The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
THE song “Dreams of Brighter Days” by Jamaican reggae artiste Busy Signal was on repeat as Caps United striker Dominic Chungwa woke up at around 9am last Sunday.
With the Harare Derby just a few hours away, Chungwa desperately needed inspiration and in Busy Signal’s plug track he found the perfect lift.
As he opened the windows to his flat in Mufakose, the sun shone on the Caps United hit man and he felt like a million dollars.
“I woke up feeling good and had this feeling that our time to break the jinx against DeMbare had come,” revealed Chungwa whose goal decided last Sunday’s Harare Derby.
As usual, the striker’s wife – Laura – polished the football boots while kids Makomborero and Leander wanted to know if their father would score again after finding the net against Harare City in his last match.
“My routine is the same before every game but Caps United versus Dynamos is a fixture that pumps your adrenaline, it brings a mixture of anxiety and excitement.
“I prayed before I left home and as usual listened to the kind of music that would inspire and motivate me…it had to be none other than Busy Signal’s conscious stuff,” disclosed Chungwa.
The 30-year-old Hwange-born striker engraved his name in Caps United folklore after his solitary strike ended DeMbare’s seven-year dominance over Makepekepe.
It was his first Harare Derby goal at the sixth time of asking.
Prior to that 71st minute strike, Chungwa had not made an impression and very few would have been surprised to see him being substituted.
However, Simba Nhivi’s cross caused commotion in the Dynamos box and the ball fell into Chungwa’s path and he rifled the ball home.
Social media has been abuzz with debate over whether it was Chungwa or substitute Archford Gutu who got the decisive touch.
“It’s Chungwa’s goal, yes I got a touch but its Dommy’s goal – there is no question about it,” said Gutu.
Caps United coach Lloyd Chitembwe weighed in saying: “The club position is that it is Chungwa’s goal; even the way he celebrated tells you it was him who had the final touch.”
Chungwa relived the moment he sent the Caps United faithful into delirium.
“The moment the ball fell onto my feet, my instinct drove me to just hit the ball towards goal,” he recalled. “It was instinctive and I did not see whether the ball had gone in or not because the deafening sound coming from the bay our supporters were seated told me all I wanted to know.
“I am employed to score goals and I just feel like I did my job in the same manner the defenders did theirs. However, being a derby I knew that not many chances would come my way. If you remember I only had three chances in total – the goal itself, the disallowed header and the bounce header that missed the target – so my aim was to make the most of every opportunity.”
Chungwa credited Chitembwe for turning him into the striker he is today.
“I love being around him, some people say coach Chitembwe is tough and difficult to deal with but to me that guy is a teacher, a great motivator.
“He is always teaching us about life on and off the pitch and reminds us that discipline is the key to success. During the derby with chances not coming my way the coach told me to be patient because such big games are decided by one moment and I thank God that one moment fell onto my path.”
Chungwa compensates for his lack of skill with hard work.
Caps United strikers’ coach Fungai “Tostao” Kwashi said the striker reminded him of Adam Ndlovu.
“He is a natural killer, a goal getter; he has a high work rate and is a good team player. He is capable of doing wonders for us, he just has to stay humble.
“At 30 some may feel it’s too late for him to make a move to a foreign league but I always tell him age is nothing but a number.
“It is never too late in football, Makwinji (Soma Phiri) and Adamski (Adam Ndlovu) were signed by South African clubs when they were around 32 or 33,” said Kwashi.
After winning the derby for Makepekepe the hardworking Chungwa turns his guns on struggling Border Striker this afternoon.
“I hope to achieve some big things at Caps United but let us not talk about the Premiership title, it is still too early.
“Last week’s derby victory is water under the bridge and it will count for nothing if we are to falter in our next assignment against Border Strikers.
“The fans are happy, they will cherish that victory but it is not just about beating Dynamos alone, it is about the bigger picture, the ultimate prize,” he said.
