daniel chigunwe
Veronica Gwaze
Sports Reporter
ALTHOUGH they are yet to pick maximum points in the 2024 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign, Yadah goalkeeper Tinotenda Takarinda believes that this is their breakthrough season.
Today Yadah will make use of Heart Stadium for the first time when they host Simba Bhora in a Week 5 fixture seeking their maiden win of the campaign after two draws and two defeats in opening matches against Hwange (0-1), Bikita Stars (1-1), Dynamos (0-0) and Bulawayo Chiefs (1-3).
The Heart Stadium was officially opened by President Mnangagwa last December.
“We do not want to disappoint our fans at home. It will be a full house, so we need to be the best team at the end of the day.
“I want to make sure that the team wins first and also improve my game with my aim being to make it to the national team. So this is the opportunity to shine and also learn from the experience around us in the team.”
The lanky goalkeeper feels that, with the presence of Khama Billiat at Yadah, spotlight will be on the team, hence a time for them to ride on his profile and showcase their talents.
Billiat’s sensational return has sparked a frenzy across football circles, attracting numbers who now follow Yadah just to watch the former Warriors and Kaizer Chiefs star play.
Takarinda believes that Yadah should bank on Billiat’s huge profile to showcase their talent and attract business for the club as well as lucrative moves for themselves.
“Playing alongside Billiat is a huge privilege for rising players like us, his presence makes a bold statement and numbers have been coming to our matches to see what he still has to offer.
“We should make proper use of that opportunity. This is a breakthrough season for us, a moment to be spotted and as well learn a lot from the legend.
“We should not pressure him, if we give him love and space he will show us what he is made of; he has been giving highlights and if we let him be, I am confident he has so much to offer.”
Interestingly, it seems like Takarinda has always been a player who draws encouragement from those surrounding him.
Growing under his maternal grandparents’ care, he, as a young boy, was motivated by watching his uncle Edward Sadomba make it big in football.
As Sadomba rose to be one of the finest strikers in Africa, Takarinda would also play street football in Mbare, were he had inherited his uncle’s moniker ‘Duduza’.
“My other uncles Macdonald Takarinda and Farai Jamaes Madora also played the game so it was more of a house of football stars,” he said.
“Watching all my uncles playing in the Premier League and outside the country I just made up my mind one day to say this is what I wanted for myself…I would devise a plan daily to ensure that I go and play football with my friends.”
During his school days at Highfield Mhuriimwe, Takarinda gradually made a name as a player of repute.
He would then be drafted into the Inter Harare Schools tournaments between 2012 and 2017 before breaking into Mbare National Division Two in 2018.
He then moved to ZIFA Northern Region Division One side Golden Eagles the following year and was entrusted with captaincy. Leading from the front, he amassed 12 clean sheets in 2020.
Takarinda was spotted by Yadah during one of their friendly games and the Premier League side signed him in 2023 and he featured in 14 of their matches, recording five clean sheets.
This season, he has started in all their four matches with a clean sheet to his name.
Online Reporter