Zambians eye Zimbabwean player Moyo

Sport
WITH his trade mark dreadlocks, Zesco United’s Zimbabwe-born defender Zimiseleni Moyo has proved to be one of the best left backs in the Zambian league.

WITH his trade mark dreadlocks, Zesco United’s Zimbabwe-born defender Zimiseleni Moyo has proved to be one of the best left backs in the Zambian league.

Report by Brian Nkiwane

Emphasising that his first name means commitment, just how does the name translate into his skills on the pitch?

Despite revealing his wish to play for his country last year, the plea fell on deaf ears as his current form and the sterling performance in the Zambian league has failed to attract interest from Warriors coaches.

Moyo got the shock of his life last week when the Zambian football family, players, supporters and coaches persuaded him to renounce his Zimbabwean citizenship and adopt a Zambian one with the intention of drafting him into the “Chipolopolo” squad.

According to reliable sources, the story appeared in one of the daily newspapers in Zambia last week.

“It was a discussion forum where the Zambian football family deliberate on national team issues. Moyo has been in terrific form for Zesco United which he has helped to second position on the log table.

The discussion went on to the extent that Zambians agreed to extend the invitation to Moyo to take up the challenge,” said the source.

However, Standardsport hooked up with Moyo from his Ndola base and he had this to say: “Even in the Bible it’s there, prophets are not recognised in their own home towns.

I have worked hard to attract interest from Warriors coaches, but with no success. Local media back home has on many occasions written about my exploits here in Zambia but all this has not been good enough to warrant me a call up,” he said.

“It is true that the Zambian football family has extended the invitation to me to renounce my citizenship, but I have to remain loyal to my country. It’s disheartening not to be recognised by your own people while neighbours admire you, at times it’s frustrating.”

He added that he is going to take time to think about the invitation.

“It’s not easy to come up with a decision in such cases. It is going to take time to come up with a proper decision.”

In August last year, Moyo watched the Warriors’ tie against Zambia in a friendly match which the Warriors eventually lost 2-1 in Ndola with Rahman Gumbo at the helm.

He made it clear to this publication that his heart was with the Warriors. In Brief, Moyo’s football history

Born in Bulawayo on May 25 1985, “Nduna”, as he is known by his fans, started playing football at the tender age of six after his elder brother introduced him to the sport.

The fourth born in a family of four boys and two girls, he was the youngest in an Under-10 amateur league while still doing his primary education at Malindela School, where he went after leaving Babambeni School.

In 2007, he joined Motor Action, another team then coached by a Zambian Keagan Mumba but was forced to join the great trek to South Africa to take up menial work due to economic hardships.

“I stopped playing football and could only train with amateur teams in SA, but luck was on my side in 2010 when I was invited to Zambia by Mwenya Chipepo [now Power Dynamos Youth coach], I had trails with Zesco United and despite not playing active football for almost two years I impressed and I was picked,” he said.

Since then, the 28-year-old has been a revelation at Zesco.