daniel chigunwe
Fungai Muderere
Zimpapers Sports Hub
In a repeat of what many Zimbabweans would probably term an English Premier Soccer League deadline-day classic, Warriors vice-captain Marshal Munetsi, on Monday night, sealed a lucrative move to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The transfer has thrilled many of the Warriors supporters.
Munetsi was Wolves’ second deadline-day signing.
The Zimbabwe international midfielder was acquired from French side Stade de Reims on a three-and-a-half-year contract, with a further 12-month option.
Munetsi (28) joined Wolves following 159 appearances for Reims, 67 of which were alongside Emmanuel Agbadou, another of Wolves’ January signings.
His dramatic switch to the EPL move on the last day of the transfer deadline rekindled memories of ex-Warriors captain Benjani Mwaruwari’s story that took place way back in January 2008.
Then on the books of Portsmouth, the Undertaker, as Mwaruwari is warmly called, was shipped off to Southampton airport on deadline day after a £7.6 million bid from Manchester City was reportedly tabled.
However, according to The Sun newspaper then, Pompey boss Harry Redknapp received a call saying the former Warriors striker hadn’t arrived at Manchester airport.
It was later claimed that Mwaruwari missed two flights, and a third had been cancelled.
Seventeen years on, Mwaruwari has revealed what really went down.
“I always have a lot of questions about that. The flight was delayed. And my phone, now, I didn’t bring the charger; my phone is dead. I made the decision; I want to go,” he told The Sun.
Mwaruwari eventually arrived at Manchester City’s training ground at 11:10pm, with barely enough time to complete the deal. “It was five minutes to 12; everything was just a mess there.
The fax machine broke down, so only one or two papers went through, and the rest were missing.”
The transfer eventually went through on February 5, 2008, for a £3.87 million fee, with bonuses set to take the deal up to the originally reported £7.6 million.
Mwaruwari bagged his first Manchester City goal just five days later, scoring the winner against Manchester United in the Manchester derby.
In contrast, there were no glitches as Munetsi secured his move.
Munetsi joins an elite panel of Zimbabweans to be on the English top-flight books, which includes the legendary pair of Peter Ndlovu, Bruce Grobbelaar, Marvelous Nakamba, Jordan Zemura, and Tawanda Chirewa.
“I’m delighted. It’s a dream come true for me. I’ve always wanted to be part of something big, and being part of Wolves is something that is very big for me and is big for my family.
“It’s a team that I’ve also seen from afar, and the Premier League is the best place to be, so I’m delighted to join the family, to join the team.
“I’m very excited. It’s probably going to be the first time I’ve had a big opportunity to be representing a bigger club. Nothing against Reims, but now you’re going to be playing in the Premier League, playing for Wolves. Also, we have a greater population in England for Zimbabweans. I think I will feel even more at home than I was doing in France,” Munetsi told Wolves media.
While it would have been good to see Munetsi don the Wolves colours together with countryman Chirewa, the latter was loaned by Wolves to English League One side Huddersfield Town on the same deadline day.
Online Reporter