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Veronica Gwaze Sports Reporter
WHEN Prince Kahilu got an offer to train with Ngezi Platinum Stars for just a day while they were camped in Victoria Falls during the pre-season, he did not think twice to accept it.
The centre forward knew that this was the only chance he would ever get to live his dream.
Growing up in Victoria Falls, Kahilu was an avid fan of the Mhondoro-based side.
He kept abreast of team news and also watched their live streamed matches.
However, he never imagined himself being part of the platinum miners someday.
Not that he doubted his abilities but the 21-year-old lad censored himself based on his background.
And when one of his coaches gave him the news that he would get a chance to train with Ngezi platinum Stars during their pre-season camp in Victoria Falls, all he saw was a chance to make his dream alive.
“I could not believe it, I knew Ngezi were local and I watched them in excitement from a distance,” he recalls.
“Getting the news felt like a dream, I expected my coach to come back later and tell me that he was joking.
“Considering where I come from, I did not think that I would fit in but I told myself that I needed to make it work because this was a lifetime opportunity.”
Kahilu still has fresh memories of how his family was ecstatic about the opportunity and how they looked forward to him making the cut.
His coaches had also made it clear that it was probably the only chance he would ever get if football was to take him out of the resort town.
“I could not afford to mess up or disappoint everyone surrounding me,” he said.
On his first day in training with the team, recalls Kahilu, everything seemed unreal.
Stepping on pitch, he was shivering and as a result would make mistakes even on some of the drills that he was familiar with.
It took the intervention of some senior players to calm him down and make him feel comfortable.
In a short time, he got into fine form and would go on to charm the platinum miners who extended his training days.
“When they (Ngezi) said they were taking me with them to Ngezi as a developmental player, I actually needed someone to wake me up from the dream,” reminisced Kahilu.
“I could not believe that I was joining my dream team, the fact that I only knew some of the players from television made everything unbelievable.”
The youthful lad has grown to be a vital cog for the Ngezi division one side who currently sit on position seven on the log standings.
Life at Ngezi, said the star was a new experience and to fit in, he had to adjust.
Ironically, after more than 10 outings, he still feels that he ended up in Mhondoro by sheer luck.
He remembers playing street football in Chinotimba where he was identified to join BreakAway Academy as an Under-10 player.
Although his parents were against it, Kahilu was to stay put at the academy until he was 17 before he was snatched by a local Division Two side, Nakaduwa Warriors.
Later he moved to Bulawayo based sides Ajax, Mpopoma Pirates and Arundel respectively.
However, due to poor remuneration, his parents forced him to go back to Victoria Falls.
In fact, they wanted him to secure a job back at home and assist towards the family upkeep.
Instead, he felt that his life revolved around football hence he rejoined Nakaduwa F.C where he later made Captain.
Although he was not earning much, he was happy and so were his parents.
Kahilu believes it is his mother’s blessing that actually opened the big door for him.
“I believe my mother’s blessing won it for me, Ngezi has transformed my life, now I can afford to contribute towards my family upkeep and I am happy here.
“As Victoria Falls players, we doubted ourselves and our dreams were confined to the tourism town, we did not believe that one of us could end up out here playing the game.
“Ngezi gave me a life, my goal is to make it onto the seniors’ fold soon and I know that with hard work it will happen,” he said.
Online Reporter