Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
HUNTERS walk into Ngoni Stadium this afternoon for a Chibuku Super Cup date with Herentals.
Ordinarily, eyes would have been on their technically gifted forward Denver Mukamba.
After all this is a player who seems to understand such fixtures where expectations are high.
And, for a side flirting with relegation in the league, a cup consolation would be perfect hence the match carries all the weight.
In fact, Hunters coach Nesbert Saruchera would probably go for experience with Mukamba controlling things in the middle while Ronald Pfumbidzai marshals the defence.
Sadly, that is not the case.
History has taught us that when needed the most, Mukamba more often than not disappears as his life continues to play out like the typical beauty and the devil tale.
The 2012 Soccer Star of the Year is “his own messiah and his own worst enemy”, wrapped in one.
While at his core he is generational talent, Mukamba is just a walking enigma in how he can’t seem to get out of his own way and let his football talent do all the talking.
More than a decade since he burst onto the topflight scene, his professional football story appears to play from the same script yearly.
Most recently, there have been questions around his sudden absence in the Hunters squad with many speculating that he could be out on injury.
However, the publication can reveal that “Baba Dhodho” as he is affectionately known is back to his old ways.
Going AWOL!
His problems at Hunters started weeks ago when the rogue star went AWOL, the same manner he has done at almost all the clubs he has served before.
Upon a follow up from the employer, Mukamba claimed to be battling a toothache hence he was given some time off.
However, a fortnight later, he still would not report for training prompting another follow up call from the club.
This time, Mukamba claimed to have lost a relative, hence he was away attending a funeral.
Days later, he failed to show up leaving the club with no choice but to “shut” the door on him.
However, coach Saruchera, who appears to have a soft spot for Mukamba, still saw a golden flicker beneath the grime and chose to defend him.
“Mukamba is still one of us, he is part of the team and will be back soon,” Saruchera continued to parrot the party line, his soft spot developing calluses.
But weeks on, the former Dynamos player still has not shown up.
Yet it is at this time that Hunters need him the most.
In the league, they are fighting relegation while winning in a cup tournament will be a good consolation for them or a perfect confidence booster going forward.
Zimpapers Sport can also reveal that Mukamba is spending his time in Highfield where together with his uncle and former footballer Clive Kawinga and friend Rodrick Mutuma are training youngsters.
They purpote to have established a grassroots academy, although there is no formal record of it being registered with ZIFA.
Sadly, the trio have something in common.
They are all known drug addicts with Mutuma who is in fact self-confessed.
While it is noble for the trio to give back to the community, their dark side however raises concerns on issues of safeguarding for the youngsters.
Denver The Monster
Mukamba who has carried around the PSL bad boy tag has a habit of disappearing just before end of season or in the offseason period almost every year.
In fact, he evades preseason training, and is often unreachable during the period only to resurface conveniently at a time when some teams are in danger and in dire need of rescue.
The midfielder, after resurfacing without explanation or apology, also knows how to play his way into fans’ hearts.
Surprisingly, he is loved by fans so much that all too quickly, they forget his previous transgressions and feel excited to see what he can do with the ball in his feet.
Mukamba is an undeniable generational talent.
With the ball on his feet, he can sing amazing tunes with every touch and leave fans in a frenzy.
In fact, it is his artistry that had him nicknamed ‘Baba Dhodho’, short for ‘Baba Doiri’, borrowing from yesteryear doilies which were used for home decoration.
And even now, although he had lost some steam, he still had the ability to decide games while his presence even on the bench played a huge impact on the team.
Yet his rowdiness appears to have outdone every good story that he ever crafted on the field.
Sadly, the former Dynamos and CAPS United star is still in denial and refuses to take account for his behaviour.
“I am still one of the very few great talents in the field so far, I have a lot to offer for the next three or four years and retirement is not yet on my list,” he told Zimpapers Sport.
“I will soon be back; I am still with Hunters although I am currently busy with other commitments.”
Rewind to his introduction onto the PSL scene in 2011, Mukamba instantly became known for being a “free spirit” who could disappear and reappear from duty as he pleases.
However, each time he reappeared he pretended to be reformed and committed to shrug off the bad boy tag.
Once again, his romance with supporters rekindles in such a way that they wait for a chance to greet him each time he walks off the pitch or shower him with what became famed the “Sunday offering”.
He even plays early bird at training sessions, exhibiting a positive energy towards playing and technical teams often fall for his trap.
Yet he always goes back to his old ways.
At Ngezi, he was released early in 2023 through a mutual termination with a year remaining on his contract.
He was off-loaded together with Last Jesi, Anelka Chivandire, Mandlenkosi Mlilo, Junior Zindoga, Derek Bonnah and Issa Ali.
However, while for the other players the club’s decision was about performance, for Mukamba, it was centred on discipline.
Mukamba had twice appeared before the club’s disciplinary hearing for various charges including the abuse of mood-altering substances.
Yet many of his fans are not prepared to hear about these painful truths.
Moving on to join Dynamos later that season, Mukamba did not have a preseason.
Then came 2024, once again, the midfielder was silent and only resurfaced around midseason when he joined Division One side Scottland to play a key role in their promotion into top flight.
However, towards the end of season, he went AWOL and missed the club’s last three games of the season.
As usual, his fans were not happy when in 2025, Scottland offloaded him in a rebuilding exercise ahead of their topflight debut.
He went off the radar and resurfaced during the midseason at Dynamos where he helped the team fight relegation.
His influence was also felt when he led the team through the stages in their Chibuku Super Cup defence, before then disappearing ahead of the finals.
The Glamour Boys went on to make history winning the Cup for the third time on the bounce, without him.
In the league they had to survive relegation when beating FC Platinum 1-0 at Rufaro on the last day of the season, without him.
However, prior to going AWOL, he had been issued with two warnings by the club, leaving his life at the club hanging by the thread before blowing his final chance during the cup competition preparations.
From then, he went silent only to resurface early this year when clubs were already winding up their preseason preparations to join Hunters.
Yet barely the season ends, he has done what he always does.
Disappear!
Mukamba is simply unrepentant.
Yet, his football journey can also be viewed as one of bravery and resilience.
Baba Dhodho has withered a long battle with asthma, a condition known to reduce athletic ability in sports people and derailed many talents.
After this, can Mukamba find his way back again?
