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Mapuranga has ably led Highlanders to 17 matches without defeat in the Castle Lager championship.
Though admitting that the race was far from being won, Mapuranga said his dream was to lay his hands on the title.
He said there was all the motivation at Highlanders to go all the way and win the title.
“The race is still on. I want to win the championship with Highlanders, we have worked so hard as a team to be where we are at the moment.
“There is still a lot of work to be done, and every day is a new challenge to us as we want to keep on winning so that we land the title,” said Mapuranga, arguably Zimbabwe’s most consistent central defender in the last three years.
Despite sterling performances, the media and national selectors continued to ignore the 35-year-old’s brilliant form.
However, recently Rahman Gumbo, Peter Ndlovu and David Mandigora saw sense in trying out the Highlanders defence supreme.
Mapuranga made his debut for Zimbabwe at 35 against Zambia — a match in which they lost 2-1 in Ndola.
The Bosso star said he was happy that at last he was recognised.
“It has always been my wish to play for my national team. I always believed that God would guide me to those colours some day as I have been playing very well since joining Highlanders in July of 2009. It was really an honour to be called up to the squad and later on get a chance to be in the starting 11.
“I grabbed the chance with both hands and I believe I had a decent game so much that I look forward to playing more games,” said Mapuranga.
He said he was hopeful that he would be part of the team next month when the Warriors clash with Angola in the first leg of the final qualifier for the Afcon finals.
“I hope I will be retained. I want to play a part towards ensuring that we qualify and we go to South Africa. My focus is on helping my employers Highlanders win the Castle Lager League title and the Warriors qualifying for the finals set for South Africa. I am focused for both challenges,” said the steely centreback.
After a frustrating move to Caps FC in Harare in 2008, Mapuranga was nearly lost to coaching.
He stayed six months without kicking a ball in 2009.
“At Caps FC where I went when I quit Railstars, things did not go well. I came back to Bulawayo and Trust Kwembeya took me on board as his coach at Inline Academy helping me to attend coaching clinics,” said the defender.
It was at one of the coaching clinics where he met a man who would change his fortunes and make him one of the most talked about centrebacks to play for a Bulawayo team.
The legendary Madinda Ndlovu was at the course and he saw some flashes of brilliance in Mapuranga during practicals at the workshop and invited Mapuranga for a trial at Highlanders. “Trust helped me attend the course. I was coaching his Inline Academy and at the course Madinda, impressed with what I was doing, invited me to Highlanders where I eventually made the grade, the rest is history. I want to make more history for myself by achieving with Bosso more things in honour of the two gentlemen who helped me to be where I am today,” said Mapuranga.
He has played competitive football for almost 15 years. His secret to longevity he believes is his life off the pitch.
“I have lasted this long because of what I do off the pitch. I go to church since I am a believer, I train hard regularly and watch my diet. What I have seen cutting short the careers of many good footballers are habits out of the game,” he said.
His Highlanders play host to Gunners at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday in a Castle Lager Premiership.
He said there was no room for complacency and hopes they will come out of the encounter with a set of full points.
“There is no time to slow down, we are working hard all week to ensure we get it right against Gunners. It is not getting easy for us, every team believes they will stop us, we have to stay united and hard working to pull through,” said the former Railstars star.
Mapuranga has been one of the reasons why Highlanders is at the top of the standings and there is already talk of him and half a dozen of his teammates finding themselves in the once prestigious Castle Lager calendar of the 11 most outstanding players in the league.
Online Reporter