I’m all about the money: Mutuma

30 Jul, 2017 - 00:07 0 Views
I’m all about the money: Mutuma

The Sunday Mail

RODERICK MUTUMA is motivated by money and says if a better offer comes a day after signing for a new club, he will take it up without thinking twice.

“I go where the money is,” said the controversial striker who dumped Highlanders to join Yadah FC two weeks ago.

And Mutuma has mastered the art of saying what his new bosses love to hear on the day he is unveiled.

Upon joining Dynamos from a small Chinhoyi team called Township Rangers back in 2011, he said: “I grew up supporting Dynamos. It has always been my wish to play for the team.”

But after dumping DeMbare for bitter rivals Caps United on February 16, 2015 Mutuma said: “It’s good to be home, this is the club I grew up supporting.”

Mutuma only spent five months on the green side of Harare before retracing the path back to DeMbare.

The self styled Prince was on the move again at the start of this year, packing his bags for Highlanders and as usual he had some pleasant things to say about his new club.

“It has always been my wish to play for Highlanders, they are the biggest club in Zimbabwe and I know the supporters at the Soweto End love me,” he said.

Then two weeks ago the 29-year-old Mutuma sealed another surprise move, joining Yadah FC in a six-month deal worth US$4 000. His salary is believed to be US$1 000 a month.

Mutuma believes the world does not understand him, and in a bid to explore what really goes on within that tinted head of his, The Sunday Mail Sport paid the soccer player a visit at his Budiriro 2 apartment in Harare last week.

“By the way, you are very unlucky my wife is away in Chinhoyi to visit her parents; she could have cooked something for you,” Mutuma said as he ushered us into his decently furnished lounge.

Reggae tunes by popular Jamaican artists I-Octane, Jah Cure and Mavado played smoothly from a laptop as Mutuma adjusted his sitting posture in preparation for the interview.

“Those reggae artists are not my favourite. I belong to Soul Jah Love’s Conquering Family; in fact Jah Love is a very close friend of mine.

“My nephew Evans and my brother’s son Marvelous, who I stay with here, are the ones who are into such kind of tunes,” revealed the striker.

Mutuma was in a jovial mood, smiling and opening up more with each passing minute.

MUTUMA 2

“It has been long since I had an interview with The Sunday Mail. The last time we talked my wife Paida was pregnant but unfortunately she had a miscarriage.

“And now we are talking again at a time she is once again expecting … there must be something with my wife’s pregnancy and my interviews with The Sunday Mail,” he said as he broke into laughter.

The lanky striker gets into a reflective mood when asked why he is always on the move.

“I have a huge family to look after both here in Harare and in Mvuma so my decisions are influenced by my situation. Everyone in the family looks up to me and I know that it is my duty to take care of them, including my late sister’s children.

“The need to take of this large family motivates every decision I make and I don’t care what people say as long as the people I take care of appreciate that I am trying my best to make their lives better.”

Mutuma said his wife’s support kept him going.

“The good thing about all this is that my wife has accepted my situation and is very supportive. I met her when she was still a Form Six student in Chinhoyi and we have been together through and through.

“Actually, I am against this idea of celebrity footballers ditching their wives. Stick to your wife in both sad and happy times,” said the Yadah striker.

Mutuma revealed that he had long been close to Yadah owner Walter Magaya – though if this is true or is one of his glib “loved-it-since-childhood” proclamations is open to speculation.

“Everything is now okay my brother prophet Walter Magaya is taking care of me. He has always been like a father to me even when I was still at DeMbare. I pray that we survive relegation and see how it goes for Yadah FC next season,” he said.

January 2011 – Mutuma joins Dynamos from then Division One side Township Rangers of Chinhoyi and says: “It was always my dream to play for a big team like Dynamos.”

November 20, 2011 – He scores one as Dynamos beat Kiglon 2-0 to clinch the 2011 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League championship. The strike helps him clinch the Golden Boot with 14 goals.

November 27, 2011 – Mutuma’s second half strike hands Dynamos the inaugural Mbada Diamonds Cup after a 1-0 victory over Motor Action on a rain drenched National Sports.

November 2012 – Mutuma bags his second championship medal with DeMbare.

January 31, 2013 – The Mvuma bred striker concludes a deal with South African ABSA Premiership side Bloemfontein Celtic.

April 2014 – He is released by Celtic and rejoins Dynamos on a one-year deal.

January 2015 – South Africa’s respected football website Kick Off rates Mutuma as one of the 30 worst foreign strikers to grace the country’s PSL era placing him at number 22 with Shingi Kawondera occupying 30th position.

February 17, 2015 – Mutuma seals a shock move to Dynamos’ arch rivals Caps United and says: “I feel at home. It’s a dream come true to get this opportunity to play for Caps United, the team I grew up supporting.”

May 12, 2015 – Mutuma quits Caps United citing bad treatment. “I can’t keep on like this. I have never seen anything like this ever since I started playing football. I have played in Division 2 but there is nothing like this,” he said.

July 2015 – Rejoins Dynamos just over six months after he left the club for Makepekepe.

February 2017 – Mutuma completes a move to Highlanders and claims that it was always his wish to play in front of Bosso’s passionate fans. “I know fans on the Soweto End love me.”

July 2017 – Dumps Highlanders and joins Yadah FC and says he was homesick. “I wanted to be closer to my family which is in Harare. I always balance work and family commitments.”

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