BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
CHICKEN Inn striker Clive Augusto is having his best start to a league season in his career, leading the scoring charts with four goals in four matches.
Augusto has already equalled his tally for the whole of last season when he was still playing for eventual runners-up Ngezi Platinum Stars.
The 24-year-old striker, who saw little action last season in Mhondoro-Ngezi, crossed the floor during the offseason to join one of the Premier Soccer League title favourites Chicken Inn.
While the forward is targeting a double-digits score tallyfor the Gamecocks and possibly the championship medal, he has a dream to play in the French League one day. It has been a motivating factor in his career so far.
“The dream for me is to play in Europe. I have always wanted to play in France, which is my favourite country and my favourite league, Ligue 1; and this is what motivates me to work hard,” Augusto said.
Zimbabweans who have played in French League 1 are Benjani Mwaruwari and Harrington Shereni while Marvelous Nakamba, Ovidy Karuru and lately Tino Kadewere have played in the lower leagues in that country.
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Born and bred in Mabvuku-Tafara, Augusto has shown a lot of promise as a striker in the local league, but never quite imposed himself as one of the best. Perhaps what he needed was a move to a team that completely trusts him as do Chicken Inn.
Chicken Inn made their intention to bring the player to Bulawayo as soon as the 2018 league season ended and he is already proving to be an oracle-inspired buy.
“So far I am enjoying life in Bulawayo and at Chicken Inn. It is every striker’s dream to score goals for fun and I am currently enjoying doing what I am naturally expected to do,” he said.
“It feel really great to be leading the scoring charts at the moment but it all goes down to hard work as well as help from my teammates,” he said The talented forward scored a brace in the first game of the season at home to ZPC Kariba, and hit the target again away to Yadah FC Yadah in Harare before notching another goal in the win over Dynamos.
Augusto also spoke of his targets for the club in his first season.
“The target I have given myself was to reach double figures and I am on course to achieve that. After that then maybe I can talk about the golden boot, but above all I want my goals to help the team win the league title,” he said.
The local league’s top scorer is a product of Ali Sundowns Juniors who he has also played for DT Afrika United in Division 2, Twalumba FC and Mt Darwin FC in Division 1.
He made his debut in the Premiership with Ngezi Platinum Stars three years ago as an unheralded player before moving to 2015 champions Chicken Inn.
Augusto made his Warriors debut in the Independence Day celebrations match against Botswana last year and was named as part of the provisional squad for the Cecafa tournament in late 2017.
But what kind of advice has he been receiving from his coach Joey Antipas with regard to his goal-scoring form?
“Well, the coach is happy with my performances so far, he is always telling me to keep working hard and that the sky is the limit, which is very encouraging. I am always motivated to make him proud every time I go out there,” said the former Oriel Boys High student.
Augusto also spoke highly of the current Chicken Inn squad and the potential it has.
“I think we have the best talent in the local league at the moment and we also have an experienced squad capable of winning everything locally. Hopefully, we will bring the league trophy to Bulawayo at the end of the season,” he said.