Fredrick Moyo/Emmanuel Chitsika
Following the relegation of Masvingo United from Zimbabwe top flight league into the Eastern Region Division 1 league, Una Una faithfuls were left wondering as to whether Mucheke stadium will ever host premiership football.
The demise, which was followed by former bank roller busman Tanda Tavaruva’s transport empire sinking into oblivion cast a dark shadow over any prospects of revival or even efforts to bounce back into the elite league. Masvingo United now a community-owned team faces the prospect of bringing glory days back to the ground at the heart of the oldest suburb of Mucheke where it commands a sizable following among the ‘ghetto youths’.
But as the saying goes ‘beyond darkness, there is always light at the end of the tunnel’, such is life at Una Una as the team fights for promotion into the top flight league where rival, richer and more organised competitors pose a serious threat in form of Green Fuel, Manica Diamonds Under 23, Chiredzi Stars and Ruwa ProGroup FC among others, there is a rising stars in Masvingo United in form of promising midfielder Benedict Courage Bere.
23-year-old ‘Kaka’ as he is affectionally known among the club’s fans, is proving to be a force to reckon in the middle of the park as he exhibits touches of glimpse and control of the ball.
Born on September 4, 1998 in Mashava, he started playing football while he was in grade 5 at Runyararo Primary School in Masvingo. His outstanding performances earned him a scholarship at Pamushana High School in Bikita between 2010 and 2016 for his secondary education.
“I started playing football while I was in grade 5 at Runyararo primary school. In 2008, I went to Gweru representing Masvingo province under 14 boys’ team and was then offered a scholarship to study at Pamushana from form 1-6 and that is where I was nurtured to become the person I am right now.
“In 2016, I then joined Bikita Minerals where I was working while playing football. In 2017, I was selected to go for the national team trials but things did not go well there as I failed the trials,” said Kaka.
He also added that he went for trials in France as his agent by then saw the talent he had but could not meet the teams’ demands as they offered him scholarships and wanted him to play for the development side.
“I had a company agent who saw the talent that I had after coming from the national team trials, the agent went with me to France in 2017 and we could not find a team that was willing to meet our demands.
“My agent wanted 30 percent from my signing on fee, but the teams offered scholarships to nurture me from their development sides as I did not have the experience to play European football and this made us to return back home and went on to play for Bikita Minerals,” he said.
Kaka said he won many awards at different tournaments while he was still at school and that is what motivated him to keep on working hard as he pursues the dream of dancing with the elite boys in premier soccer league.
“While I was at Pamushana High School, I was judged the U17 player of the tournament and in 2012 I was the midfielder of the tournament at the Coca-Cola tournament and then in 2016, I went for the Youth games in Chinhoyi and we were defeated in the finals.
“My mission is to go forward as a player. I am a hard worker whose desire right now is not to play for money but I am currently focusing on my career and I dream to play in the PSL. I am fighting very hard for that dream to come true, that is what motivates me,” added Kaka.
Kaka put on another superb performance over the weekend as Masvingo United edged past youthful Manica Diamond Juniors FC 3-1 at home.
Kaka dictated pace in the midfield. Masvingo United goals came from Shawn Mutongi, Admire Banda and Frank Jere while Malvern Mutimukulu scored consolation for the visitors.
