WHEN Joel “Josta” Ngodzo arrived in Harare beginning of this year; he was overweight, jobless and hopeless.
After failing to make the Highlanders provisional 30-man squad for the 2015 season, the idea of quitting the game crossed his mind just before he embarked on the 440 km journey from Bulawayo to the capital.
Weighing 90 kilos and spotting an unusual belly, the 26-year-old midfielder looked out of place when he arrived at Caps United’s 2015 pre-season training camp at the RBZ Sports Club.
Yet four years ago, Ngodzo was the toast of the Premiership, shattering the domestic transfer fee record when FC Platinum paid Highlanders a reported $60 000 for his services.
That was a year after he was named the second best player in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
However, from then on events twisted nastily for Ngodzo – a player who in his junior years at Highlanders was touted to become one of the best playmakers to emerge in the country.

“The thought of my brilliant past and my potential is what pushed me to travel to Harare to search for a new team and a new life. I was 90 kgs when I came here,” revealed Ngodzo.
He is expected to play a key role as Makepekepe faces old foes Dynamos at Rufaro this afternoon.
“Then Caps coach Mark Harrison ordered me to shed weight first before he could consider me for his squad. I then invested a lot of my time in the gym and extra training. I was put on a special diet and that is how I managed to remove 12 kilos during the first half of the season.”
Makepekepe face city rivals Dynamos at Rufaro this afternoon, seeking to break the jinx that has seen the green half of the capital fail to celebrate a league victory over DeMbare since April 2009.
However, United have been a refreshed side since the arrival of coach Lloyd Chitembwe in September and one of the gaffer’s major achievements so far is the way in which he reignited the spark that was dying within Ngodzo.
Chitembwe has never hidden his admiration for Ngodzo’s talent, a player he has branded key to Makepekepe’s quest to reclaim the league title next season.
“His (Ngodzo) talent is rare, he is a natural ball player and one of the best playmakers in this league. Our style hinges more on ball retention and in Josta we have a player who can operate the way we want.
“It is still work in progress, we need to get him back to the levels everyone expects him to be,” Chitembwe says.
Ngodzo also has a lot to do to erase the bad boy tag that has remained stuck on him since his days at FC Platinum in 2012 when he hogged the limelight more for his spending spree than work on the pitch.
In October last year, a reportedly drunk Ngodzo was arrested by police in Bulawayo for disorderly behavior, just a month after he was given a written warning at Highlanders following reports that he abused drugs before the TM Grand Challenge Cup against Dynamos.
He was also reprimanded on a number of times for drinking on the eve of matches and for reporting for training inebriated.
However, Ngodzo’s Whatsapp status could suggest the controversial midfielder might be walking down the lane of reformation.
“It shall be well. In God I Trust#89,” was Ngodzo’s Whatsapp status last week and the former Young Warriors star revealed that he owed his revival to Jesus.
“No one or nothing is more powerful than Jesus, if He says yes, then no one can say no. I now pray a lot.
“Yes, a lot of things, most of them bad, were written about me last season, but what I know is people only look for the bad and not the good.
“I had some brilliant performances for Bosso last season just as much as I was also mired in controversy.
“But I should acknowledge that much has happened to my game since the arrival of Lloyd Chitembwe at Caps.
“He pushes you, he is very strict…with Bro Lodza (Chitembwe) there is no time to relax and the good thing is that he appreciates my game,” said Ngodzo after Caps United’s midweek session at Rufaro.
The spiky haired linkman has been in imperious form in the past few weeks and most of the fans are relishing the prospect of a midfield battle between Ngodzo and DeMbare’s rough-riding anchor man Stephen Alimenda.
Makepekepe fans are also hoping Josta will outshine DeMbare’s ball artist Ronald “Rooney” Chitiyo, who has on numerous occasions single-handedly carried the Glamour Boys on his tiny shoulders.
“I am not afraid of battles of this nature, I played Champions League football with FC Platinum in 2012, and I was involved in high pressure games back at Highlanders so Dynamos won’t scare me.
“But I also know this is a clash of eternal rivals, so difficult. What I can promise the fans is that we will try to break the jinx.
“The fans should come in their numbers, cheer us on and the rest we will do on the pitch,” said Ngodzo.
He still gets one or two tips from his brother Johannes, a former national soccer team superb ball passer, whose career was cut short by injury and Josta believes he is nowhere near his brother’s ability.
“People try to compare the two of us but my friend Johannes was brilliant. I may try but his levels were high.
“I will keep playing on, I am still 26 and a lot is still to come for me. There are the CHAN finals next year, every player wants to be in the Warriors squad and I am one of them working hard for recognition,” he said.
Apart from missing his wife Gertrude Shema whom he left in Bulawayo taking care of son Josta, Ngodzo also feels for struggling Bosso – the team that launched his career.
“Bosso is my team, so naturally I feel for them. This year has been bad for them but I pray things get better. For now I am employed at Caps United where I am enjoying my life and looking forward to winning cups.”

Majaha’s Josta magic

Langton Nyakwenda
CAPS UNITED and Warriors fitness trainer Majaha Ndlovu is credited for re-conditioning Joel Ngodzo.
“I gave him extras after the normal training sessions. We would stay behind and do more work on his overweight body.
“It was not difficult working with him because we were together at Bosso last season. The program also involved getting the player to adhere to a certain strict diet.
“No fats, no fizzy drinks. Yes, what a player drinks or eats is important. I also advised the player on good behavior off the pitch.
“I am glad Ngodzo is back to sharpness, he has worked hard and I must admit he showed dedication,” revealed Ndlovu, who helped Ngodzo lose 12 kilos between January and June this year.
The former Mpumalanga Black Aces fitness trainer also highlights Caps United keeper Jorum Muchambo as another of his success stories this season.
Currently, Ndlovu is paying special attention to ex-Moroka Swallows defender Gilbert Mapemba and former Warriors skipper Method Mwanjali who have rejoined Caps United from the South African Premiership.
“It is not only Ngodzo whom I paid special attention to, there are a number of guys who came into 2015 season out of shape, goalkeeper Muchambo is another perfect example.
“Now I am working with Mapemba and Mwanjali, they came back from South Africa a bit on the other side of fitness.
“But they are responding, give me another month and they will both be like Josta,” bragged the usually jovial Ndlovu. Ngodzo did not hide his appreciation for Ndlovu.
“Ndlovu is one of the best fitness trainers, he placed me on a very strict program but it has paid dividends,” he said.