BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
KENNETH Pasuwa, the son of former Warriors and Dynamos player and coach Kalisto, is determined to prove that the apple did not fall far from the tree as he seeks to follow in his father’s footsteps.
The 20-year-old Aces Youth Soccer Academy (AYSA) graduate endured a difficult debut season in the top-flight league last year as he struggled to break into the Black Rhinos first team.
Pasuwa Jnr, who considers himself a utility player just like his father during his heydays, says he is eager to establish himself as a key player at the army side.
“At the moment I’m training with Black Rhinos as they continue negotiating a new contract for me with my parent club Aces. Hopefully, everything will be finalised soon and I will just concentrate on my football. I believe I learned a lot being with the team last year and I’m hoping to make a mark this year and establish myself as a regular,” Pasuwa Jnr told The Sports Hub in an interview last week.
The former Lord Malvern High School student said his father, who won several trophies with Dynamos as a player before guiding the popular Harare giants to four successive Premiership titles as a coach, was the biggest inspiration in his career.
Pasuwa Jnr also expressed his desire to surpass his father’s achievements although he admits it will not be an easy task.
“My father is my biggest inspiration, but I hope I can surpass what he achieved and I know it will not be easy and I will have to work very hard,” he said.
- 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
“He has been very supportive in my young career so far and it is my hope to make him proud and reach the levels that he did during his playing days.”
The second born in a family of four, Kenneth started playing football while doing Grade 5 at Seke 7 Primary School in Chitungwiza.
“That’s really when I realised I wanted to become a professional footballer like my father. I was later enrolled at Aces Youth Soccer Academy in Waterfalls where I was also doing my secondary education at Lord Malvern High School,” said Pasuwa.
At Aces, Pasuwa Jnr was in the same stream with Panashe Mutasa, the son of another Dynamos legend, Lloyd Mutasa. He believes the academy, which has established itself as a conveyer belt of local football talent, played an important role in shaping his career.
“I really want to thank Aces for providing me with an opportunity to be part of the academy. They have equipped me with the necessary skills, which I believe will take me very far in my career. I’m a utility player who can play where the coach wants me to play, but I’d say my favourite position is defensive midfielder. I also enjoy playing as a right-back or as a central defender. My versatility is because of what I learnt at Aces because where the coaches put a lot of emphasis on improving the players’ skills and technique,” he said.
Pasuwa was part of the Zimbabwe Under-17 side that won a historic gold medal at the 2016 African Union Sports Council Region 5 Games in Angola following a 1-0 victory over the hosts in the final in Luanda three years ago.
