Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere
LEGENDARY former Highlanders and Warriors midfield magician Johannes “Tshisa” Ngodzo says he has taken it upon himself to court his younger brother Joel to come out of retirement and join newly promoted Zifa Central Region Division One side Gwanda Pirates.
Interestingly, ambitious Gwanda Pirates recently appointed Johannes as their head coach. Joel, who is warmly known as Josta, retired from professional football at the beginning of last year at the age of 35, after his contract with CAPS United was not renewed.
“I personally approached Josta on a brother to brother basis, I told him he should consider coming out of retirement because I feel he has some few more years to play. At that age, he cannot be just sitted at home, he should consider joining Gwanda Pirates, a club that I’m coaching,” said Johannes.
“He has been in this football industry for long and it will now be up to him and the club’s executive to go for contractual negotiations. Him (Josta) and the club’s executive will need to reach an agreement,” added Johannes.
Josta, who is also a former Warriors and Young Warriors midfielder, recently featured in Gwanda Pirates’ two friendly matches against Bulawayo Chiefs and Bulawayo Chiefs. A creative mastermind, endowed with good ball control and visionary play, the midfielder was promoted to the Bosso senior team in 2009 and immediately shone like a beacon in his debut campaign.
The following year, moneybags FC Platinum came knocking for his signature, dangling a record US$60 000 fee to sign the gifted midfield maestro.
Josta was just 20 years old and already revered as the liveliest young talent in the land.
After his stay at FC Platinum, Josta re-joined Highlanders at the end of his four-year contract.
Josta did not stay longer as he moved to Harare to join Caps United in 2015, where his career was revived, helping them to win the league championship in 2016.His major personal acknowledgement came in 2019 when he was named Castle Lager Soccer Star of Year following an outstanding season in which he scored 10 goals to help CAPS United finish as runners-up in the league title race.
Josta’s excellent show attracted interest from Zambian side Buildcon in 2020 for his first foreign move.
But things did not work out for Joel in the neighbouring Zambia.
A season later, he resurfaced at his boyhood team Highlanders but due to wanting fitness levels, he did not stay long.
In July 2022 and after spending just six months in Bulawayo, he was released by Bosso and he went back to the capital city to join Makepekepe before he hung his boots in early 2024.Josta had not kicked a ball since then.-@FungaiMuderere
