Online ReporterZimpapers Sports Hub
FORMER Mushowani Stars playmaker Tendai “Kule” Mutandi has been writing intriguing scripts, too unique to ignore, in the lower division leagues, across the country.
Now 35, Mutandi was a huge part of the Mushowani Stars project that brought to the fore such players as Webster Tafa, Eriya Mafirenyika, Evans Katema and Clemence Gobvu.
Unfortunately, the club didn’t last beyond a single season in the Premier Soccer League, thanks to a lack of financial resources, and it folded at the end of 2019.
While several of his teammates from the Madziva team remained dotted in the top-flight, Mutandi returned to the lower division where his name is well-known across Mashonaland West and Central Provinces.
He didn’t join Mushowani Stars when the club was in Division One, he was part of the pioneering group in the second division and played a key role in helping them move from Division 2 to the Northern Region Soccer League and eventually the Premier Soccer League. And when Mushowani went down, Mutandi opted for another Division 2 side, but his contract ran out before even kicking a ball due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
When things returned to normalcy he played for several teams across different first division regions including Harare City, Black Rhinos and Talen Vision.
Then three years ago, he joined AGAMA in Division 2.
“It then dawned on me that I once helped Mushowani Stars get promoted right from Division 2 until the Premier Soccer League,” said Mutandi. “I took the platform and inspired the team to the Northern Region Soccer League then two years on, to the Premier Soccer League.”
And he is now with another ambitious ZIFA Mashonaland Central Division 2B side Rosa Pirates who haven’t made it a secret that their ultimate aim is to get promotion into the Premier Soccer League.
Rosa Pirates haven’t lost a match, 12 games on and Mutandi is confident he will achieve third time success.
“As an individual, I am really happy to have already helped two clubs from Division 2 right to the Premier Soccer League in the last seven, eight years,” he added.
“Several teams in the first division wanted me. But I decided to join Rosa Pirates. I have so much respect for club president Elvis Gombera. I am the captain of the team and I am pretty sure we will be promoted into the Division One league and then the PSL.”
In a way, that means Mutandi, who is already the first player in the country to help two different teams earn promotion right from Division 2 up to the PSL.
Rosa Pirates coach Zacks Kataya said; “We have a good group of players who have shown a lot of hunger.
“Tendai Mutandi is one of those most experienced players who are giving the team such important guidance.”
“We are really raring to go. What we want right now is promotion because the club is supporting us, the Chiweshe community is also supporting us.”
Peter Tanyanyiwa