Grade seven star powers young mighty warriors

Bruce Chikuni, Sports Reporter

A HERENTALS Mabvuku Grade Seven pupil, Dee Winne Mapuwa, struck four times when the Young Mighty Warriors hammered Lesotho 12-2 to book their ticket in the next round of the COSAFA U-17 tournament in Namibia.

Mya Munyanduki also shouldered the scoring burden as she scored four goals.

Mapuwa, who is just a 12-year-old, left many intrigued by how she underlined the notion that age is just but a number.

The Legends Academy forward was also in the starting XI when the Young Mighty Warriors suffered a 0-3 defeat at the hands of Botswana three days ago in their opening fixture of Group C. The Herentals-Mabvuku Grade Seven pupil would have been at school right now, starting her second term.

But Mapuwa, who appears to be ahead of her age, found herself bossing and showing teenagers how it is done.

Mapuwa comes from a family with a decent history in domestic football.

She is the younger sister of Green Fuel’s Washington Mapuwa and Wellington Mapuwa of Hwange.

Mapuwa first burst into the Zimbabwe team for the girls Under-15 CAF African Schools Championship, which took place at Gateway High two years ago.

She had a goal and an assist to her name when she was just a 10-year-old. Her father, Blessed, told Zimpapers Sports that he was a disappointed man when Mapuwa was born because he was expecting a baby boy who would become a footballer.

“I was a bit disappointed when Winne was born because I wanted her to be a boy who would play football.“But, fortunately, God answered my prayers in a sweeter way. I realised that she was very passionate about football when she was four, she would kick cups and everything on her way.

“We took her to Legends Academy when she was just five and she has been making me proud ever since,” said Blessed.

Her mother, Dorcas Chipengo, said Mapuwa loves nothing besides football.

“She is very passionate about football, I’m happy because she is someone who knows the importance of balancing football and education.

“We are blessed that she has seen how football has helped her brothers in different ways. I just hope she will remain focused,” said Chipengo.

Wellington, the elder brother, said he is being inspired to raise the bar even higher with Mapuwa’s impact.