Malajila sets another record

20 May, 2018 - 00:05 0 Views
Malajila sets another record Cuthbert Malajila (centre)

The Sunday News

Cuthbert Malajila (centre)

Cuthbert Malajila (centre)

Noel Munzabwa
FORMER Zimbabwe Warriors forward, Cuthbert Malajila has re-written Absa Premiership records by becoming the first Zimbabwean to win three back-to- back league titles and an overall four after receiving gold soon after champions Mamelodi Sundowns goalless draw away to Bloemfontein Celtics last Saturday.

Having become the first Zimbabwean to win three league golds last season while on loan at Bidvest Wits, the Kadoma-born star returned to parent club, Mamelodi Sundowns in a season that was injury plagued to bag his fourth extending his record.

Quite notably, Malajila could have joined the members of the Mamelodi Sundowns triple and back-to-back championship winning squad that bagged the 1997/98, 1998/99 and 1999/00 titles in hat-trick record but that squad had no Zimbabwe flavour in it.

This brought Malajila’s career league titles gold medals haul to five together with the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League gold he won with Dynamos in Zimbabwe giving another first.

In an interview yesterday amid the euphoria of rubbing shoulders with one of the biggest soccer teams Barcelona and the world’s finest footballer, Lionel Messi, Malajila paid tribute to hard work and focus.

“It feels good to have such a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life. This is what we play soccer for, to win accolades and medals and a special feeling to win it three times in a row goes beyond just the joy but it’s a special milestone.

“Hard work, focus, zeal to win and above all guidance from God Almighty lead the way and it is four in five years making it sweeter. We should not forget to give it to the Almighty and say thank you Lord, kuda kwenyu hakusi kuda kwangu, tichakurumbidzai kusingapere.

“You always have to thank for all these things that have brought so much in my life, not only in football. A lot has happened and you think my family has pushed so much to work even harder. I have to give thanks to my wife and kids who add that motivation, taking me to another level in my life.

“So this is my life, I am born to be a winner, the blessed one and will cherish this in a long time because every jersey I have worn has its own medal with the exception of the Maritzburg one but still, one day I will go back there not as a player maybe and I will have a medal with them, you never know.

“When I look at the walls in the house I see all the medals and accolades including the pictures and marvel. I pray and give thanks to everyone who pushed me this far through their support in this journey from family members, friends, team mates, teams and even sports journalists,” said Malajila.

The player who cut his premiership teeth at Chapungu in 2005 after being spotted from now defunct David Whitehead is one of the few Zimbabwe-born players that have swept clean all gold medals on offer in the Super Diski.

It was in October 2016 when Malajila completed the Absa Premiership gold medals haul as Bidvest Wits read a football lecture to Mamelodi Sundowns lifting the MTN8 Wafa Wafa Cup with a convincing 3-0 win at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

Unnoticed to many football pundits, having won the Absa Premiership in 2013/2014 and 2015/2016, Nedbank Cup 2014/2015, Telkom Cup 2015/2016 at Mamelodi Sundowns, the MTN8 had proven missing on the puzzle and finally it was delivered in sweet, perfect time — two days to the 31st birthday.

He then added the 2016/17 and now 2017/18 ABSA Premiership titles. Notably, Tinashe Nengomasha and Willard Katsande are some players on that list. Mamelodi Sundowns’ Billiat has won Premier Soccer League 2013-14, 2015-16 and 2017/18 ABSA titles, Nedbank Cup 2014-15 and Telkom Knockout 2015.

In his summary career Malajila has amassed 17 golds including the 2009 Cosafa Cup and golden boot, one Zimbabwe PSL championship and two golden boots, 2006 CBZ Cup golden boot, the 2011 Mbada Diamonds gold medal, Independence trophy and Zimbabwe Defence Forces Cup.

He has tasted silver on numerous occasions including propelling Chapungu to their millennium best ever, the 2006 CBZ losing finalists, Highlanders’ Nestle Charity Cup silver in 2008, league runners up.

Nengomasha had stood as arguably the most successful Zimbabwean soccer player in the Absa PSL with a winner’s medal through each of the years that he has spent at Amakhosi while Katsande has completed the super diski trophies jigsaw puzzle in his stay at Naturena but now does not have as many league titles as Malajila.

In celebrating 13 years of top flight football and milestone achievement in SA, Malajila declared “who Jah blesses no man can stop, my soccer journey continues” and has since acquired a soccer kit to be donated to his former school, Mupamombe Primary School, sourced from Umbro South Africa where he is a Brand Ambassador.

In his home town of Kadoma, he is running a sprouting academy, CUMA Football Academy.

This will not be the first time that Malajila will be supporting schools soccer having donated soccer balls distributed to Dombodema Secondary, Gifford High and Marist Brothers schools in support of the “Make them Play” initiative run by a sports journalist.
@NoelMunzabwa

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