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marshal who could split the defence of any opponent with his amazing passes. A role model of many upcoming footballers in the country, Maringwa at one point became the captain of the club he loves dearly.
A veteran of the African safari, Maringwa was part of the Dynamos’ side that almost conquered Africa in 1998 only to lose out to ASEC Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire through the assistance of some dubious refereeing.
Last year, he was voted the club’s loyal servant, a prize he shared with fellow teammate and friend Murape Murape. Now president of the Zimbabwe Footballers’ Union, Maringwa was forced into retirement because of recurring injury. The man, who claims that he was born to entertain, has found new love, away from the field of play that gave him fame and fortune. He has decided to venture into virgin territory that he never imagined. He is now into acting.
“I last had a role in a play while I was in primary school but when the producers of the film approached me, I accepted since I love new challenges,” said the 35-year-old actor. His first appearance on the big screen was in a film called “Dust and Fortune” set to première next month.
Unlike most first timers who become nervous when the push comes to shove, Maringwa says he felt comfortable in front of the cameras.
“I am used to cameras since I have played big games for Dynamos, some of which were screened in many countries. So I am not new to cameras, it’s only that this time the cameras zoomed in my face,” said Maringwa. Desmond draws comparison between acting and playing football, saying there were a number of similarities.
“In the football field, sometimes I played for the gallery, show-boating to entertain. Acting is the same, I try to speak in a way that entertains the audience,” said Maringwa. In his debut film, Desmond plays Wakona, an ex-footballer who lives in one of the country’s remote areas who is now into coaching.
“My first role as an actor was simple because it relates to me. Having a football background helped me to execute my role with ease. I think I fitted well in that role,” he said.
Maringwa said he is planning on taking part in several other local films. “I like the challenge and I hope in the near future, I will have a role in other films,” he said. Though it was too early to judge how Maringwa will fare as an actor, world over there are many ex-footballers who have made it into film.
One such name is Éric Daniel Pierre Cantona, a French actor and former international footballer for the French national team. He played for Auxerre, Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nîmes and Leeds United before ending his professional footballing career at Manchester United, where he won four Premier League titles in five years and two League and FA Cup doubles.
On retirement, he took up a career in cinema and had a role in the 1998 film “Elizabeth”, starring Cate Blanchett, and the 2009 film “Looking for Eric”. In 2010, he debuted as a stage actor in “Face au Paradis”, a French play directed by his wife, Rachida Brakni.
Online Reporter