As a little boy, Lucky Mkosana dreamt of playing football for the Zimbabwe national team.
BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
However, growing up in a small town like Plumtree in Matabeleland South province, such dreams can easily get lost to the wind.
The boy understood at a tender age, whether by default or by socialisation, that a football career is very short and that education is key.
Life took him to the United States on a football scholarship where he studied at Dartmouth College in Hampshire and went on to further his studies with the Real Madrid Graduate School.
On Friday, the US-based Mkosana, now 30 and a holder of a Masters’ Degree in Sports Management as well as an Honours Degree in International Development, was part of the Warriors team that left the country for a crucial Africa Cup on Nations (Afcon) qualifier assignment.
The Warriors play Congo Brazzaville in a tricky Group G encounter at the Massamba Debate Stadium this afternoon and Mkosana could make his debut for the country.
“It’s great to be part of this team and I am very excited. As a kid, I always dreamt about the opportunity to represent my country at every level,” he said.
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“It’s an achievement for any professional athlete and the fact that my call-up comes at 30, makes it even sweeter.
“I have been working hard and I am glad I kept persevering. Now I realise that it doesn’t matter how old you are as long as you believe in what you are doing and take care of your body, that’s what matters.
Mkosana plays for Penn FC, which competes in the second-tier United Soccer League (USL) in the US.
A product of Thekwane and Mzingwane high schools as well as the Highlanders Juniors, Mkosana got a scholarship to study and play football in the US when he was with Aces Youth Soccer Academy in 2007.
He then played college soccer and after graduating from Dartmouth College in Hampshire, he decided to become a professional footballer and pursue his dream.
“For me, the dream was always to play football and get education at the same time. So, when I was at Thekwane, I wanted to go to the US to play there and get an education,” he said.
“My uncle who is based in the US encouraged me to do both, but in Zimbabwe it’s difficult to get education while you are pursuing your talent.
“I also knew that a soccer career does not last long at the same time I was also enjoying the sport and it motivated me to go to the states.”
Football first brought Mkosana to Kimball Union Academy before joining Dartmouth and during his time at Dartmouth, he was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2008.
He made the All-Ivy League first team from 2008 to 2011 and was the Ivy League Player of the Year in 2011.
His biggest achievement during college was breaking the all-time goal- scoring record at Dartmouth, bettering the 33-goal mark that had stood since 1953 by a single goal.
For his exploits, Mkosana is set to be indicted into the Dartmouth College Hall of Fame next month.
“When I was in college I broke the record that had stood since 1953. The record stood at 33 and I scored 34 goals to become the all-time top scorer. It’s something I am proud of as a player and you will be interested to know that I am going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame at my former college in October,” Mkosana said.
Since leaving college, Mkosana has played for Michigan Bucks in the USL Premier Development League, Harrisburg City Islanders, Tampa Bay Rowdies, New York Cosmos, Finnish Veikkausliiga side IFK and Penn FC.
Major League Soccer (MLS) side Chicago Fire once selected Mkosana for the second round of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, but eventually did not sign the player.
Mkosana has been enjoying a memorable debut season with Penn FC, which earned him an opportunity to realise his goal of donning the Warriors jersey. The dreadlocked forward hopes to not only play an integral part in the qualification phase, but also lead the Warriors to continental glory.
“Qualifying to the final is the main goal and winning the Africa Cup of Nations is what I would love to achieve with Zimbabwe,” he declared.
