The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
FC Platinum goalkeeper Petros Mhari decided to retrace his footsteps to where it all began in his football career following what one can describe as one of his best seasons this year.
Mhari started his football career at Shangani Secondary School in Insiza District, Matabeleland South and two weeks ago he visited the school to motivate pupils to reach heights in sport.
His path to being a goalkeeper began when he was at the school which he joined during its first year because it was constructed to take care of children of newly resettled farmers.
The FC Platinum goal minder was crowned Goalkeeper of the Year after a great year with the Zvishavane-side, which was pipped to the title by Caps United on the last day of the Premiership.
Budro, as he is known to his fans, also managed to find his way into the soccer stars’ calendar after being voted the second runner-up behind Caps players, Hardlife Zvirekwi and Leonard Tsipa.
The goalkeeper was one of the pioneer pupils at the school and sports were not well established at the time with sporting codes in existence only due to the availability of a teacher who could coach that discipline.
Football, despite being a popular sport was left out as there were only netball and handball coaches.
With no one eager to take on handball, then coach, Njabulo Nkomazana, who is now the headmaster, “dragged” the boys, including Mhari, into his team despite their preference for soccer.
“Handball was not popular with the boys and they loved football but I had to have a team so I had to force them to take up the sport. The interest in soccer did not subside but for Mhari it was the beginning of his path to being a goalkeeper because at the time he was an infield player but due to his experience in handball they asked him one day to guard the goal as the goalie had not turned up,” he said.
Mhari was then a midfielder but was pushed in between the posts with his experience in handball used as a skill.
Nkomazana said the recent visit by Mhari proved inspirational as it aroused excitement among the pupils adding it was a sign he (Mhari) has not forgotten his humble beginnings.
He said they were grateful for the pledge made by Mhari to return and donate football and netball kits for the school.
Nkomazana revealed Mhari first paid them a courtesy call in January as a simple visit to his old school.
“We were glad when he visited us at the beginning of the year and we wished him all the best and we were equally happy to see him back in December to show us what he won,” he said.
Mhari said he felt compelled to visit his former school and engage pupils on how sport can positively impact one’s life.
He said it was important for the talented and those who are not academically gifted to know they can focus on a sporting career and still succeed.
“I wanted to encourage the kids and show them that you can make a living from sport, while academics is critical if you are talented in any sport, you can pursue it and earn a living there.
“Handball gave me a good base to being a ’keeper because the ball used to be played fast and that made me improve my reflexes,” he said.
