Innocent Kurira, [email protected]
AT 40, Masimba Mambare is proving that age is just a number, and the veteran midfielder could be on the verge of achieving what eluded him and Kelvin Kaindu during their Highlanders days more than a decade ago.
The two former Bosso associates are now chasing Premier Soccer League glory together at Hardrock, with Mambare continuing to deliver at crucial moments as the newcomers pursue a historic maiden top-flight championship.
Mambare’s match-winner in the dying minutes at the weekend in a match against Dynamos which gave them a five-point lead with three games to go was another reminder of his value to the title-chasing side, earning praise from Kaindu, who believes the experienced campaigner remains a match-winner despite being in the twilight of his career.
Their reunion at Hardrock has brought back memories of the 2012 and 2013 seasons, when Highlanders, under Kaindu, finished runners-up in successive league campaigns, missing out on the championship to Dynamos.
Those disappointments are now part of their shared football history, but Hardrock offers the pair another opportunity to finish a league campaign with the ultimate prize.
Kaindu was delighted with his team’s late victory, particularly given the stubborn resistance they encountered from opponents who retreated into a defensive block after having a player sent off.
“It was a good win for us, most importantly because we managed to get the match-winner in the dying minutes. It was a difficult and emotional game,” said Kaindu.
“They had a man sent off and decided to play with a block and sit back. They were difficult to penetrate, but we created chances. I saw the resistance and the fighting spirit from my team. We scored at the right time, with title rivals Scottland juggling their domestic campaign with their Caf Champions League commitments,” said Kaindu.
For Hardrock, the victory could prove significant as the title race reaches a decisive stage. Every opportunity to gain ground matters, and Mambare has continued to deliver when the stakes are high.
The coach knows the midfielder’s qualities from their time together at Highlanders, having worked with him during what he regards as the player’s peak years.
“I worked with him at his peak, that was 2012-13. A very exciting player. I met him at in his thirties, now he is 40. These are players that you regret when you see their age and wish he was younger,” said Kaindu.
“Even at 40, he has given us three goals and assisted us, and he has crucial goals. You can’t imagine that he is a 40-year-old. He is a match-winner.”
Kaindu’s admiration goes beyond the goals and assists. He believes Mambare’s professionalism and work ethic have made him an important example for younger players in the Hardrock squad.
“He has got the quality to inspire young guys. Even at training, he is doing what the young players are doing. Physically and psychologically, he is there. He is a complete player. He is disciplined and hardworking. At 40, he is an asset to the team. How I wish he was younger,” he said.
Mambare’s career has spanned several clubs, including Ziscosteel, Motor Action, Highlanders, Dynamos, Black Rhinos and Bikita Minerals. He won league titles with Motor Action in 2010 and Dynamos in 2014.
A championship with Hardrock would give him a third league crown with a third club, an achievement that would further underline his remarkable staying power.
For Kaindu, it would also represent a chance to celebrate a league triumph alongside a player with whom he shared the frustration of coming close at Highlanders.
Their history does not guarantee success, and Hardrock still have work to do before they can claim the crown. But Mambare’s latest intervention has strengthened their push and offered another reminder that experienced players can still shape the biggest moments of a season.
At Highlanders, the title slipped away twice. At Hardrock, Mambare and Kaindu have another chance to make sure the ending is different.
