The Sunday News
Fungai Muderere, Senior Sports Reporter
CHICKEN Inn goal minder Elvis Chipezeze who bagged this year’s Goalkeeper of the Year Award at a Soccer Stars of the Year banquet that was held in Harare recently has dedicated his achievement to his late father Allan, a former policeman stationed at Fairbridge in Bulawayo.
“It was by no means an easy achievement and I’m grateful to my teammates, coaches and family members. Special mention should also go to my wife Marvelous Ngwenya. More importantly, I would like to dedicate this award to my late father Allan who hoped I would become a medical doctor,” said an ecstatic Chipezeze.
Chipezeze also had an epic 2015 season helping Chicken Inn to clinch the championship, and earning himself a spot on the Soccer Stars’ calendar. He went on to win the goalkeepers’ gong after keeping 12 clean sheets.
In year 2017, his indefatigably efforts between the sticks when doing duty for the Rahman Gumbo mentored Chicken Inn saw Chipezeze produce a stunning 18 clean sheets from 31 starts.
He was the reserve goalkeeper on Match Day One and Two when Gamecocks walloped Bantu Rovers 6-0 before being edged 2-1 by Bulawayo City, respectively. In those games, the Gamecocks head coach, Rahman Gumbo opted to start with young Pride Zendera between the sticks.
He also missed his club’s Week 29 fixture against Harare City due to suspension after accumulating three yellow cards.
“Chipezeze had a very good 2017 season and I think he really deserved this year’s Goalkeeper of the Year Award. However, it’s a pity that he did not make it among the eleven Soccer Stars of the Year finalist,” said 2016 Goalkeeper of the Year Petros Mhari who turns out for champions FC Platinum.
Born in Bulawayo on 11 March 1990, Chipezeze attended Fairbridge Primary School up to Grade Three. He then moved to Gweru to finish his primary and secondary school education. His football career took off at Bristol City where he played together with his former Chicken Inn teammate, striker Edmore Chirambadare. He disclosed that he became serious about playing football in 2004 and 2005 while turning out for the Bristol City juniors.
A move to Division Two side Red Cross came in 2006 where he did not feature as he was still considered a junior player. The following year, Chipezeze signed up for Matshiyakwakhiwe in the Zifa Southern Region Division One where he was the third choice goalkeeper.
In 2008, he went to Gweru Pirates where he enjoyed the status of being the first choice goalkeeper. Still not satisfied, Chipezeze left Gweru Pirates for Zimbabwe Alloys where he played for three seasons under the mentorship of Peter Manoti.
In 2011, he was spotted by Chicken Inn goalkeepers’ coach Julius Ndlovu when Zim Alloys took on the Gamecocks in a friendly match. The Bulawayo-based club wanted him to move that same year but Manoti asked him to play one more season in Division One.
Chipezeze finally realised his dream of joining a Premier Soccer League side when he signed for Chicken Inn in 2012 who were then coached by the late Adam Ndlovu.
There was fierce competition at the Gamecocks who also had Njabulo “Popo” Nyoni and Liberty Chirava as other goalkeepers. The pressure eased off in 2013 when Nyoni went to Highlanders which left Chipezeze and Chirava to fight for the number one slot.
