The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda —
THERE were times, during the season, when Hardlife Zvirekwi felt less motivated to graft. Days when the financial crunch bit deeper into the players’ flesh, but there was someone who kept encouraging the Caps United star to soldier on.
Dressed elegantly, as if she had a premonition that her husband would be crowned Soccer Star of the Year, Saru Maromo could not contain her joy as Warriors legend Ephraim Chawanda handed over the coveted trophy to Zvirekwi on Friday night.
She remembered how her husband had toiled without success and how her darling came so near and yet so far in the previous seasons. She could not forget how her lover would sometimes come home pockets dry because Caps United had failed to pay the salary.
“I am so happy, so proud of my husband. We have waited for this for too long,” said Maromo, who wedded Zvirekwi in 2013.
“There were times when things would really be tough, you are aware my husband’s team had financial challenges here and there.
“I could see my husband was troubled but I would try by all means to soften things up at home. I always encouraged him to go for training, to keep working hard.
“My husband’s tale is a perfect example of the saying ‘God’s time is the best’,” she said.
The couple has a three-year-old son David and the mother was talking up the idea of investing in their kid’s future after the 29-year-old Zvirekwi walked out of the Soccer Stars banquet $6 000 richer.
“Obviously we have to do something tangible with the money. We have to invest into something that will benefit our son in the future.”
Mrs Zvirekwi had words of advice for other WAGS, an acronym used to refer to Wifes and Girlfriends of soccer players.
“Support your husbands, stand by them through thick and thin. I always comfort my husband when the chips are down.
“Right now as a family we are looking forward to more blessings. I am sure my husband will make it into the Warriors squad for Afcon 2017,” said Maromo.
They embraced and kissed, photographers had captivating images of the celebrity couple as the two celebrated their finest hour.
“I set the target sometime back that I would one day be a Soccer Star of the Year. I worked hard towards that dream and I am glad it has come true tonight (Friday night),” said Zvirekwi
“My wife has been my source of strength, sometimes things have been so hard but she has been on my side.
“There is no one day that she told me to sit at home when things were tough financially at the club. She kept encouraging me and I want to give her the credit.
“She is the one who prepares the food that I eat before I go for training, she washes my training kit, she is so good a wife,” he said.
Zvirekwi also praised his Caps United teammates.
“We had a very unique dressing room, a very special group of players. Even when things got tough the players would grumble outside the pitch but once the kick off whistle blew they would forget about all the troubles.”
The vastly gifted Zvirekwi is the eighth Caps United player to win the Soccer Star of the Year award after the late Shacky Tauro (1979), the late Stanley Ndunduma (1981), Stewart Murisa (1996), Energy Murambadoro (2003), Cephas Chimedza (2004) and Joseph Kamwendo (2005)
