Chronicle EditorRay Bande Mutare Bureau
THE mere mention of the Kabwe family in domestic football evokes memories of the former Tanganda and Amazulu star Joseph Kabwe, an exciting player who at the peak of his career once turned out for the Zimbabwe Under-20 and Under-23 national teams in 2001 and 2003.
For the contemporary generation, there is Harare City forward Protasho Kabwe, a talented and versatile utility player who has donned several domestic Premiership club jerseys, including at Highlanders and ZPC Kariba, before joining his current employers.
And yet, for some in Mutare, it is about Samson Kabwe, a midfield genius whose career was agonisingly cut short by a nagging knee injury and is now into the administration of the game with Division One outfit Mutare City Rovers.
But the story of the Kabwe family involvement with football transcends gender boundaries as Berita, the sixth born in a family of seven children, is playing the game of her life at the COSAFA Women Championships in Bulawayo.
Berita’s exploits in Bulawayo have earned the admiration of neutrals and her Mighty Warriors coach Sithethelelwe ‘Kwinji 15′ Sibanda as well.
“Berita (Kabwe) is playing very well. She has an amazing workrate. In fact, she only needs to have self belief because I can see she can play much more than she has done so far,” she said.
However, it is the story of how she started playing the game of football that touches many.
At the age of eight, together with her friends Maud Mafuruse, Rachel Muteneki and Precious Nyado, Berita would play with the boys at Chisamba or Sports Oval grounds in the sprawling suburb of Sakubva.
“I remember I started playing football at the game of eight. Together with my friends Maud Mafuruse, Rachel Muteneki and Precious Nyado we would play with boys at Chisamba or Sports Oval grounds in Sakubva.
“I was inspired to play the game of football by brothers who were playing at the highest level in the country. I vividly remember the days we would play in the same teams with the likes of Howe Mine’s Pascah Manhanga, Buffaloes’ Chengetai Tandadzai and many others.
”It was a whole lot of fun. I used to enjoy it. Since then I have always been playing football and when the time came that women football was being taken seriously I decided to be more serious about my talent,” said the Correctional Queens player, whose football talent earned her a decent job with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services.
The Mighty Warriors will face Kenya in the COSAFA Women Championships semi-final today and Berita believes they have the nerve to go all the way and win the competition.
“Talking about COSAFA, I can say so far so good. I am happy with my performance and that of the whole team. I do not see why we cannot win this competition. Everyone in the team has the hunger for success. We are playing as a unit and I am confident that we will win the tournament,” she said.
Berita once turned out for Mutare women football outfit Faith Drive and Tenax before joining Harare-based top-flight league log leaders Correctional Queens. She wants to play in Europe.
“My dream is to play abroad and work is underway, with the help of my brother Joseph, for me to secure a team in the United States where he is currently based,” said the former Sakubva Two High pupil.
Online Reporter