adminKELVIN Mushangazhike has revealed how he plucked Zimbabwe’s youngest Premiership player, Principe Magondo.
The attacking midfielder is the youngest player in the top-flight at the age of 15.
Magondo is in the ranks of army-side Black Rhinos, while also currently sitting for his final Ordinary Level [Form 4] examinations.
Although he has rather been in the shadows of senior players at Rhinos, Mushangazhike who identified him during an inter-school tournament, believes the right-footed player is one for the posterity of Zimbabwe.
“He is such a player. Honestly, I wasn’t the one who coached him at a tender age, but I saw him during an inter-schools’ tournament,” Mushangazhike told FARPost.
“Then I was coaching Glenview High One, and we played against his former school [ Prince Edward].
“He gave us a torrid time.
“My players praised him. That’s the day I realised he is such a talent that deserved more. I engaged them, and we started working together.
“He was such a thorn in the flesh, and my boys struggled to contain him, and since then I asked to work with him together with his coach Surpo [Tichaona Mufundisi], until he moved to Black Rhinos.
“He has worked with coach Surpo since he was five years old, and we have now joined hands to make sure he turns out to be one of the best.”
Mushangazhike added: “It’s unfortunate that Zimbabwe has not been playing international football.
“Otherwise, he could have been in the national team for junior championships in the COSAFA region.
“The fact that he is part of the Black Rhinos team at the moment, shows his quality and abilities.”
Mushangazhike revealed that the youngster is already on the radar of top German clubs, among them FC Köln.
Magondo’s father, Cliff, is confident his son is on course to football success.
“I push him hard at training, and I push him hard at school. He is writing his examinations at the moment, so I have to push him to be at the top on both ends.
“Wherever they play, I follow. I travel even if he doesn’t get game time, but I’m always behind to show him support and make sure that he maintains his character because he is still young.
“Much credit to his coaches, he could not be here had it not been of the coaches. They are important to him,” he said. – FARPost
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter