Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
Zimpapers Sports Hub
SIMBA CHINANI thought his career was over.
A damaged shoulder, 15 months on the sidelines and the weight of doubt from home pushed him to the edge.
Football no longer looked certain. Farming did.
“My family encouraged me to stop football and do something to earn money,” he said. “I am someone who likes farming, so my family was like, why don’t you concentrate on this? And I almost got swayed towards that.”
For a goalkeeper who had once stood between the posts for the Warriors, CAPS United and Dynamos, it was a hard fall.
His last competitive match came on November 9, 2024. Simba Bhora lost 0-2 to FC Platinum, a result that meant little on the surface since his team had already secured the title.
But for Chinani, that afternoon carried a hidden cost. He left the pitch with a shoulder injury that would shut him out of the game for more than a year.
It stalled everything. Momentum, ambition and a career that had been building steadily.
At the time, Chinani was among the most reliable goalkeepers in the league, trusted at big clubs and capped at international level, including a place in the Warriors squad at the 2021 African Nations Championship.
“Because of this injury, my targets went up in smoke. I was targeting to play at the top level. However, it happens in football and you don’t have to rush things. Patience pays and I think I had enough time to heal,” he said. The comeback has not been loud. It has been steady.
Last weekend, Chinani returned to the matchday fold, sitting on the bench as Simba Bhora fell 0-1 to Dynamos at Wadzanayi.
It was a small step, but a significant one.
“I love football and I kept on believing I would be back,” he said.
Watching from the sidelines against one of his former clubs still meant something.
“We wanted to win against Dynamos. You know it’s always great to beat a team of such stature but anything can happen in football,” he said.
Behind the scenes, his recovery leaned heavily on those around him.
Former Dynamos defender David “Diaspora” Kutyauripo worked closely with him on fitness, while ZIFA board member Brighton “Panjap” Ushendibaba stepped in with financial support.
“I think I have recovered well, thanks to the support I got from family and friends. My brother Ushendibaba did a lot for me,” Chinani said.
Now 30, Chinani returns to a different dressing room dynamic.
He is no longer the automatic first choice.
The gloves belong to reigning Goalkeeper of the Year and Malawian international William Thole, and the fight for the jersey has started again.
But Chinani has been here before. He understands the grind.
He also knows what this club represents.
Simba Bhora’s rise has been sharp and disruptive. A Mashonaland Central side that broke into the top-flight and went on to win the championship in 2024, becoming the first from the province to do so.
“It’s always good to win accolades in football. Winning the championship with Simba Bhora was historic, a great achievement,” Chinani said.
The club has remained competitive even after losing key players, opening the current season with two wins, three draws and one defeat in six matches.
They host MWOS at Ngoni tomorrow, another test for a side still trying to prove its title-winning run was no accident.
For Chinani, the bigger battle is personal.
He is back in the squad, back in training, back in the conversation.
