MASIMBA Mambare’s nimble feet wandered to Harare’s Glamour boys from Bulawayo giants Highlanders, earning him the tag of a “traitor”.
BY DON MAKANYANGA
His career was to stutter ever since that maligned switch, much to the mortification of Dynamos’ supporters and the joy of Bosso fans who never forgave him for crossing the great divide.
It has been a roller-coaster ride of mixed fortunes since then for the 30-year-old midfielder, who is now slowly finding his legs again amid a spate of injuries, some dating back to 2014, on a particular day that the star views as his doom’s day.
Mambare recalled the turbulent times he went through after sustaining a career-threatening knee injury in a Bob 92 Zifa Super Cup semi-final against Harare City in 2014, which could have brought his footballing career to an abrupt end.
“I had had knocks before in my football career, but the pain I felt on that particular day was too much, and in a flash, I thought it was the end of my career,” recalled the DeMbare midfielder.
“That was only my second game after I had joined Dynamos and the injury came as a big blow to my career, but I put everything to God and today I still believe that my comeback is a sign of God’s power. he has plans for everyone. I still think to this day that my career could have ended on that day,” he said.
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Mambare revealed that when he sustained the knee injury, plans were already underway for him to attend trials in Europe, Asia and South Africa.
“When I joined Dynamos, I was supposed to play a few games with them as plans were underway for me to go to Ireland, Asia and South Africa for trials and all was set. I only needed to play a few games for Dynamos before I would attend the trials, but unfortunately I sustained the injury.
As he battled to come to terms with thoughts that the injury could spell doom for his career, the Kwekwe-born midfielder’s mind rushed back to the studies he had abandoned after deciding to pursue a career in football.
“After I finished my Advanced Level studies I went for a course as a fitter-and-turner but I had to cut the course short to pursue my childhood dream of playing football. but after I sustained the injury all I could think of was my life outside football and it was at this time that I thought of returning to finish my course so that I could earn a living,” he said.
And still to come to terms with his fate, Mambare looked to the skies praying that he could overcome the career-threatening injury. in the midst of his prayers, the midfielder met a doctor who was to help him to recovery. “I said to myself, God you gave me this life and this talent, can you give me another chance? it was at that time that many people assured me that I would be fine and return to the field, and one of those people that played a crucial role was Dr. Hove who told me that my injury was not that serious and all I needed was to be patient,” he said.
Mambare said he was at a loss for words regarding the support that he received from the Glamour Boys executive, technical team and the whole Dynamos family, saying the only way that he could thank Dynamos for the unwavering support was to return the Glamour Boys to their glory days.
“To be honest, Dynamos is a big institution and like I said before, it is a dream of most players to play for the Glamour boys and for me to be still at Dynamos today is a miracle. I do not know how to thank them for the faith and belief they have in me and so I am ready to repay them,” said Mambare.
The 2016 season breathed a new lease of life into the midfielder, who has suddenly become one of the influential players at DeMbare, who are currently on a revival path after a poor start to the season.
And the former Highlanders and Motor Action star is confident the Harare giants — who host struggling Border Strikers in a must-win Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Rufaro Stadium today — can bounce back into the title race.
“It’s too early to rule us out; Dynamos has a lot of fighting spirit and its oneness quality that I have always admired about the team even before I joined them. Other teams can be on top of the league, but they never give up and that was always the case when we won the title four consecutive times,” said Mambare.
