Mahachi’s rise to stardom

Sport
FROM the dusty streets of Mzilikazi Township to Lobengula Primary School to Mzilikazi High and then becoming one of the most sought after midfielder in the country, Kudakwashe Mahachi has played his heart out every step of the way.

FROM the dusty streets of Mzilikazi Township to Lobengula Primary School to Mzilikazi High and then becoming one of the most sought after midfielder in the country, Kudakwashe Mahachi has played his heart out every step of the way.

THANDIWE MOYO SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

He has become a headache for tried and tested defenders, annoying to goalkeepers and a marvel to watch and a darling of Zimbabwe’s football supporters.

Mahachi (20) was mobbed by Warriors supporters upon the national team’s arrival from the African Nations Championships, where he was crowned man-of-the-match on two matches and was duly signed for an undisclosed amount by cash-rich Absa Premier Soccer League side Mamelodi Sundowns.

He started his football career at the tender age of nine at Lobengula Primary, never looking back and spent most of his time playing soccer with his peers in Mzilikazi.

His peers Joel Ngodzo, Lenience Mpofu and twins Elvis and Kelvin Moyo shared the same passion and would bet on a game of football using a plastic ball, which Mahachi gladly carried around.

Despite his mother’s protests Mahachi would at times skip school just to go and play football with his friends.

His teachers would write letters to his mother who struggled to keep the young man in check when it came to his love for football, they would not yield results.

It was only through the intervention of the then Highlanders Juniors’ coach Clemence Chimimba that Mahachi got the chance to channel his footballing skills to something positive.

Chimimba was to become Mahachi’s mentor as he pursued his first love, football.

“Clemence saw me playing soccer at school and invited me to join Highlanders and I joined the under-13 team. I played for Highlanders and rose through the under-13s, under-16s up to the under-18s where I played in Division One for Highlanders Under-19. That was in 2009. In the juniors’ ranks I played with the likes of Ozias Zibande, Joel Ngodzo and Ariel Sibanda,” said the ginger haired midfielder, nick-named Nkembe.

He does not say much about his nickname but says he was given by Ngodzo who says the young lad just loved his food.

Back at Highlanders Under-19 Mahachi says: “I never played much because I was one of the youngest and the coach would only give me a chance about 10 minutes before the end of the match. At times I was included in the team only because they were a man or two short and at times that was then that I would play. When Mokse (Methembe Ndlovu) left Bosso I went and joined him in 2010 and played at Bantu Rovers when they were in Division One. I played for Bantu Rovers for two years,” he said.

At Bantu Rovers he played with the likes of Marvelous Nakamba, Dumisani “Fazo” Ndlovu, Liberty Chirava, Danny “Deco” Phiri and Herbert Dick.

Mahachi scored 10 goals during his time at Highlanders Under-19 and that was because he played as a left back a position which he has since given up for the left link role.

“It was not that difficult giving up the left back role which I had played since childhood. The only difference was that instead of moving with the ball from the back of the field I had a shorter distance to run. From Under-13 to the time when I was at Bantu Rovers I was a left back, when I joined Adam (the late Adam Ndlovu) he moved me to the left link position,”said Mahachi.

As Mahachi’s love for the sport grew his mother realised she was fighting a losing battle and supported him in every possible way. Mahachi would spend his free time watching Mamelodi Sundowns’ Teko Modise and trying to perfect some of his skills.

“My mother did everything for us. She would buy sugar and sell it at black market rates outside supermarkets just to take care of us. We are four in our family, Sinikiwe, Sidingani, Meline and myself,” he said.

Mahachi played for Mzilikazi High School’s second team the under-17s when he was in Form One and played for the under-20 team when he was in Form Three.

He played with the likes of George Chigova, Denver Mukamba, Simba Sithole and Russell Madamombe in the Under-20 Young Warriors team that won a bronze medal in Botswana.

Mahachi got an offer to play in Belgium but turned it down because he felt he was not ready for that league.

“Mokse had struck a deal for me to play in Belgium but I was not ready. I did not want to go there and become a disgrace so I signed with Chicken Inn,” he said.

Mahachi recently joined Highlanders on a six month deal after which he will join Mamelodi Sundowns.

“I want to bid farewell to abadala who gave me the platform to prove myself in football that is why I joined Highlanders. I am grateful that they gave me the chance to express myself through my skills,” he said.