,” he added.
JFA are out to win the Thaiwoo Cup in all the three age-categories this week while also defending the 100-Team Cup next month.
The Thaiwoo Cup will kick-off on Thursday running until the end of this month while the 100-Team Cup will be staged between August 8-16.
derick.khumalo