adminboy who was in his first year of primary school at St Eric’s Primary School in the little Norton township of Ngoni.
Neither did she know that she was preparing a future football star because all she saw in Musona was just another child in Grade One.
It was in 1988 when the 64-year-old primary school teacher and her husband – who was also a headmaster at the same school – first met the Musona family and the two families did not take time to click.
They had something in common and they went to the same Catholic Church and meeting at the church services was a regular thing.
And, as is the nature, not all the people have the same gift. Some are academic intellectuals, some are good at art, some are good at farming and Knowledge’s talent wasn’t among any of these.
Savanhu recalls her days with Knowledge as her student, and she still remembers that he was among the best dressed in her class and in the school at large loved keeping short hair and was a reserved boy.
“We used to live in Ngoni Township together after I moved from Mhondoro.
“I didn’t know him but I knew his parents because we are both Catholics. His father was a humble and respectable man so they became friends with my husband.
“So when he was put in my Grade One class I didn’t know him but when I first assessed him he was slender, smart, quite, and he had a low profile.
“When I asked questions during lessons he was always quite and I could not tell if he knew the answer, I would only know when he answered correctly or when you see his written work.
“He wasn’t very bright but was above average. His friends were cool as well.
“He was among the best dressed students and he always kept short hair,” said Savanhu.
Gogo Savanhu, as she is affectionately known in her neighbourhood, described Musona as a humble person since he was young saying she always enjoyed his cool.
“He was a pleasure to teach. He was so quite I don’t remember him fighting with other kids at school and even when he proceeded to junior school he was very humble and polite. Even at sports he was a disciplined child
“You could tell that he was different from other children but I did not know that he was destined for bigger things in his life.
“I can say it runs in the family because his sisters and brothers are also humble and have good manners. I used to visit their family and I admired them because you could see that they had a good moral background,” said Savanhu.
The former teacher to Musona says she always watch Musona playing and has always supported him since he was young.
“He started playing soccer at junior school under the guidance of Charles Ndemera who is now based in UK together with his brother George.
“We used to support him when he was around Grade Four and Five and when he was in Grade Six and Seven, he now good and we would go and support him. We were proud of him.
“He proceeded to St Eric’s High but we always heard about him but he remained humble and when we met him he would greet us.
“He is one of the children I admire, I wish I had a child or grandchild with such a character. He is gifted and it is from God. He is a gift from God. He is very smart, humble and full of respect.
“I wish him well in Germany and will keep praying and thanking God for the gift. He should ask God to present him with a God fearing wife, a humble wife not a gold digger. I want him to marry a wife who loves him and his mother.
“When he went to South Africa that’s when we started to realise that he was good in soccer. I always follow and watch his matches when he is playing.
“I want to continue following his progress in Germany, how he will progress and adjust. To have a child passing through your hands and achieving such things is good. But I know God gave him this gift right from birth.
“He has done wonderful things for his mother, a lot of our children go out there but they forget where they come from. I always pray for him.
“I wish him to continue to be humble and honest as he was when he was in Zimbabwe and South Africa because he is now far away from home.
“Not everyone is happy about his achievement and all eyes are watching him. There are those who would celebrate on his downfall,” said Savanhu.
The two have maintained a good relationship and one can tell that the old lady is proud of her former pupil.
“Last year when he came from South Africa he had bought some stuff for his mother and Mai Rita called me to her house, she was happy. He made me proud and he bought me red wine,” added Savanhu.
derick.khumalo