Costa, the kombi driver

Sport
Costa Nhamoinesu feels the Polish league has moulded him into a complete player.

With his last Warriors call-up coming from Norman Mapeza two years ago for an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Mali which he did not turn up for due to injury, Nhamoinesu last featured for the national team in a friendly international against Mozambique in 2007.

For someone playing week in week out for his club, it could appear unusual that he only has eight Warriors caps after having played seven times for the Under-23s and six matches for the Under-20 side.

Now owning two houses and a residential stand in Harare’s northern suburbs, as well as the BMW Coupe 320i he drives around Lubin and another BMW 745i he moves around, when back in Harare, that is enough to inspire all rural boys around Zimbabwe.

While football has brought him fame and fortune, Nhamoinesu has remained humble and interestingly during the off season, he sometimes drives his younger brother Trevor’s commuter omnibus plying the City-Chitungwiza route.

According to him, it is not something to earn him an extra buck.

“It is my way of fitting and service to my society. My mother told me never to forget where I come from,” he said.

PAGELS’ TIKI TAKA SUITS ME

Costa Nhamoinesu feels the Polish league has moulded him into a complete player.

“Football here is much more physical so one has to be strong. You can be technically good but with only that, it can be difficult to get a chance,” he said. But various Warriors coaches have turned a blind eye to workmanship that has seen him command a regular jersey at Lubin for the past four seasons.

Even current national team coach Klaus-Dieter Pagels who prefers the short-passing game sees no value in Nhamoinesu who has this season seen 1 060 minutes of action and weighed in with a goal in 12 matches of the club’s 16 outings.

“Tiki-taka style involves a lot of movement off the ball so personally, I think I can adapt because I am the kind of player who likes utilising free space, like enjoying one twos and running into free space,” said Nhamoinesu.

“I want to feature more for the Warriors and it pains me that we constantly fail to showcase our skills at major tournaments. I respect whoever is in charge of the Warriors and if I am not called-up, it means they have their own reasons. My job is to continue working hard and improve myself so that I get recognised,” he said.

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