malvernmugadzikwa
Langton Nyakwenda
“A striker’s life is all about goals and you are only remembered for that,” Norman Maroto told The Sunday Mail Sport in January 2020.
Four years later, the legendary former Premier Soccer League striker is no more, and just like he said, Maroto will be remembered for his goals.
Maroto passed away at the Avenues Clinic in Harare on Friday morning after a short illness. He was 41.
He scored some memorable goals during a nearly 15-year career that saw him turn out for giants Dynamos, Buymore, Gunners, Motor Action, FC Platinum and Chiredzi FC.
Back in 2020, he reminded this publication about his “most special” goal.
“I scored some goals in friendly matches, but if a goal is beautiful it doesn’t matter which game it was,” he said.
“As for me, the most special goal I scored was the one for Gunners, when they were playing against the mighty Al Ahly at Rufaro in 2010.”
Maroto shook the nets in the 23rd minute as Chando Kupisa stunned the African giants 1-0 in a CAF Champions League first-round match at Rufaro on March 20, 2010.
Although Maroto burst onto the Premiership scene with Dynamos in 2001, before becoming an integral part of Moses “Bambo” Chunga’s famed Kidznet Project, he reached his pinnacle with the now-defunct Gunners, with whom he won the championship in 2009.
That historic Gunners side included players like Rahmson Zhuwawo, David Rediyoni, Willard Katsande, Ali Sadiki, Tongai Magwendere, Qadr Amini, Artwell Nyamiwa, Patrick Makuvaza, Ismael Lawe, Tapiwa Mangezi, Cliff Sekete and Ovidy Karuru.
In 2010, Maroto banged 22 premiership goals for Gunners, and remains the last player to score 20-plus goals in the local top-flight league.
“We are really proud of Maroto; he did wonders for Gunners,” former Gunners owner Cuthbert Chitima told The Sunday Mail Sport.
“It’s a cruel world we are living in and I am really devastated.
“We achieved a lot with Norman at Gunners; he scored beautiful goals and remember he also scored when we beat Al Ahly back in 2010. And Gunners remain the only Zimbabwean club to beat the record CAF Champions League winners.”
Chitima revealed the other side of Maroto.
“Above all, he was humble,” he said.
“Even when there were issues at the club and players wanted to boycott matches, Norman would not be part of that.”
Maroto’s allegiance to Gunners lasted until his death, although many regard him as a Dynamos son.
Recently, he advised Chitima about the need to rope in ex-Gunners players in a project that the football administrator is mulling.
“I told Norman about my desire to start an academy and he was happy,” said Chitima. “He told me: ‘Mudhara, you need to include former Gunners players.’ And that’s when I started sounding people like David Rediyoni.”
Rediyoni has retired from the game and is based in Zengeza 1, Chitungwiza.
He, too, was shocked by Maroto’s death.
“He (Maroto) was a very professional guy, a true legend,” said Rediyoni.
“He would encourage us all. He never dwelt much on mistakes; he looked at the positives, he was a great motivator.
“He also had this winning mentality and was a hard worker. I can recall one game we played against Hwange at the Colliery in 2009. Maroto came back home with a swollen eye, after he crashed his head against the post in the process of scoring one of our goals in a 3-1 win.
“One versus one with the keeper, you would rest assured, he would score.”
Maroto’s premiership journey started at Dynamos in 2001.
He was only 17 and a learner at Churchill School in Harare.
Maroto partnered with veteran Stewart “Shutto” Murisa upfront in his debut match for DeMbare, who were under the guidance of the late David George.
He scored a brace against Circle United.
“Maroto always thanked me for helping him settle at Dynamos,” revealed Murisa, who is now based in the United Kingdom. “He called me a few days ago and said mukoma ndangokufungai hangu (my brother, I have been thinking about you), and I didn’t realise this was a goodbye.
“I am in pain. Zimbabwe has lost one of its best strikers ever. Maroto was a natural striker, a finisher by nature. He was young when I played with him, but he was very intelligent. A predator he was.”
Maroto then became one of the leading lights of the Dynamos’ Kidznet Project in 2002.
He was part of an emerging cast of talented young footballers from Churchill School, who included the gifted Samson Choruwa, Eddie Mashiri, Nyasha Chazika and Cephas Chimedza.
Trymore Mutisi, Leo Kurauzvione, Esau Amisi, Ali Cassim and Tapfumaneyi Gweshe (late) were also part of that Kidznet Project.
The youthful players were introduced by Chunga into a Dynamos system that had ageing players, most of whom had featured in the 1998 CAF Champions League final.
In a Facebook post, Chimedza recalled how he met Maroto.
“It was in 1996 when we became friends. I was in Grade Six and he was in Grade Seven,” he said.
“We had played against each other in the Under-13s and I was at Support Unit and he was with Dynamos.
“We would go on to play together at Dynamos and Norman would score for fun. He got his chance in the first team and on his debut, he scored a brace.
“He never looked back; he became a regular player. After that match, I also got into the team and I owe it to Norman’s performance vs Circle; he opened the doors for me.”
Former Gunners defender Daniel Veremu described Maroto as a “very humble guy”. “He had too much respect for everyone. That’s why many people liked him,” said Veremu, who is now an assistant coach at former PSL champions FC Platinum.
“He was very professional. He motived me as a defender because aingokuudza kuti Danny, vharai bhora, isu hatishayi one goal (He would tell me to defend tightly as he was likely to get a goal and win the match).
“Words cannot explain his movements in the box. He would score goals with his head, his feet, right or left.
“Any ball in the box he would be there and we were lucky to have Ali Sadiki, who provided pinpoint crosses.”
Maroto played for the national team and had another record at the African Nations Championship (CHAN).
He scored one of the fastest goals at the 2011 CHAN finals, getting to the end of a Denver Mukamba cross after only two minutes, as Zimbabwe went on to lose 1-2 against neighbours South Africa. At the time of his death, Maroto was the communications officer at the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter