Three coaches, 34 games, same goalkeeper, 18 clean sheets

Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter

TAKESURE Chiragwi may have done just enough to convince his Ngezi Platinum Stars bosses to give him a substantive coaching role.

The former CAPS United left-back has been holding fort after he was appointed the interim gaffer following the departure of Benjani Mwaruwari in July.

Chiragwi has done exceptionally well, losing just one game, against Cranborne Bullets in 12 Castle Lager Premiership football matches he has taken charge of.

And he may just have impressed his bosses who had grown worried with the inconsistency at the team.

Ngezi Platinum Stars changed coaches three times in the just-ended season alone.

Rodwell Dhlakama was suspended before he resigned early this year, having taken charge of the opening three games.

Chiragwi, who first arrived at Ngezi Platinum as Dhlakama’s assistant last year, took temporary charge of the team before Mwaruwari was appointed in March.

But the former Warriors skipper was dismal, reducing Ngezi Platinum into an average club.

Chiragwi, again, was called to stand-in after the dismissal of the former Manchester City striker.

And he managed to steady the ship, managing to post seven wins, four draws and losing only once, helping the Mhondoro-based team to an impressive fourth place finish.

And the turbulence at the club meant an unprecedented player rotation as the changing coaches had different preferences.

Strikingly, only one player, goalkeeper Nelson Chadya, managed to retain his place under all of them.

And he merited it too.

The 24-year-old finished the season with 18 clean sheets – the highest in the league as he was pivotal to his team’s top-four finish.

He is the only goalkeeper from the teams which finished in the top-10 to have played in every second of the 34-match-long Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.

Chadya conceded 19 goals, including three penalties against Herentals, Black Rhinos and Bulawayo Chiefs.

On three other occasions, Chadya was beaten by his own teammates, including Kudzai Chigwida (against Yadah) and Ghanaian defender Derrick Bonna, who scored the own goals against Triangle and Cranborne Bullets.

The agile Chadya is the odds-on favourite to win the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League’s Golden Glove award.

Some sections even believe he, given the role he played in Ngezi Platinum’s top-four feat, should be amongst the top three soccer stars. Chadya said he enjoyed to work under all the three coaches who were at the Mhondoro side this season alone.

“As a player, you should be flexible to work with any coach or player.

“But, the most important thing is to put in the work,” said Chadya.

“I am grateful to all the coaches we worked together with this season. I managed to keep out 18 clean sheets, which makes me, at an individual level very proud.

“My target was 20, at least, but 18 is not a bad number. I will keep on working hard.

“As a team, we are very happy we managed to finish the season in the top four. Once we realised that we were no longer going to make it into the fight ring for the league title, we then told each other it was time we focused on finishing in the top-four.

“It is something good to attain your targets. We picked form in the final third of the marathon. We obviously wanted to win the league title and it’s something disappointing to have missed out. We will try again next time.”

Chadya said the constant rotation of the back four at his team was never a big issue as he knew how to communicate with whoever had been deployed to play.

“I think I have been at the team for some time now. My technical team always tell me to be flexible. Communication is key and I make sure I do that with my defence and even midfielders on how to deploy,” said Chadya.

“I am happy we managed to do well, finishing in the top four.”

Chiragwi praised Chadya whom he tipped to win the Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Besides Chadya, Ngezi Platinum have had several other players who did very well.

Delic Murimba, who scored four goals in their 5-0 win over Whawha on Saturday, scored 13 goals all season while defenders Polite Moyo and Carlos Mavhurume have also been consistent.