Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
IT is 2017 and a 23-year-old virtually unknown goalkeeper at ZPC Hwange seems to have caught the attention of South African side Polokwane City.
Although he visibly lacks confidence and hints of relative lack of exposure, Harmony Nare has the stature and potential that befits just what Polokwane are searching for.
At the time, the shot-stopper, who had been with Hwange for just two seasons, had already risen to be the team’s most trusted pair of hands between the sticks.
As fate would have it, just when he is on the verge of signing the deal, Nare picks up an injury that would put a damper on what could have been his breakthrough.
The finger injury took longer than anticipated to recover, forcing Polokwane to scout elsewhere.
Just as he fully recovered, he got back to his spot as the first-choice goalkeeper at ZPC Hwange, where in no time another opportunity arose. This time, it was a club from Scotland.
Ironically, just before he could sign the life-changing contract, the club head coach and assistant, the people who were keen on bringing him on board, were axed, throwing Nare’s anticipated move off the rails.
It was at this point that the heartbroken towering goalie made up his mind that he would only consider moving from ZPC Hwange if an opportunity arose at Dynamos, Highlanders or Caps United.
In the nine seasons that he stayed at Hwange, clubs from the Premier Soccer League and Division One would come hunting for his signature.
But, this time, it was Nare who would say no, as all he wanted was to play for the country’s big three.
“After all the heartbreaks, I had just narrowed my sights on Highlanders, CAPS United and Dynamos,” he said.
“Also, the fact that I was a neighbour to former Dynamos star Tofirei “Bhashi” Sambo made me realise that there was no greater pride than playing for these three big clubs.”
Of the three, CAPS United fulfilled Nare’s dream at the ripe age of 31, and that was after he had attempted to join the club back in 2013.
Nare still recalls travelling to Harare in 2013 for trials at the Green Machine, only to get dismissed for being too young.
The club reckoned that he would not be able to keep up with the pressure of playing for such a big club.
Going back home to Hwange, the goalie was heartbroken and could not share with anyone what had transpired at Makepekepe.
“It was embarrassing and upsetting,” he said. “I did not want to talk about it to anyone. I decided to stay put at Hwange and focus on developing my game.
“I believe that the Covid-19 pandemic also delayed my breakthrough. It was a tough time for everyone, and it certainly put a damper on many football careers, including mine.”
Off the pitch, Nare is a man of faith; he believes his spirituality played a huge role in the player he has become.
More importantly, he believes a higher power was behind his eventual move to CAPS United. In 2023, he received word from his church, where he was told of his 2024 successes and the subsequent breakthrough.
“The prophet envisioned me collecting medals, inciting excitement on a small stage and then going on to being celebrated by scores of people on what he said appeared to be a grand stage,” he recalls.
“For someone who had some painful experience in the past, it was difficult to believe at first. However, as the man of cloth took me through prayers, I somehow started to believe.
“Interestingly, things then started to fall in place soon after that, and the accolades started rolling.”
He was crowned the Southern Region Soccer Star of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year.
In his 30 appearances, he kept 21 clean sheets and conceded only nine times in their 25 wins.
Nare faced two penalties from which he saved one during his last match at the club, and helped ZPC Hwange clinch the Premiership ticket from the region.
However, they could not play in the topflight because their sister club, ZPC Kariba, also compete in the same division.
This is in line with club licensing statutes, which do not allow clubs with the same ownership to compete in the same division.
Resultantly, they (ZPC Hwange) sold their franchise to MWOS, who had completed the season as runners-up in the Northern Region, behind Scottland.
“It would have been amazing to play under ZPC Hwange in the PSL,” said Nare. “Imagine the emotional investment I put in all those years as we fought for a chance to battle it out in the big boys’ league.
“God has his own plan, and for all the delays in my breakthrough, I believe that He was saving me for the right moment.
“I am indebted to ZPC Hwange for providing me with a platform to showcase my talent; they nurtured me and their efforts led to the CAPS offer.”
Tinaye Agere