WHAT initially appeared to be a breakthrough move to ambitious South African club Cape Town City is slowly turning into a nightmare for former Dynamos and Warriors goalkeeper Tatenda Mkuruva.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
The 21-year-old had been one of Zimbabwe’s standout players during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Gabon, pulling off some fine saves in the matches against continental powerhouses Senegal and Tunisia, albeit in a losing cause.
After reportedly courting interest from several clubs outside the country, Mkuruva opted for a move to the Cape Town club in what was expected to be a stepping stone for a bigger move to Europe for the former Dynamos star.
The move to Cape Town City came after Mkuruva had unceremoniously parted ways with his manager Gibson Mahachi as he opted to sign with a new agent in South Africa.
The Sports Hub can reveal that Mahachi had earmarked the former Prince Edward pupil for a move to fellow South African side Golden Arrows, where the club had guaranteed the Warriors number one regular first team action.
However, 10 months after making the move south of the Limpopo, Mkuruva’s career appears to be in limbo.
Mkuruva, who is yet to feature in the Absa Premiership since moving to South Africa, has since lost his Warriors jersey to fellow South Africa-based goal minder George Chigova due to his lack of game time at his club.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
And it could get worse for him after recent reports that Cape Town City are eyeing a possible move for Kaizer Chiefs second choice goalkeeper, Brilliant Khuzwayo in January.
There are strong indications that the arrival of Khuzwayo could see Mkuruva being deemed surplus to requirements by Cape Town City at the end of the season.
Mkuruva was brought to Cape Town City during former coach Eric Tinkler’s tenure at the club in February and is still to make a first team bow under new coach, South African legend Benni McCarthy.
Since McCarthy’s arrival at City in June, Mkuruva has been relegated to the team’s reserve side, with Sage Stephens being brought in as cover for first choice goalkeeper Shu-Aib Walters.
Although Mkuruva recently regained his position as the second choice goalkeeper after Waters’ injury, the future remains bleak for the talented young goalie as McCarthy seems unsatisfied with his services.
Upon his arrival at Cape Town City, McCarthy was linked with another goalie, Bidvest Wits veteran, Moneeb Josephs, despite already having Walters, Sages and Mkuruva in that department.
Mkuruva, however, refused to blame McCarthy for his lack of regular game time at Cape Town City and remains optimistic that he will get his chance soon.
“….although I’m not getting game time, the progress in my career is there. I will just keep on working extra hard to get more game time,” Mkuruva told thefootballcult.com in an interview recently.
“Yes, I know that [when a new coach comes he usually signs new players]. But I also know my chance will come whether the coach has given me any assurances or not.”
“I just respect every coach who is in charge at that moment. If you perform and work extra hard, you will play regardless of who is coaching because in football you know coaches change every time. All I need to do is keep on working whether Tinkler is here or not, (I will play eventually).”
The Budiriro-bred player, who started his career at Glen View Gunners before moving to Harare giants Dynamos, also opened up on his fond memories at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and his desire to reclaim the Warriors number one jersey.
“To be honest, it was an honour and a great achievement for me to play against those world-class players. A great experience indeed and I learnt a lot from my experience at Afcon.”
“I also want to see myself back in the national team [laughs]. But I know it won’t be easy because Zimbabwe has good goalkeepers. I will work hard to earn a national team call-up. As for going out on loan, I will look at it in the next transfer window.”
Mkuruva was given a two-year contract extension by the Citizens in June that will see him at the club until 2019.
Prior to his move to South Africa, Mkuruva was one of Zimbabwe’s highly-rated goalkeepers, having won the league championship with DeMbare in his debut season while he was still an Upper Six pupil at Prince Edward.
Mkuruva was also part of the history making Zimbabwe Under-23 side that qualified for 2015 African Games in Congo-Brazzaville for the first time since 1995, consequently guaranteeing his place as the Warriors number one goalkeeper.
From the highs of starring at the 2017 Afcon to the lows of failing to break into the Cape Town City starting lineup, it has been a year of mixed fortunes for Mkuruva.
