Chronicle Editor
Fungai Muderere, Sports Reporter
FORMER Zimbabwe goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro, a member of the first group of Warriors to represent the country at the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia in 2004, is reveling in his first goalkeepers coach job which he was recently granted by former Zimbabwe champions, Chicken Inn.
The imposing Murambadoro who hung up his gloves at South Africa Premiership side AmaZulu mid last year at the age of 37, completing an 18-year professional football journey that began on April 15, 2001 when he made his Premier Soccer League debut with CAPS United against Circle United, told Sunday Sport that he was already feeling at home in the Gamecocks camp where he took over from Tirivaviri Sithole.
“This is my first official job as goalkeepers coach following my retirement while I was still turning out for Amazulu. I was approached by Chicken Inn late last year and I took the job offer. The vibe is still the same.
“Remember I was once coached by Joey Antipas and Prince Matore at AmaZulu so I’m very much comfortable at Chicken Inn,” said the soft spoken former Warriors whose football journey saw him become the second goalkeeper, after the legendary Japhet Mparutsa, to win the Soccer Star of the Year gong in 2003, before transforming from Gokwe boy into an international star when he featured for Zimbabwe at their maiden Nations Cup appearance in 2004.
At Gamecocks, Murambadoro mentors senior national team goalkeeper Donovan Bernard and experienced duo of Pride Zendera and Samuel Mafukidze among other goal minders.
“It’s good to work with experienced goalkeepers who I have always been telling that they should not get satisfied with what they previously achieved. They need to push hard and I’m happy to say we can field any of the goalkeepers for any particular match. However, I pray hard that they implement what we have been practicing when the 2020 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League kicks off and I will be more than happy to see them shine,” said the man who grew up in Gokwe where his father Sam worked as a policeman.
His football voyage took him to South Africa, Israel and back to South Africa before finally calling it a day in June last year and he is on record saying year 2004 will forever remain the best time of his career.
“A boy who grew up in Gokwe standing next to Zimbabwe’s best players at the 2004 Afcon finals was like a dream. I will forever be grateful for getting the chance to represent my country at such a big stage and I want to be thankful to the football fans for embracing a boy from a rural area,” he was quoted as saying by our sister paper Sunday Mail.
Murambadoro, who despite his commanding body structure has the ability to crack jokes, started two games at the tournament in Tunisia and kept goal as the Warriors lost 2-1 to Egypt on their Nations Cup debut. He was also thrust between the posts as the Warriors crashed 5-3 to Cameroon in their second group game to bow out of contention.
Then Warriors coach Sunday Chidzambwa then sent on Tapuwa Kapini for the dead rubber clash against Algeria in which goals by the late Adam Ndlovu and Joel Luphahla ensured a 2-1 win for the Warriors. Murambadoro played for Zupco Gokwe, Caps United, Hellenic, Bnei Sakhnin of Israel, Benoni, Bidvest Wits, Mpumalanga Aces and AmaZulu.
His move from Zupco Gokwe FC to Caps United in 2001 was reportedly a fairy-tale that saw him earn the nickname “Gokwe”. Gokwe has not only gone off football market as he has also managed to dribble into the heart of Karen who he is married to. The couple has three kids Donell, Kyle and Kyla.
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