Martin Mapisa on the move in Spain

Sport
YOUNG Warriors goalkeeper Martin Mapisa continues to make steady progress in Spanish football after sealing a move to promotion-chasing Tercera División side Zamora CF from Vélez CF on Friday.

BY DANIEL NHAKANISO

YOUNG Warriors goalkeeper Martin Mapisa continues to make steady progress in Spanish football after sealing a move to promotion-chasing Tercera División side Zamora CF from Vélez CF on Friday.

The 21-year-old Zimbabwe youth internation l has established himself as one of the top players in the Tercera Division less than a year after signing a two-year contract with the Malaga-based Vélez CF from seventh-tier club CD Almuñécar City in February.

Although Vélez CF appear out of contention for promotion this season as they’re in eighth position in the Tercera División — Group 9, Mapisa has stood out with his brilliant individual displays in goal for the club which reportedly caught the attention Zamora CF.

Zamora CF quickly moved to secure Mapisa’s services in a bid to strengthen their side ahead of the Segunda División B promotion playoffs.

Mapisa’s former club Vélez CF confirmed Mapisa’s move to Zamora FC on their official website before thanking the Zimbabwean for his contribution during his stint with the club and wishing him the best in his career.

“This release confirms that the soccer player Martin Mapisa ceases to belong to the first team of Vélez Club de Fútbol after signing a professional contract with the Zamora Club de Fútbol. From Vélez CF we thank you for your services provided, in addition to wishing you luck and success in your new stage, as well as throughout your personal and professional future, ” said the club said in a statement.

The move to Zamora CF is another positive step in the fledgling career of Mapisa, whose goal is to compete at the top level of Spanish football.

The club currently competes in the Tercera, which is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system behind the Segunda Division B, Segunda División (also called La Liga 2) and the top-tier La Liga.

Zamora CF, however, have a very good chance of earning promotion to the third tier after a solid campaign in which they have done well in both the league campaign and in Spanish football’s premier knockout football competition, the Copa del Rey.

The ambitious club, which is based in the city of Zamora in the northwest part of Spain near the border with Portugal, is unbeaten in 20 games this season in which they have managed an impressive nine wins and a draw in the Tercera División — Group 8.

In addition to enjoying a nine-point lead at the top of the log, Zamora CF, who are three-time winners of the Tercera Division, have also been enjoying a fairytale run in the Copa de Rey.

The club hosted Spanish La Liga side Real Mallorca at Estadio Ruta de la Plata in a second round match yesterday which they narrowly lost 1-0.

Mapisa, who is the only goalkeeper from Zimbabwe plying his trade in Europe, is one of the several players from the famed Aces Youth Academy who have moved to Spain recently.

The promising goalkeeper was teammates at Vélez CF with Young Warriors midfielder Abubakar Moffat, while the duo of Nicholas Guyo and Kundai Mukweva are at Spanish lower division sides FC Malaga City Academy and CD Almuñécar.