The Sunday Mail
CHARITY begins at home and in Christianity they say blessed is the hand that giveth.
We start off this week’s edition with a touching tale of a Mbare-bred former street vendor, who is now a proud sponsor of a Zifa Division 3 football team, FC National Mbare.
Tichaona Tashaya, a devout Roman Catholic based in the United Kingdom, is an avid reader of this column and this week he shares a story on how Christianity changed his life.
The football enthusiast also talks about how he intends to “reform” youths from the crime prone high density suburb of Mbare through football.
“I have always been a football person and at the same time a devout Catholic. My motive is to make a difference by producing Christian footballers.
“My life history has taught me that with God anything is possible. I was a street vendor from a very young age, did all sorts of general jobs before I got the opportunity to go abroad in 2002.
“Today I am a proud sponsor of youths’ football in Mbare,” said Tashaya.
The 43-year-old Tashaya was born in Kadoma, into a strict Catholic family but football was always in his veins. He was part of that phenomenal boozers team called Chifamba United that almost knocked Caps United out of the Zifa Cup in the preliminary round in the 1990s.
“I was always a football person, my friends were always football people but at the same time my dream was based on the need to ensure that young boys do not become delinquent. At the same time offering them a Christian background from which to develop their football skills,” said Tashaya.
“I have seen a lot of talent that came from Mbare, a number of good footballers who lost their way once fame got into their heads.
“This was a major influence in my decision to give back to the community that I grew up in and trying to bring Christianity into the game to influence decisions that young players make at the beginning of their careers.”
FC National Mbare are doing well in the Zifa Division 3 League where they are in the top four after 16 rounds of action.
The idea of forming the club was conceived in 2015 but FC National Mbare was eventually formed at the start of this year.
Masimba Kanoyerera is the head coach and he is assisted by former Premiership player Romeo Kabesha.
Ex Warriors striker Gilbert “Gidza” Mushangazhike also helps the technical team on a voluntary basis.
“I have been privileged to live in the UK where I have seen how football is run professionally and all my life I have been lucky to interact with individuals who played football at the highest level.
“I realised that many young players were losing their way because they do not have a proper Christian grounding.
“This is why we find many of our players either failing to cut it in the top leagues in Europe or they die paupers after years of squandering money on the pleasures of this world.
Tashaya has been married for nearly 12 years, to a fellow Catholic, Lydia and the couple has two boys — Tatenda and Daniel.
“I can only try, this is Mbare but I would like to see FC National Mbare grow and play in the higher leagues in Zimbabwean football. In the short term, the team should bring positive change to the lives of the players and their families.”
From a street vendor, Tashaya is now a Project Manager for a private health care organisation in Birmingham.
“It is God’s work,” he says.
Meanwhile, the Golden Boot race is heating up in the Chitungwiza West AFM Liga where Tariro Kugotsi from log leaders El Shadai is threatening to run away with the gong. He is on 11 goals, three ahead of Titus Matare of Blessed while Nyasha Makore of Bethlehem is on 7.
El Shadai is still at the apex of the 14-team log with 22 points, two clear of second placed Bethlehem while Malati anchor the table with a single point from seven games.
The Apostolic Faith Mission Harare West League enters Week 24 with eight fixtures lined up across various venues.
Fola are 11 points clear of Good Hope at the top while Afdis and Abundant are languishing at the dangerous end of the table.
Media and Marketing correspondent for the league, Mike Talent Kuwondo, expects grueling battles this weekend.
“Players to watch out for this weekend are Brian Rusike and Costain Rutsate (Faith Alive) as well as the big striker Chikonyora from El Shadai. The league is getting more intriguing, the AFM Harare West league is one of the best run Christian Leagues in the country,” boasted Kuwondo.
AFM Chitungwiza West Liga Golden Boot Race
Tariro Kugotsi (El Shadai) 11
Titus Matare (Blessed) 8
Nyasha Makore (Bethlehem) 7
Raphael Kawondera (Bethel) 6
Marlvyn Katemba (Azusa) 5
Today’s fixtures
Zengeza 3 v Salem 3PM (Zengeza 4 Primary School)
Blessed v El Shadai 2PM (Rehoboth)
Faith Centre v Adonai 3PM (Rehoboth)
Week 23 Fixtures
FF B v Fola
El Shadai v Abundant Life
Good Hope v Emerald Hill
Faith Alive v Shiloh
Amazing Grace v Living Word
Shalom v Fountain Blue
Greater Grace v Afdis
Miracle Centre v Milton Park
We invite those with church sports news to contact Langton Nyakwenda on 0773 298 522 or email feedback at [email protected]
