Sundaymail Editor
Sports Reporter
HE was virtually unknown in local football circles when he arrived at Dynamos from Motor Action in the run-up to the eventful 2003 Premier Soccer League season.
However, just a few preseason games in DeMbare colours, the name Edmore Mufema began to dominate local football.
His goal-scoring instincts, which saw him score in almost every preseason game, earned him love from hard-to-please DeMbare fans. By the time the league competition commenced in March, he had already become a household name. His signature celebration — in which he mimicked an eagle in flight — had also gone viral. But his debut season ended in tears after the Harare side were docked three points for illegally using him, as his move from Motor Action was deemed unprocedural.
Those three points cost Dynamos the league title as they finished the season trailing champions Amazulu by the same number of points.
As a result, Mufema was suspended from all football activities for four months and fined $400 000. He returned to action in 2004, scoring some important goals for DeMbare, who finished sixth. He, however, later retraced his steps back to Motor Action, where he won the league’s Golden Boot with 17 goals in 2005. But two decades after that explosive season, in which he turned from hero to villain within just eight months, Mufema is still involved in football, although he is a frustrated man. He has some advice for players who recently moved to big clubs like Dynamos, CAPS United and Highlanders during the current transfer window. Dynamos have made over 10 new signings, including strikers Nyasha Chintuli and Eli Ilunga, who want to make a name at the Harare giants.
The duo has been impressive so far, and more is expected from them when Dynamos play Black Rhinos in a friendly match at Chinhoyi Stadium this afternoon.
A huge crowd is expected in Mashonaland West’s capital, where the two teams will parade their new acquisitions.
“These preseason games are very important. Bhora rinenge ratotanga ipo paya.
“Sadly, some players treat these games as mere training games,” Mufema told The Sunday Mail Sport last week.
The 40-year-old former Gaborone United striker is now one of the coaches at Norton-based Continental Bright Stars Academy. He is also a driver at a laboratory in Harare.
“When I joined Dynamos in January 2003, very few people knew Mufema, but after about three or four preseason games, I became a fan favourite.
“These preseason games prepare a player, especially those who would have joined big teams like Dynamos from smaller teams, for the big test ahead.
“I gained confidence through these games.
“I scored in almost every preseason game, and when the actual league started, I was already a darling of the crowd.
“So, these games are very important for boosting new players’ confidence,” he said.
“The sad part, though, is that most of these players want to be serious when the actual league games commence.”
Mufema retired from the game in 2012 after suffering a knee injury at Botswana Premier League side Jwaneng Galaxy.
He had joined Jwaneng from Gaborone United, where he worked under Luke Masomere. He could have joined Ngezi Platinum Stars, who were then still in Division One, had it not been for that injury.
“I never recovered from that injury, and the sad part of it is that Jwaneng refused to finance my treatment.
“With no funds, I just rested, hoping the injury would heal.
“When I tried my luck with Ngezi, the injury got worse.
“Up to today, I am still frustrated because of that.” Nicknamed “Mazondo”, Mufema sparkled at both Motor Action and Dynamos, before Masomere, who had coached him at DeMbare in 2004, lured him to Gaborone United.
“I had a memorable career in the Premier Soccer League; Dynamos fans were so good to me.
“Sadly, Motor Action owner Eric Rosen is no more and the club is now defunct.
“But I am still in football; I am coaching at Continental Bright Stars Academy in Norton.”
Twitter: @LangtonGuraz
Online Reporter