The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS striker Knox Mutizwa who last Sunday overtook Edmore Chirambadare as the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League’s leading goal scorer has a dazzling scoring record. Mutizwa with 10 goals to his name got the goals from the nine matches he played for Highlanders. He missed some matches after suffering burns in the build up to the season in March. Rumours were that his wife scalded him with boiling water during a domestic dispute but the player has insisted that he was burnt by water he was heating in a bucket.
Missing seven regular players, Highlanders coach Bongani Mafu turned to Mutizwa to partner Obadiah Tarumbwa upfront against Whawha at Barbourfields Stadium on 24 May and Mutizwa scored his first goal in a 2-0 triumph for Highlanders.
Six days later, Mutizwa was on target from the spot as Highlanders held FC Platinum to a 2-2 draw at Mandava Stadium. In June, Mutizwa was successful from the spot for Bosso to secure a 1-1 stalemate against How Mine at Barbourfields.
Mutizwa stole the show against Dynamos at Rufaro Stadium on 28 June, his penalty putting Highlanders in front before he added a second goal in the second half only for Highlanders to lose 3-2 under controversial circumstances with their third goal disallowed since assistant referee Bongani Gadzikwa had his flag up for offside. Television replays showed the man on the line could have made a blunder as Edmore Muzanenhamo who had blasted the ball into the nets was onside when the ball was headed back to him.
In the last match of the first round of the PSL, the 21-year-old Mutizwa hit the target against former coach Kelvin Kaindu now in charge of Triangle as Highlanders came from behind to draw 1-1 at home.
His exploits saw him being voted as the Castle Lager player of the month for the combined months of June and July.
Mutizwa came alive last Sunday with a hat-trick in a 5-1 drubbing handed out to city rivals How Mine at Barbourfields. His three goals all scored in the second half were top notch for a player not gifted with much in terms of skill. This saw the man known as “Mjomane” to the Highlanders supporters overtake Chirambadare as he moved to nine goals.
Kaindu, watching from the terraces must have been left wondering how a player he hardly used in the three years he was coach of Highlanders has transformed into such a brilliant goal getter.
With the Chicken Inn striker failing to find the target away to Buffaloes despite his side winning 2-0 on Wednesday, Mutizwa scored a header in Highlanders’ 2-1 defeat to FC Platinum the next day to move to 10 goals while Chirambadare was still stuck on eight goals.
What makes it even astonishing is the fact that when Mutizwa had his first goal against Whawha in May, Chirambadare was already on six goals. Before the Gamecocks took on Hwange at Luveve Stadium yesterday, the left footed Chirambadare had not scored since he last found the target in his side’s 2-1 triumph over Chapungu in Gweru on 6 June.
Mutizwa has been quoted in some sections of the media stating that he is targeting the 20 goal mark with 11 matches to go prior to the conclusion of the league. With his current form, Mutizwa might as well achieve that target.
Local strikers have over the years struggled to breach the 20 goal mark. Last season, Charles Sibanda then at Highlanders and his now How Mine teammate, Kuda Musharu shared the golden boot award worth $4 000 after scoring 12 goals apiece.
With no player who has been as consistent as Mutizwa, the Highlanders striker is the leading front runner for the biggest prize in Zimbabwe which is the Soccer Star of the Year award.
