The Sunday Mail
WARRIORS gaffer Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa has not made a secret of his desperation for a creative midfielder ahead of the resumption of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers later this year.
While Chidzambwa is yet to anoint a man who can turn out to be the Ronald “Gidiza” Sibanda or the Johannes “Signature” Ngodzo of the current squad, the veteran gaffer has been dropping some few pointers.
It appears the Warriors gaffer has been bowled over by a tiny 20-year-old central midfielder who is presently struggling to pin down a place in Herentals starting XI.
Richard Hachiro has only started four times for Premier Soccer League debutants Herentals, yet the Mbare bred midfielder appears to have warmed his way into Chidzambwa’s heart. The Herentals linkman is part of a star studded 33-man Cosafa Cup provisional squad that goes into camp on Thursday and according to Chidzambwa, Hachiro deserves his place amongst the country’s best.
“Yes, this boy might be unknown to many but as coaches we go around looking for good players and Richard (Hachiro) is one player who impressed me when I first saw him playing for Kariba Waves in 2017,” revealed Chidzambwa.
“Since then, I have been tracking his progress and I think he is doing well. He is still young yet he doesn’t lose the ball.
“If he gets the necessary protection and guidance, he will go places.”
Chidzambwa surprisingly handed Hachiro his Warriors debut on April 18, when Zimbabwe lost 0-1 to Botswana in the inaugural Zimbabwe President Independence Cup and after the match, the coach went gaga about the player.
“He (Hachiro) came in, stamped his authority and there was a lot of movement in that area (midfield). And I think we need to look around as well for other youngsters like him and then we sort out this central midfield,” Chidzambwa told the media after the Independence game.
A shy Hachiro struggled through his first interview with the mainstream media when The Sunday Mail Sport attended Herentals’ training session at Rufaro last Thursday.
“The truth is I was not expecting this interview, I am not prepared to talk much but what I can only say is that with God everything is possible.
“I wasn’t excepting this Cosafa call-up but all the same I am happy. But I think it will be good if we talk again when the camp starts next week (this week),” was all Hachiro could say.
Herentals coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva chipped in to say Hachiro’s greatest attribute is his ability to read the game.
“He reads the game so well and we use him as an impact player. When he comes in he changes everything,” said Mutiwekuziva.
“Hachiro is a very creative midfielder who is also good defensively. His ball distribution is up there and he is one guy who I think deserves this national team call up.”
He might be unknown to many but if you ask his childhood buddies, Edwin Madhanaga, now with FC Platinum, and Harare City’s Munyaradzi Diro-Nyenye, they will tell you “Mieritchie” was always a thorn in the flesh during their days in the Mbare Junior League structures.
