The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda recently in ZVISHAVANE
HE never gives up.
Once rejected by Mark Harrison but later on embraced by the legendary Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa and Norman Mapeza, Never Tigere’s life is the epitome of struggle.
It has never been easy for him.
The FC Platinum attacking linkman, who was recently named amongst the best 11 players for the 2019 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season, has a moving childhood story.
He lost his only brother when he was still in primary school.
Both his parents died after he had just completed Grade Seven and Tigere had to face the world on his own.
No father, no mother, no brother and no sister.
But football has taken Tigere this far.
Although he can now revel in glory after winning his second championship medal with FC Platinum, the 28-year-old Tigere still thinks of the “poor” life he experienced in the high-density suburb of Mbare.
“My parents passed away when I was still a boy. I then stayed with my grandmother. When she relocated to the rural areas, I was left home alone.
“That predicament forced me to try all sorts of things to earn a living. I remember sometimes I would go to Mbare Musika to sell some stuff in order to put food on the table,” Tigere told The Sunday Mail Sport in Zvishavane.
Some people believe that had the 2019 Soccer Star selection been done after the conclusion of the season, Tigere might have pipped Joel “Josta” Ngodzo for the award.
Tigere’s Pure Platinum Play beat Ngodzo’s CAPS United 1-0 to clinch a third straight league title at the National Sports last weekend.
“I do not want to think much about that one (Soccer Star of the Year award), the most important thing is that FC Platinum won a third league title,” Tigere said.
“We are where we are today because of hard work and team work. To me, the team comes first.”
Five Premier Soccer League goals, four in the CAF Champions League and two in the African Nations Championship, reads Tigere’s 2019 report card.
He played 2 024 minutes in the league and was one of the key players as FC Platinum etched their name in Zimbabwean football folklore.
Pure Platinum Play joined Dynamos and Highlanders as the only teams to have won at least three consecutive league titles.
DeMbare did it from 1980 to 1983 before repeating the same feat under Kalisto Pasuwa between 2011 and 2014.
Bosso won four straight titles from 1999 to 2002.
“It’s good to be part of a history making side,” said Tigere.
“I will keep pushing, it was good that I played for Zimbabwe in the CHAN qualifiers, which I think helped to put my name on the international platform.
“Now, if God permits, I would like to get to the next level, possibly earn a move to the Zambian league or the ABSA Premiership,” said the former George Stark High School student.
Tigere’s football career started at a club called Hunters in Mbare.
From there, he went to DC Academy, then to former Premiership side Eagles where he was registered as a junior.
When Eagles folded, Tigere stayed at home and reverted back to his lifestyle of selling goods at Mbare Musika.
“One day after impressing in a money game played in Mbare, some guy introduced me to a team called Catholic Saints, which was playing in Division Three.
“I played there for a while, then tried my luck with Monomotapa. I also played for Mushowani Stars and helped them gain promotion into Division One.”
However, 2015 was his turning point.
He impressed at CAPS United during the off-season trials and signed a pre-contract with the Harare giants, who included Tigere in their pre-season tour of Malawi.
But things changed when Harrison was appointed coach, just as the registration window was about to close.
“The coach told me I was not in his plans — just like that,” recalled Tigere.
“I knew that l would have to go back to the market to sell stuff like I used to do, but my heart wanted me to continue playing football.
“As fate would have it, I got a call from Shadreck Mugurasawe, who was coaching then newly promoted Dongo Sawmills.
“Immediately, I signed for Dongo and that’s how I made my Premiership breakthrough.”
That was before his skills charmed Chidzambwa, who was still with ZPC Kariba back then.
Chidzambwa’s side thumped Dongo Sawmills 4-1 in Week 26 of the 2015 season but Tigere had done enough to win the attention of the history making gaffer.
After Dongo were relegated, Chidzambwa took Tigere to Kariba in 2016.
“I settled well in Kariba, where I scored a couple of goals until that moment that changed my script again.
“ZPC Kariba played FC Platinum in the final weeks of the 2017 season here at Mandava and coach Mapeza was impressed with my talent.
“He told me he wanted me and I signed for Platinum in 2018, that’s my football journey so far,” revealed Tigere.
He turned 28 on December 16 and Tigere — a Denver Mukamba look alike — feels that he is at the prime of his career.
“I am aware people say I look like Denver, we have talked about it with him and we now call each other twins.
“I am enjoying my game, I like scoring from set pieces, a skill developed after closely following former English star David Beckham.
“When we finish training, I stay behind to practise one or two tricks. Growing up in Mbare, I would keep Beckham’s posters in my room.”
Tigere has scored direct from a free kick on eight occasions in the past three seasons.
“If I look at how I ended up here, I see God’s hand,” said Tigere.
“I kept on trying. If l had just stayed at home in Mbare, maybe by now l would be doing drugs like other ghetto youths, or maybe I would have turned into a big criminal.
“Orphans like me should not lose hope. There are times when things are down, but keep on fighting.”
