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Veronica Gwaze-Sports Reporter
EACH time that he steps onto the pitch, playing for former Castle Lager Premiership football champions FC Platinum, midfielder Juan Mutudza’s mind has the “burden” that he carries with him.
Just when he was supposed to be grieving, after the loss of his brother Denzel, Mutudza had to instantly transform into a father and carry the hopes of a certain four-year-old girl.
Denzel, who was also a professional footballer succumbed to a long illness, earlier in March.
Following his demise, 25-year-old Mutudza had to instantly step up and become a parent to the young girl.
He adopted his late brother’s daughter whom he now has to provide with a roof over her head and ensure that all her needs are met.
“That is what I would have also wanted had I been in his situation, I love the kid dearly and I am happy to have transformed into a father this early,” said Mutudza.
The former Herentals and Dynamos player currently tops the PSL goal scorers chart with six goals.
He has the same tally as Highlanders’ Lynoth Chikuhwa and Bulawayo Chiefs’ Never Rauzhi.
Bikita Minerals’ Evans Katema, CAPS United veteran William Manondo, Manica Diamonds ace Michael Tapera, and Highlanders’ Brighton Ncube sit closely behind with five goals each.
Mutudza, an unpredictable player whose body language and character barely tell a story, has this season transformed into one of the Norman Mapeza-led side’s stalwarts.
The introvert seems to have mastered the art of scoring with each game as the platinum miners chase ambitions of taking the championship to Zvishavane again.
While he is enjoying his season with the former champions, it seems that his brother’s death is taking a toll on him.
Three months later, he still finds it difficult to talk about the loss.
“He was my best friend and pretty much the person I valued above everyone in my life . . . the void is too much, I do not know if ever I will heal from this,” he said, as tears spilled.
“We talked about everything, we had a special bond, so even when sometimes we had to be hundreds of kilometres apart due to work commitments, we would talk daily over the phone.” Ordinarily after scoring FC Platinum’s goal in their 1-1 draw against Yadah Stars at the Heart Stadium recently, Mutudza would have been expected to bask in the glory of shooting to the top of the goal scorers chart. Yet, tears and heartbreak is all that shrouded him.
Mutudza reminisced how it was through his brother Denzel that he ended up at FC Platinum, and how his brother had set him a target this season.
After scoring just seven goals for the former champions last year, in a season that he had to be grounded for sometime owing to an injury, Denzel wanted Mutudza to score a double figure in this campaign.
“I am just doing what he had asked me to do for him, it is his request that keeps me pushing hard and I am hoping to do it just the way he wanted,” he stared into space as tears threatened to spill.
“Most people do not know that it is because of him that I came to FC Platinum . . . I was used to playing for lower-ranked teams and never pictured myself as such a high-ranked side.
“Not that I doubted myself but I had a fear of the unknown so because he played for Platinum juniors for some time, he said this was the home he wanted for me so I came.
“He wanted me to be happy and I wanted the same for him, last year, we had a bit of a conflict after he insisted on wanting to join Triangle yet he was already ill.”
Despite trying to talk him out of the intended move, Mutudza later decided to let him be.
Sadly, when Denzel got to Triangle, he only managed to train for 30 minutes before he became grounded owing to ill health.
“This is when I realised that he was seriously ill, he loved football and would not allow light sickness to ground him,” said Mutudza.
“Up to now, it haunts me but I always have to put on a brave face and be there for the little girl which means balancing fatherhood and football.
“I now look at myself as a father although I am yet to marry or have kids of my own, she is my first born and I will do everything in my power to love, protect, and provide for her.”
Online Reporter