Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze,Sports Hub
HARDROCK’s Junior Makunike could be a new addition in the books of Premiership prospects who at some point were tipped as talents to watch out for but failed to live up to the hype.
Makunike came to the spotlight in 2023 in Dynamos colors when together with Donald Mudadi and Tanaka Shandirwa they were ‘dubbed’ as the best midfield trio of the season.
While Mudadi and Shandirwa went on to be PSL Soccer Star finalists that year, Makunike remained key in the season’s conversations.
As his market value rose, at the beginning of 2024 he was snatched by then ambitious side Simba Bhora for a hefty figure prompting many to continue to raise their expectations on the lad.
A national team call up followed.
The Mzilikazi-bred midfield enforcer made his impressive national team debut at the Four Nations Cup contest in
Malawi in 2024 under the guidance of respected coach Norman Mapeza.
At the Shamva based side, they went on to win the championship that year, but Makunike who was expected to be
one of their key players played a minimal role in the campaign.
Instead, his career took a dark turn without many noticing.
The player who once held great potential on the pitch now found himself entangled in vices with the potential of
endangering his career.
Makunike became popular for alleged binge drinking and womanizing, ill-behavior which saw him become
overweight and also caused a decline in his form.
“We tried to keep the issues in house because we felt that he was still young and we were still in good position to
work on his behavior,” said a source who was part of the Simba Bhora technical team then.
“The club had to protect him, we believed in his potential and wanted the best out of him but…”
However, in 2025 when championship winning coach Tonderai Ndiraya left Simba with Joel Luphahla taking over
reigns, Makunike appeared to have embarked on a transformation journey.
He shed off some weight and improved his game, earning himself more game time in their title defense charge.
Yet it was a long way for the lad to convince the fans once again.
While he blew hot and cold on the pitch, the “bad-boy” tag he had inherited continued to haunt him off the cameras
as his love for life in the fast lane creeped back.
On various occasions, the once bullish midfielder who was actually believed to be the engine behind his, Shandirwa
and Mudadi terror was reportedly spotted in the wrong places.
Under Luphahla, Makunike once again found himself getting less game time each week.
“Luphahla loved youngsters (Makunike, Mudadi and Ziocha) and wanted his team to be built around them but it
proved to be tough for two of those three guys,” added a source who was also part of Luphahla’s leadership. “Being a
reserved person, Luphahla eventually chose to let them be and focused more on those who took his leadership
seriously.”
Despite the “barren” two seasons at Simba, some clubs still had admiration for him.
At the start of this season, he was signed by league newbies Hardrock for a hefty figure. Yet barely a season later,
history has caught up with him.
Makunike appears to be becoming a liability for the Kwekwe based side who are under the leadership of Kelvin
Kaindu.
He is now overweight, slow in the legs, off-form and has visibly lost all his confidence.
At the weekend, he came in as a late substitution for Munashe Bamara when Hardrock were already sitting in a
comfortable 4-0 victory over ZPC Kariba at Chahwanda.
His wayward behavior has once again left his technical leadership worried.
“Makunike is full of potential but ill behavior stands in the way,” said an assistant coach.
“Sometimes we see things but unfortunately cannot say anything about it…with the way things are happening, soon
he might be a well-spent force.
“I believe he is still in a better position to reform and bounce back in the game, but all this can only happen when he
commits to it.”
