The Sunday Mail
MARSHALL MUNETSI has been dubbed the face of an emerging Golden Generation of Warriors and could be a key player in this afternoon’s 2019 AFCON qualifier against Congo at the National Sports Stadium.
The 22-year-old defensive midfielder, who also plays as a central defender for his South African side Orlando Pirates, has transformed himself into one of prized assets in Supa Diski with some commanding performances.
He is also now a regular for the Warriors, having caught the eye of coach Sunday Chidzambwa during a tournament in Zambia, with the gaffer saying he is the biggest find in local football in the past few years.
Reports suggest agents representing Munetsi could be in the process of sealing a deal for the utility player to move to the United States in August this year.
The MLS has been transforming itself and, a few months ago, English Premiership side Newcastle United broke their transfer record when they signed Paraguay forward Miguel Almiron for US$26 million from MLS champions Atlanta United.
The deal broke the then-record fee of US$19.5 million which the Magpies had splashed on former England striker Michael Owen to lure him from Spanish giants Real Madrid.
The transfer, the biggest ever completed in the MLS, put the top-flight league in the United States into sharp focus, amid signs the game has been developing in that country.
According to the reports, Columbus Crew technical director, Pat Onstad, has already been in South Africa to seal the deal to take Munetsi to the United States.
MSport Management, who are said to represent Munetsi, then posted a tweet which suggested a deal had been reached for the Zimbabwean to move to Columbus Crew.
“The lucky one will be playing in the MLS soon,” read the tweet.
The tweet was later deleted but not before it had been re-tweeted by delirious fans of Columbus Crew, a club based in Columbus, Ohio, and were champions in 2008.
The club have three Ghanaians, a Brazilian, a Portuguese and one player from Iraq and another from Costa Rica and another one from Denmark in their cosmopolitan squad.
Munetsi has flourished in South Africa since arriving there three years ago when he joined lower division side Ubuntu Cape Town.
The Cape side describes him as a special player who was “in the mould of a typical Yaya Toure, big, strong and mobile and a good passer of the ball.”
He made 22 appearances for Ubuntu that season and moved to Baroka where he also played for just a season, making 26 appearances.
At Pirates, Munetsi has been one of the key players in the Buccaneers side making more than 20 appearances this season.
Nengomasha, one of those who blazed a trail by becoming the pioneer Warriors to play at the AFCON finals, in Tunisia 15 years ago, believes Zimbabwe have a gem of a footballer in Munetsi.
Nengomasha, who was the youngest Warrior to play in that historic AFCON match against Egypt, says there is something special about Munetsi and while he might not be a flashy kind of player, given he does most of the dirty work, he has genuine quality.
“He has impressed me a lot, his consistency for a player of his age, his confidence is amazing and he really believes he can play against anyone,” said Nengomasha.
“I think we are seeing the emergence of a genuinely talented Zimbabwean football star, maybe the face of this emerging crop of good players we are seeing in our country.
“When you see someone playing in a defensive role who is comfortable playing the ball, who just doesn’t defend, which he does very well, but who can pick a pass, then you know you have a special player.
“I think we are seeing a number of very good players, in our country, who will make a very competitive Warriors side and Marshall is the gem of that group.
“You can also include Tino Kadewere in that group, an amazing young player who will grow into a star as far as I can see and it’s good for the future of our national team.”
