Branton Matondo
The last white football player on the local premiership landscape to feature on the Soccer Star of the Year calendar was Duncan Ellison in 1983 after an exciting display with the once dominant Harare giant Caps United but former Whawha Ace who has been blazing the local football front dreams of breaking the record come 2023 season.
New signing for fast food driven game cocks Callum English is looking forward to feature on next year’s calendar as he relishes the new and demanding task ahead.
English who has once featured for Herentials Fc and Harare City is now a household name following his exploits at relegated side Whawha Fc who are under the tutelage of perennial gaffer Luke ‘Jukulile’ Petros.
Speaking to TellZim News, the 21 year-old attacking midfielder said his objective is to utilize the off-season to polish up his weak spots, ready himself for next season, contribute a lot to the team and achieve his personal dream of appearing on the calendar.
“I hope to be challenging for the title with Chicken Inn. One of my objectives really is to improve on last season. Above all, I am ready to work extra hard for the team. Remember it’s a long off season, so it will give me ample time to prepare. My personal goal is to be on the calendar, that’s for sure,” he said.
English who has been one of the few talents in a dismal Whawha side had the prison side to thank for giving him the chance to showcase his abundant talent.
“I am thankful for my time at Whawha. They gave me the opportunity to showcase myself in the premier league. It was unfortunate that we were relegated but l learnt a lot. My game definitely progressed,” English said.
He added that his move to Chicken Inn who finished second to four time Champions Fc Platinum is a better opportunity for him to improve much faster.
“As a player, there are things you have to improve but it’s fortunate that l need to do that on a better platform which is Chicken Inn. Definitely improvements will come much faster at Chicken Inn than they were at Whawha,” added English.
Callum English first signed for Harare City when he was just 16 before going back to German for a short period.
During the peak of Covid-19 he returned to Zimbabwe and signed for Herentials Fc during the start of the just ended 2022 season but the reminder of the season saw him playing for Whawha.
The only player from Chicken Inn to feature on this year’s calendar was Brian Muza.
The other finalists to feature were Derlic Murimba (Ngezi Platinum), Eli Lunga (Black Rhinos), Frank Makarati (Dynamos), Gift Bello (Fc Platinum), Nelson Chadya (Ngezi Platinum), Tinotenda Benza (Herentials), Wallace Magalane (Fc Platinum), Walter Musona (Fc Platinum), William Manondo (Caps United) and Divine Mhindirira (Highlanders).
