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Robson Sharuko
Editor
HIS new Warriors teammates are already calling him DOKU.
And, the buzz is that in teenage sensation, Joey Phuthi, Zimbabwe could just have stumbled upon a unique football talent set for greatness.
The 19-year-old is in camp with the Warriors for the Four Nations tournament for Lilongwe, Malawi, during this FIFA window for international matches.
Phuthi was born in Harare, in 2005, and left with his family to settle in England, seven years ago.
Last August, he signed his first professional contract with Sheffield Wednesday and, four months later, made his debut for the Owls, a month short of his 19th birthday.
He plays on the wing, either as a right back or right winger but is so versatile that he is also comfortable on the left side of the flanks, both in defensive or offensive roles.
“There is a young man called Phuthi, if he adapts with African football and clicks, we will be happy,” said Mistry Chipere, the founder of Zimbabwe Foreign Legion, an organisation which has been at the forefront in looking for Dispora talent capable of representing this country.
“You will see him, he is bad news, right now they are calling him Doku, he is really bad and let’s wait and see what he will do.
“Sometimes things just don’t happen when these boys come to Africa but this boy Phuthi is amazing.”
Some of his colleagues have nicknamed him Okocha, after the Nigerian superstar.
Chipere believes Phuthi, and the other young players from the Diaspora, could not have chosen a better coach to start their Warriors adventure.
“I believe Norman Mapeza will do a good job with the young men he has, Norman believes in young players, he has issues with the old players because some of them don’t want to work hard.
“You will see with this team, he can do like what he did against Mali when he had the likes of Ovidy and Musona when they were still young.”
Meanwhile, Wolves rising star, Tawanda Chirewa, who excused himself from the current camp, is using this week to sort out his passport issues,
He is set to visit the Zimbabwean Embassy in London to complete the formalities, which is another huge statement of his commitment to play for the Warriors.
Tawanda was born in Chelmsford, England, in 2003.
Online Reporter
