adminHe was accompanied by his close friends, former Warriors’ skipper Tapuwa Kapini and DeMbare legend Desmond Maringwa.
Sweswe could not hold back tears after meeting his former teacher and coach Gilbert Mushonga as he donated the kits 19 years after he left the school. The former Mwana Africa, Highlanders and Dynamos defender, who is now with South African outfit Bidvets Wits, said he will always remember his roots.
“It is with great pleasure to be back to where it all started at this school and I feel very happy to give back to the community,” Sweswe said.
“I think this is the beginning of a strong relationship between me and my former school. I did my Grade One to Seven here and I got all the encouragement to take soccer seriously at the grounds around here.
“I am thankful to my former coaches as I am now playing professional soccer.” The former national team player went down memory lane.
“I started playing soccer here at Chirodzo as a left winger and I won the Player of the Year award while I was in Grade Six,” said Sweswe.
“In Grade Seven I was changed to right back and I was the top goal-scorer during the season despite being a defender.
“At primary school I would take free-kicks and that was when I earned the nickname ‘Rambo’.
“We would dominate several schools around like St Peter’s, Nharira and Shingirirayi, which had Edward Sadomba and Leonard Tsipa, among others.”
After Chirodzo Sweswe, who was with CAPS United for a long time as a junior, was invited by Joe Mugabe to join Sporting Lions and he played for two seasons at the club before joining Mwana Africa.
Then he moved to Bosso after an invitation from his friend Kapini.
“I did not play for long at the Bulawayo giants as the South African teams came knocking only after three months,” said Sweswe.
“I played there for a season and returned home.
“As I was looking for a club to join Desmond Maringwa invited me to Dynamos, which I had always supported, and the big breakthrough came as I joined Kaizer Chiefs and stayed there for three seasons.
“I am grateful to be back here after 19 years.”
Kapini encouraged the Chirodzo student to take school seriously.
“I urge you to take education seriously because the life span of sport is too short. It is through hard work that we were able to play at the highest level,” Kapini said.
Chirodzo school headmaster, Fundani Fundira, thanked Sweswe for his donation.
“We feel proud of our products and we are happy that he has remembered his home,” said Fundira.
“We are happy for our former student who did all he could for his school.”
Online Reporter