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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
BANTU Rovers FC utility player Blessing “Marabha” Ngwenya could be forced to retire after suffering a broken leg in a Southern Region Soccer League match against Bulawayo Chiefs at Fairbridge on Saturday. Ngwenya, 32, broke his shin after clashing with Bulawayo Chiefs’ left back Joseph Museve, who was shown a straight red card.
Bantu Rovers were trailing 0-1 courtesy of a Kundishora Chakanyuka goal when Ngwenya sustained the injury.
Ngwenya was ferried to hospital by ambulance.
Speaking from his hospital bed at the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) yesterday, Ngwenya, whose shin was in a plaster, said he would never play football again.
“It’s unfortunate that my career has been brought to an abrupt end through injury. I’ll never play football again. It’s over for me,” said a teary Ngwenya.
“I don’t hold a grudge against Museve because it was an accident but I’m pained that I won’t be able to do something that I love. Now my focus is on getting better and walk. It would’ve been nice had the guys won the game for me,” he said. Rovers lost the match 1-2.
Ngwenya, a former Railstars player, will have surgery on Friday.
He has been one of the most consistent players at Rovers where he has been used either as a right back or on the right side of midfield.
The slim utility player had about 10 years First Division experience and had been having the game of his life at Rovers.
Rovers coach Johannes Ngodzo said Ngwenya’s injury was a blow to his team.
“This is a big blow to us and we’re praying for Marabha to have a speedy recovery. What happened was unfortunate and this shouldn’t happen in football. Players should try by all means to avoid rough tackles. We can’t have careers finished by reckless challenges,” said Ngodzo.
Bulawayo Chiefs coach Thulani Sibanda said his team would visit Ngwenya in hospital this afternoon.
“The Bulawayo Chiefs’ management spoke to Ngwenya and I’m sure the club is going to see how best it can help the player. We will visit him tomorrow after training and give the boy morale support. It’s unfortunate that he broke his leg and we really feel sorry for him,” said Sibanda.
After Museve’s expulsion, Rovers began piling pressure on the championship contenders and managed to draw level courtesy of a Tshidzani Malaba goal.
Rovers seemed to have been inspired by Ngwenya’s injury and could have snatched maximum points had it not been for Chiefs’ goalkeeper Wallace Magalani’s heroics.
Double scorer Chakanyuka then grabbed a late winner to take his June goal tally to three, lining himself for the Nokel Security Southern Region Soccer League top goal scorer award.
Online Reporter