Chronicle Editor
Lovemore Dube
FROM playing football at the park to group stages of the Confederation of African Football Champions League reads the story of Zimiseleni Moyo, a former Railstars left-back.
“A Zambian guy saw me playing football in the park in Hillbrow, Joburg and recommended me to Zesco of Zambia,” said Moyo in an interview on Monday last week. Many Zimbabweans have been lost to the streets and parks of Hillbrow, Berea and Yeoville in Johannesburg in South Africa after being frustrated by competition or coaches.
Moyo said before that he had played for East Rovers from Bulawayo’s Pumula East suburb and made his break at Railstars in 2005 when senior players went on strike.
He was thrown into the fray and eventually dislodged Mtewa Masiku from the left-back position. After four years, he tried his luck at Motor Action in Harare. “Things were taking too long and after some two months I left for South Africa where a Zambian spotted me playing with guys in the park and I moved to Zambia,” said Moyo. Moyo went on to win three league titles with Zesco and is happy to have played continental football.
After some years at Zesco, Moyo left for Zanaco where he was a winner again and managed to go as far as the Caf Champions League group stages.
He believes they had a good run and were unfortunate to be in the same group with Aly Ahly of Egypt. He played for Lusaka Dynamos as well.
Zimiseleni who has coached junior development projects in Zambia and is now with Kafue Eagles in the Zambian First Division.
He holds a Caf B licence and relishes an opportunity to plough back into his homeland.
Moyo said he felt homesick and would not hesitate with his family to take up an opportunity back home.
He believes with his Caf B qualification and the experience of playing in Africa he can be useful.
“I am happy football gave me so much. Home is best. I would love to plough back. Would like to go to the grounds to see how things are done and what can be improved,” said Moyo an A-level graduate of Pumula High School.
Moyo said Zimbabwe lower division teams have better facilities than in Zambia. One take-away that he had noted in his adopted country was the work ethic exhibited by players and coaches.
He said if Zimbabweans were to inherit that workmanlike approach, fortunes could be better.
Zimbabwe has had some Zambian players like Ferdinand Mwachindalo, Joseph Mwansa, Manase Mwanza, Laughter Chilembe, Ian Bakala and Charles Chilufya who gave the local game a different dimension.
Online Reporter