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Tadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
EPHRAIM Mazarura can’t believe his eyes.
He has been tense. Just like the atmosphere in the camp.
The Black Rhinos goalkeeper is part of the provisional Warriors squad that has drawn so much interest and attention.
Zimbabwe have finally banished the stubborn ghost by qualifying for their debut African Cup of Nations to be staged in Tunisia between January and February 2004.
The nation is excited.
The countdown to the biennial 16-team jamboree has been set in motion countrywide as early as October 2003. On radio, television and newspapers…
It’s hard for discussions, in kombis, schools, work places and just everywhere, to end without the mention of the impending AFCON which the Warriors would be part of.
It’s one of the most outstanding feel-good stories to be told in Zimbabwe since the turn of the century.
And when coach Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa announces his preliminary squad, the excitement grows in both stature and significance.
The veteran gaffer would as well put some hopefuls under audition in an international friendly against El Salvador.
Mazarura, Gift “Umbro” Muzadzi, Tapuwa “Campos” Kapini and Energy “Gokwe” Murambadoro are the four goalkeepers in camp.
Football is as beautiful as it is cruel.
One of the four has to fall by the wayside.
Naturally, it has to be Mazarura.
There is no doubt about the prowess of Murambadoro, who has been the pillar of the squad in the pulsating qualifiers in a group that had Mali, Seychelles and Eritrea.
His club CAPS United haven’t done very well in the league but their decent showing has largely been dependent on this boy from Gokwe.
And he has deservedly been voted the Soccer Star of the Year.
It takes something special for one to be voted for this award. Worse, as a goalkeeper.
He is only the second goalie to win the gong since Japhet “Shortcat” Mparutsa broke the norm in 1981.
But Murambadoro’s crowning was a bit special.
Unlike Mparutsa who won the prize after his team Dynamos had won the league title, Murambadoro has done it due to sheer individual brilliance in a year Makepekepe had struggled to keep pace with champions AmaZulu, Dynamos and Highlanders.
Just to show how brilliant Murambadoro was, he remains the only one in an exclusive company of three goalkeepers, including Mparutsa and Washington Arubi, who has won the Soccer Star accolade, without his team winning the league title.
In a way, it’s about who would be the other two goalkeepers to join him on the plane to Tunisia.
Kapini is next to Murambadoro and he is even better in some aspects of goalkeeping especially in terms of command and footwork.
He has always been Murambadoro’s understudy in the qualifiers and there would be no reason why he shouldn’t continue with that role in Tunisia. His character is strong and he is a winner as well.
He has kept the goal for giants Highlanders in their record-equalling four league titles on the trot from 1999 to 2002.
Muzadzi is arguably the most experienced out of the quartet.
The dreadlocked goalie has also been Zimbabwe’s Number One in some tournaments that include the COSAFA Cup less than 24 months earlier. He stands a very good chance.
Mazarura has only made his Premiership debut in 2000 when Black Rhinos battled Highlanders at Barbourfields.
He is relatively very green as compared to the rest of the lot.
Of course, he has represented Zimbabwe in all age groups while in the ranks of Circle United and later on at the army side.
He is honest with himself.
He isn’t expecting to make the final squad ahead of his three colleagues.
For him, being part of the provisional squad for the historic AFCON appearance is already special.
But less than a week before Zimbabwe, who would face Egypt, Cameroon and Algeria, would depart for Tunisia, Chidzambwa and the team management come along to have a critical meeting with the squad.
They have to announce the 23-man travelling team.
Mazarura can’t stand it. He is nervous.
But his name is announced along with Kapini and Murambadoro as the goalkeepers in the final squad.
“I have had many highs in my football career but that was the highlight.
“I can’t forget that day. Honestly, I was content being part of the provisional squad and my colleagues had more national team experience than me. But as an individual I just decided to work hard in training as I was also fancying my chances,” said Mazarura.
“I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard my name being announced. There I was, being part of the pioneering national team to play at the African Cup of Nations. It was a proud moment for me, my family, my team and my community”.
Of course, Mazarura together with surprise inclusion Alois Bunjira wouldn’t play a part at the tournament as Zimbabwe bowed out in the group stages following two successive defeats to Egypt (2-1) and Cameroon (5-3) although they managed a 2-1 victory over Algeria in a dead rubber last group game.
Murambadoro kept the goal against Egypt and Cameroon and Kapini was given the nod in the victory against Algeria.
“For me, I want to be honest, even when it was Murambadoro and Kapini keeping the goals, it felt like I was there with them in the thick of things.
“The experience changed my perception and of course my life…”
His status as a goalkeeper has grown dramatically after this AFCON sojourn.
Highlanders, CAPS United, Dynamos, AmaZulu, Masvingo United and Zimbabwe Saints all want to sign him.
He opts to stay at Black Rhinos.
But he can’t resist mega-rich Motor Action at the start of 2005 whom he helped win the Independence Trophy that year.
And that move to Motor Action triggers nomadism in him.
He jumped from the Joey “Mafero” Antipas’ team to Mwana Africa, then Lengthens, Dynamos, FC Lupopo in the DR Congo, Chicken Inn, Mbabane Swallows in Eswatini, How Mine and then hung up his gloves in Mozambique in 2016.
While the highlight of his career remains that AFCON appearance in 2004, he wants to quickly forget two of the worst episodes in the game.
Interestingly both came when he was playing outside the country.
Joining FC Lupopo at the beginning of 2011, Mazarura found himself having to go for half a year without receiving his salary as administrative issues affected the club’s liquidity.
He would soon leave the club for Mbabane Swallows where he won three league titles.
He was their hero.
And South African giants Orlando Pirates took notice.
They invited him for trials but Mbabane Swallows blocked his way.
“That’s definitely my biggest regret in my career. Orlando Pirates wanted me but my club would have none of it,” said Mazarura.
“It is something that I would say was a major disappointment in my career.
“I was labelled a match-fixer by Mbabane Swallows officials just to make Orlando Pirates reduce their interest in me”.
The Mutoko-born, Mabvuku-bred goalkeeper has now established his own academy, Royal Oak where he is nurturing the next generation of not only goalkeepers but outfield players as well.
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