Lifeline for Last Jesi

 

Ray Bande
Senior Reporter

 

GREENFUEL FC head coach, Rodwell Dhlakama’s well documented aptitude in working with players who have disciplinary issues is playing out once again after roping in Last Jesi into his squad.

Although he has not yet put pen to paper, Jesi is training with GreenFuel FC awaiting to sign a formal contract with the club.

Jesi had a very promising start to his football career, with a flair that reminded many of yesteryear midfield magician, Ronald ‘Gidiza’ Sibanda.

Somehow, disciplinary problems derailed the Sakubva-born player’s career and the latest move to GreenFuel FC, made possible by Dhlakama, could be a chance of a lifetime to revive his football career.

In the past, Dhlakama accommodated players deemed outcasts, simply because of indiscipline.
At Ngezi Platinum, Dhlakama recruited Denver Mukamba at a time when his career was off the rails due to indiscipline.

Dhlakama said: “When you have kids in the family, you cannot throw them away simply because they are naughty. You do not cut a child’s hand because he or she is a thief. No!

“Sometimes you have to look at it holistically. He is a very talented player. For me, I am still to see his delinquency. I haven’t seen anything wrong with him and to me, they were just allegations. To me, he is just a talented player.

“I am happy to be working with him. He has a point to prove to his family, teammates, former teammates, fans and so on. Since the national team is now participating in international competitions, he is one player who still has chances to play for the national team. That is a challenge to him,” said the veteran football mentor.

Jesi turned out for the now defunct Dongo Sawmills and his meteoric rise, captioned by moves to Africa Trust, Buffaloes, Manica Diamonds and later FC Platinum was not a surprise at all as he had done more than enough to convince everyone that he had what it takes to become the next big thing to come from the shanty suburb of Sakubva.

It was, once again, not a major surprise to hear and see him waltzing past opponents with ease in some CAF Champions League matches when he later turned out for Sudanese giants, Al Ahly where he earned the man-of-match tag in those high profile encounters in a couple of occasions.

Behold, the downturn was imminent!

The stint in Sudan did not last that long as he soon found himself being offloaded in unclear circumstances.

The former Dongo Sawmills player had signed a three-year contract with the Sudanese giants.

He made an instant impact on arrival in Sudan when he scored on his debut as the Omdurman-based side drew 1-1 against Hay-Al-Arab, in a Premier League match.

Back then, Jesi featured for Al Hilal in five Champions League matches and was named man-of-the-match in two matches.

But, together with other three foreigners, he was released, barely seven months into his adventure.

It is upon his return that the quartet of Ngezi Platinum FC, Manica Diamonds FC, Caps United and Dynamos were all in a race to secure the services of Jesi and he decided to settle for Ngezi Platinum, but his stint at Madamburo did not last long especially after the departure of Dhlakama.

Investigations by this newspaper revealed that Jesi had, or has, a weakness for intoxicating substances and at some point he even confessed at a local coach (name withheld) that he once abused drugs, but had quit.

Jesi is a primary school dropout whose disadvantaged background denied him a decent upbringing and access to education.

But at the age of 27, Jesi, no doubt, still has a future in his football career.

Given proper guidance and a conducive environment, the talented Sakubva-born player can still go beyond what he has achieved so far, something that Dhlakama conceded.

“No doubt, he still has a future and like I said before, it only needs someone who understands him and gives him proper guidance. He is a talented player who can still achieve more in his career if he gets the right support he needs,” said Dhlakama.