Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
HERENTALS captain Ralph Kawondera said his versatility emanates from years of practice in which he has had to go through the hands of several top coaches in the league.
At 35, Kawondera is playing with the energy of a teenager, flying at the top of the Premier Soccer League scoring charts with six goals in nine matches.
Yet he doesn’t only take forward roles at the Students.
In only nine games, Kawondera, whose biggest individual achievement in the top-flight came in 2018 when he was voted the Soccer Star runner-up when still playing for Triangle, has played in more than five positions.
The former FC Platinum man has often switched from the front to being a central defender or midfielder in the same game as was evident when Herentals lost 1-0 to CAPS United at Rufaro, five weeks ago.
“Basically, I can play every position there has to be on the pitch,” said Kawondera.
“I think several coaches that I have worked with have played me in different positions. I have played as a Centre Back, as Right Back, Central Midfielder, a 10, a Winger or a 9.
“I am not very good at goalkeeping but if push comes to shove, I believe I can also play in that position. All credit goes to my teammates at Herentals right now and my coach Paul Benza as well as all the other gaffers that I have worked with in my career.”
Kawondera reckons he could have scored more than just six goals if he isn’t switching positions but he is quite happy with it because it is helping the Students in a huge way.
He will lead Herentals in their matchday 10 encounter against giants Highlanders at Rufaro this afternoon.
Herentals have emerged as the surprise package in the championship race where they are trailing leaders CAPS United with just six points after nine games.
Herentals, with 16 points, could cut the lead between them and leaders CAPS United to just three, at least for 24 hours.
This is because Makepekepe are in action at the same venue tomorrow when they host Bulawayo Chiefs. Bosso could be low on confidence after losing their first match of the season last Sunday when they went down 2-1 to CAPS United at Barbourfields.
Before that defeat, Highlanders were on seven draws and a single win and they will be under considerable pressure to deliver a victory against Herentals this afternoon.
“Obviously, we are playing without any pressure whatsoever as a team,” Kawondera said.
“I would like to believe the pressure will be on them more than us. We have a team of good players with a lot of understanding. That’s what we thrive on. But the match against Highlanders is obviously not an easy one for us.
“We will have to dig deeper to try and get a result. We are expecting a tough game. They are a big team but we don’t normally look at the size of our opponents. We only concentrate on doing what we should do, which is playing football and being competitive.”
Kawondera said he is not so concerned about stretching his lead at the top of the goal-scoring table in the league with his priority firmly on helping Herentals pick positive results.
