dyton mupawaenda
Veronica Gwaze-Sports Reporter
WHEN he walked on to the Stade Taïeb Mhiri pitch as Zimbabwe took on Egypt at the 2004 AFCON finals, in front of a packed stadium, everything felt unreal for goal minder Energy Murambadoro.
The imposing goalie would play in the opening two games, the 1-2 loss to Egypt and the 3-5 defeat against Cameroon.
Head Coach Sunday Chidzambwa then gave second choice goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini, a chance in the dead rubber against Algeria in which goals by the late Adam Ndlovu and Joel Luphahla ensured a 2-1 win for the Warriors.
Interestingly, even today, Murambadoro sometimes feels like that day was never real.
He described it as a nerve-wrecking experience that still feels like an emotionally charged American movie that continues to play in his mind.
“To be honest, when I started playing football in Gokwe, I kind of felt it in my veins that I would play football at the highest level in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“But to play on the national team, out of Zimbabwe or be part of the first squad which made it to the AFCON finals, that I never imagined. In fact, even now, I sometimes imagine it was just a dream.
“I do not have the perfect words to describe my walk from the dressing room onto the pitch, even my first touch in the game, I was shaking.
“It is hard to believe that I brushed shoulders with Samuel Eto’o, Geremi, Eric Djemba Djemba, Patrick Mboma, Rigobert Song and Modest’e Mbami among others.”
That AFCON experience, reckons the towering former Goalkeeper, is the highlight of his football career which spanned over two decades.
He feels that the tournament catapulted him to the top and made him visible to plenty of international clubs who later came scrambling for his signature.
However, with his rural background playing a huge influence on his decisions, a part of him remained guarded.
“Everything in my football journey played out very fast, my move from ZUPCO Gokwe FC to CAPS United in 2001 was like a fairy-tale, the football gods had my back all the way,” he chuckled.
Ironically in two years since the launch of his career, he became the second goalkeeper, after the legendary Japhet Mparutsa, to win the Soccer Star of the Year gong.
By 2004, his football expedition saw him play for South African clubs Hellenic, Bidvest Wits, Benoni and Black Aces, before moving to Israel and back to South Africa before finally hanging his gloves in 2019.
“I feel our squad of 2004 paved the way for future generations, my desire is for the nation to make it to the World Cup Finals one day, I wish to witness it.”
He is now part of the Prince Matore -led Chicken Inn technical team, as a goalkeepers’ coach.
Murambadoro is currently tutoring one of the country’s best Goalkeepers, Donovan Bernard who was the Warriors’ goal minder recently when Botswana hosted its 57th Uhuru celebrations.
The Warriors lost 4-3 to hosts in penalty shoot outs.
“It is a huge task trying to nurture young talents into surpassing the levels I reached, however there is vast talent and potential in the young crop, with proper investment, we could produce international stars.
“Going into coaching was not a problem for me despite launching my path at a big club like Chicken Inn.
“It felt natural, like it was the right thing to do and I am grateful to seniors like Joey Antipas, Prince Matore and Norman Mapeza among others for giving me a platform to give back.”
After sharing spoils with Herentals College F.C in their last PSL outing, his side sits on position six on the log standings.
Despite losing considerable ground in their championship race as they are now 12 points behind log leaders Ngezi Platinum Stars, Murambadoro is confident his charges are still in the game.
Online Reporter