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Lovemore Dube
CHICKEN Inn livewire Michael Charamba says he never thought that he would some day play in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League.
He has God to thank for all this.
Charamba turned a new leaf when he joined the Gamecocks last season. In the 16 months he has been with the side, he has risen to be the most prized asset with telling performances weekly.
He was rewarded for his industry and hard work last season by being nominated among the Castle Lager Soccer Stars of the Year, a select group of 11 players deemed to have performed better than others.
“So my career is at the Mercy of God. I never thought one day I would be here playing the Castle Lager Premiership. So I will always work hard to improve each and every day to become a better player,” said Charamba in an interview.
Capped once in an Independence match against Namibia last year, Charamba is among the most outstanding players on the domestic scene.
He has been punching high up there and it may not be long before he is signed by a foreign club.
A few months ago, he tried his luck in Tanzania but did not sign but hopes are high that something may be brewed in the next transfer window.
“My biggest moment in football was the Independence Cup against Namibia. The atmosphere was sensational, it was my first time to play before such a big crowd, you can imagine the stadium was full as people did not pay to watch,” said Charamba.
Charamba’s biggest influence was Masimba Mambare when he was turning out for Highlanders in 2012.
“I grew up admiring Masimba Mambare when he was playing for Highlanders, seeing someone from your same location inspired me a lot and I wanted to be like him,” said Charamba.
Mambare had a dream start to his Highlanders career, making it to the Castle Soccer Star of the Year list.
In a different country Charamba could have been lost to athletics.
He once made it to the provincial athletics team while still at high school.
In 2013 when I was in ‘A’ level I went to Harare for athletics, it was a national athletics competition and we won a bronze medal in the 4×100 and 4x400m relays while representing the Midlands,” said Charamba.
That piece of information should be enough to instill fear in defenders as with crime partner in attach, Brian Muza there is another former school boy who ran the 100m in 10,5 seconds.
It all started at Central Region side Ivan Hoe Mine who were in Division Two.
After completing his ‘A’ Levels in 2014, the following season he moved to Ngezi Platinum who were in the Northern Region Division One League and the club won the championship.
The God fearing striker was named the club’s Most Disciplined Player in 2015.
He was not registered for the season and was loaned out to Ivan Hoe for six months.
He has coach Tonderai Ndiraya to thank.
‘When I rejoined the club, Tonderai Ndirayi gave me an opportunity,” said Charamba.
In 2018 he got a national team call up in a team with locals and made it to the Soccer Stars of the Year finalists.
Charamba was injured in 2018 and was ruled out for the rest of the season.
“I thank God I managed to come back to play again,” said Charamba.
In 2020 he joined Chicken Inn and thank God, Covid-19 came and he got enough time to recuperate as Chicken Inn got him medical assistance.
Charamba says for the support Chicken Inn gave him, he has found himself compelled to give the club his best.
He said his uncle Misheck Kwangwari, a former exciting right wing midfielder for Lancashire Steel, also played a role.
“The biggest influence was my uncle Misheck Kwangwari who played for Lancashire,” said Charamba.
The former St Martin’s Primary School pupil in Amaveni, Kwekwe started as a rightback while in Grade 5 in 2006.
He also pays tribute to a Mr Sibanda, a teacher who moved him to an attacking role because of his speed.
At schools he ran the 100m, 200m and 400m sprints and happened to have captained Amaveni Under-16, Under-17 and Under-20 soccer teams.
His ambition is to continue playing well for Chick
Online Reporter