In the mid 1990s Zimbabwe had what many to this day believe was the best team to don the national football team‘s jerseys – the Dream Team. Some have countered this and said that the 2004 – 2006 squads that make it to consecutive African Cup of Nations Finals were better.
One thing for sure, the current Callisto Pasuwa coached squad falls short as they have been rated as the worst ever – 131 in the world.
However, beyond our borders they are a crop of players who are doing wonders at their respective clubs and continually raising the Zimbabwean flag. We list 11 here but there are many and would love to hear from you in the comments who you think deserves recognition:
1.Tando Velaphi
29 year old Tando Yuji Velaphi is a goalkeeper who plays for Shonan Bellmare in the J-League. Velaphi was born in Perth, Western Australia. His father is Zimbabwean, and his mother is Japanese. He is yet to officially play for a senior national team and hence is eligible to play for the Warriors. He has played a total of 77 A-League matches for various teams in Australia, before moving to Japan.
Image Credit: www.FourFourTwo.com
2.Brendon Galloway
Brandon Galloway recently signed a 5-year extension to his contract with Everton Football Club in the UK, where he has been holding down a regular place at the team. After moving to England from Zimbabwe at the age of six, Galloway started playing for Milton Keynes Dons when he joined the club’s under-11 side. He too is yet to play for the England national team and can play for Zimbabwe, where there is hope that someone like Benjani needs to convince him. See full profile here.
Image Credit: TheGuardian.com
3.Farai Hallam
Based in the UK, Hallam plays for Thamesmead Town FC in the semi-professional league of the Isthmian League, which has clubs from London, East and South East England.
Image Credit: getbucks.co.uk
4.Kundai Benyu
A bright gem at just 18 years of age, Benyu plays as a midfielder for Ipswich Town in the English Championship. Though not having had first team game time with the club, last year they were impressed with him to the extent that the Tractor Boys offed him a two and a half year contract. See full profile here.
Image Credit: IpswichStar.co.uk
5.Marvelous Nakamba
At 22 years of age, Marvelous is a regular at Vitesse, a club in the professional football league in the Netherlands. He plays as a midfielder and speculation is rife that a top European team will snatch him from his Dutch base. See full profile here.
Image Credit: ASNL.net
6.Bradley Pritchard
Though approaching the twilight of his career, Pritchard was a late boomer, as his parents wanted him to concentrate on his schooling first. For this he has a Masters in Sports Science degree and a Graduate Diploma in Law. He is a regular player at Letyon Orient in Football League Two, the fourth tier in the English football league system. See full profile here.
Image Credit: Skysports.com
7.Tendayi Darikwa
A right back or winger for Burnley, Darikwa is yet to play for Zimbabwe but many are hopeful that this will happen sooner rather than later. He s a regular feature at his Championship side with there being speculation he may join an English Premiership Club soon. See full profile here.
Image Credit: www.bbc.co.uk
8.Silas Songani
Fresh from signing a 3 year extension to his contract with topflight Danish club Soenderjysk, the 26 year old has impressed with his speed and dribbling skills. He is a former Harare City football player.
Image Credit: www.bt.dk
9.Knowledge Musona
Turning out for KV Oostende in the Belgian league, Musona has impressed throughout his 6 year career. An Aces Academy product he is one of the few players to be born and bred in Zimbabwe but never to have played in the Zimbabwe Premier League. See full profile here.
Image Credit: www.lavenir.net
10. Costa Nhamoinesu
Nhamoinesu is a Zimbabwean football defender who currently plays in the Synot Liga for the Czech side Sparta Prague. Born in Harare, he was spotted whilst playing for Masvingo United in the Zimbabwean first league and sent to Poland, where he was eventually sold to Zagłębie Lubin. He played there for five seasons before joining Sparta.
11.Macauley Miles Bonne 
He is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Colchester United. He progressed through the Colchester United youth ranks, having previously spent six years with hometown club Ipswich Townbetween the age of 8 and 14, with a brief spell at Norwich City separating the two. He made his professional debut for Colchester in 2013, and scored his first professional goal on his 18th birthday in a match against Peterborough United. He has representedZimbabwe at under-23 level.
1 Comment