Andrew
Langton Nyakwenda
Sports Reporter
THERE was no spring in the step at all for the Mutasa family during the month of September in 2018.
It was indeed a forgettable spring season, which left the father, Lloyd, equating himself to Jesus, who was sold out by Judas Iscariot, after he was sacked from his post as Dynamos coach on September 27, 2018.
The youngest son in the footballing family, Panashe, who was then still only 19, also followed his father out of DeMbare, before his young career took a nosedive.
Wisdom, Panashe’s elder brother and a nomad of repute was having a torrid time finding his feet at CAPS United who dumped him at the end of that 2018 season. From a highly-rated starlet who captained the Young Warriors during the 2015 All-Africa and 2016 Olympic Games qualifiers, Wisdom deteriorated into a wanderer, who changed clubs without much success.
The 27-year-old midfielder has played for local Premier Soccer League clubs FC Platinum, ZPC Kariba, Dynamos, CAPS United, Black Rhinos and Bulawayo City in the last eight years.
It was eight years of trial and error for the man whose recent stint with Bulawayo City ended in disharmony, after he went AWOL, only to surface at Mozambique giants, Costa do Sol, where he is now trying to rebuild his career.
Wisdom now plays as a striker and scored his first goal in his third appearance for Costa do Sol last weekend, the same weekend his young brother Panashe was also destroying Chicken Inn in a local Premiership game.
Panashe is now shining at Premiership newboys Tenax after injury forced him out at Chicken Inn three years ago.
Their father Lloyd is also enjoying “a perfect stint” at Eastern Region Division One runaway leaders Green Fuel.
After the gloom of 2018, it appears the sun is shining again for the Mutasas.
“I have this feeling that this year could be a year for the Mutasa family and we thank the Lord for that,” Lloyd told The Sunday Mail Sport.
This sounds too different a sentiment from the one Mutasa made when he was sacked at Dynamos, after he was blamed for the team’s poor results, which saw DeMbare fighting relegation that season.
“The leadership felt I was no longer needed and I accept it. If Jesus was sold out by Judas Iscariot who am I to have hard feelings over people,” said Mutasa in October 2018.
Back then it also seemed there were conspiracies against the soft-spoken gaffer. Mutasa bounced back into the PSL as Rahman Gumbo’s assistant at TelOne, during the second half of the 2019 season, but the duo failed to save the Gweru-based side from the chop.
He has now settled in Chisumbanje where his side, Green Fuel, are running away with the Eastern Region crown.
With a lead of over 10 points, as the Eastern Region league championship canters towards its home stretch, there could be nothing that can stop Mutasa from guiding Green Fuel into the Premiership.
“There’s unity of purpose from the players, technical team, management and the supporters. The ultimate goal is to bring Premiership football to Chisumbanje.
“This area could turn out to be another Chiredzi or another Triangle if we can manage to get into the PSL,” a hopeful Mutasa said.
“It also makes me feel great to have my two footballing sons enjoying their careers. You have Panashe at Tenax where he is becoming a shining star.
“Wisdom is starting to rebuild his career in Mozambique and I am also having a perfect stint at Green Fuel.
“We have settled down well hence the results,” Lloyd said.
At Green Fuel, Mutasa has a mixed bag of players, including some of his most trusted troops who include skipper Obey Mwerahari, former Dynamos and Black Rhinos winger Leeroy Murape, Cleopas Kapupurika, Marshal Mudehwe, Ishmael Lawe and Mathew Nyamadzawo.
The ex-CAPS United trio of Takudzwa Mahori, Charles Mukanhairi and goalkeeper Chris Mverechena is also part of the squad.
Gritty midfielder Livingstone Genti and former Golden Eagles gunslinger Claude “Pokello” Mapako, who has scored four goals in five matches so far, are also now in Chisumbanje.
“We also have an array of talented youngsters like Tinotenda Majamanda and Tatenda Gora, who are both from Chitungwiza as well as brilliant ’keeper Tedious Baye who was born and bred in Mutoko.
“Sam Nyakudya from Mbare and Tinashe Munemo from Norton are also big prospects,” Lloyd said.
Across the border in Mozambique, his son, is slowly rediscovering his long lost wisdom.
For all his somewhat wayward behaviour, Wisdom has never hidden his desire to make his father happy through excelling in football.
“Making my father smile again is serving as the biggest motivational factor as I try to restart with CAPS United,” a then 22-year-old Wisdom told The Sunday Mail in February 2018.
Things then never went quite well for the once highly-regarded Aces Youth Academy product.
But the ex-Young Warrior feels time is nigh for him to regain his lost status.
He has played three games for CAF Champions League perennial campaigners, Costa do Sol, and has one goal to his name since joining the Maputo-based club in June.
“I feel at home here but this is not my destination,” he said.
The 27-year-old player feels he still has what it takes to move to European leagues and earn a recall into the Warriors.
“My desire as always has been to make my father happy and also play to my fullest potential. I feel I can do that here.
“Costa do Sol are a very big club, a very good platform,” he said.
The 10-time Mozambican champions were once coached by the late Zimbabwe legend David “Yogi” Mandigora.
They have made six appearances in the CAF Champions League and two in the Confederation Cup.
“I think I am jelling in well into the system. Here their type of football is more physical than back home but I am adjusting very well.
“The league is competitive, it’s coming up. They are even more professional, we even fly to matches.
“My desire is to go back to those days when I was one of the best in Zimbabwe, remember I was once the captain of the Under-23 back home,” he quipped.
Online Reporter