The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
POPULAR comedian Prosper “The Comic Pastor” Ngomashi posted something about France-based Zimbabwean footballer Marshall Munetsi on his Facebook page last week.
In less than three hours, the post had attracted over 2 500 likes and close to 150 comments.
It paid tribute to Munetsi for being an inspiration to youths, thanks to his continued rise in the French Ligue 1.
“At Marshall Munetsi, murichidadiso ku maghetto yuts nani zvake anotenda kuti the sky is the limit,” posted The Comic Pastor on Friday.
The 25-year-old Munetsi is the hottest Zimbabwean player in Europe.
He is also one of the best African players plying their trade in the French Ligue 1, having made 18 appearances for Stade de Reims.
He has started 15 out of 21 league matches so far, and has been used as a substitute on three occasions.
The Mabvuku-bred star midfielder has so far played 1 349 minutes in the league, ahead of a Reims match against Auxerre today.
In total, he has notched three Ligue 1 goals in the 2022/2023 season, making him the club’s third top scorer.
Munetsi was in superb form when Reims held giants Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 1-1 at Parc des Princes last Sunday.
PSG fielded the dangerous trio of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
“Amazing performance from the team, we keep going until the end,” tweeted Munetsi after the draw at PSG.
He came on as a 58th-minute substitute in Reims’ 4-2 victory over Lorient in a Ligue 1 match at the Stade Auguste-Delaunne II on Wednesday night.
It is evident he has matured from the player who made his Ligue 1 debut with Reims on September 1, 2019, at the age of 23.
He is now 26.
He has already attracted interest from the English Premier League, where teams like Bournemouth were linked with the Zimbabwean in the just-ended January transfer window.
The central midfielder has 86 league appearances for Reims since joining the French side from Orlando Pirates of South Africa in 2018.
Overall, he has scored nine goals for the club.
Some are already tipping him to become the Warriors’ next captain following Knowledge Musona’s retirement from international football.
Zimbabwe are currently suspended by FIFA, but are expected to be back into the international fold ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Junior football coach Partridge Muskwe, who coached the midfielder when he was still turning out for Friendly Academy, is one of those who think Munetsi is now ripe to lead the Warriors.
“To some of us who knew Marshall when he was young, his continued rise is not a surprise because he was always someone who was determined,” Muskwe told The Sunday Mail Sport.
“In fact, Munetsi hasn’t reached the pinnacle. His determination and discipline can take him further.
“For me, if he doesn’t make it to the English Premier League, he would have failed because that is where he is supposed to be with his talent . . . “I think he could be a perfect candidate for the Warriors armband because he has the qualities.”
Veteran coach Lloyd Chigowe, who first selected Munetsi for the national Under-17 squad in 2012, believes the player’s physique has been key to his rise.
“Through my experience and having been to the Africa Youth Championship, I valued stature,” says Chigowe.
“This was further cemented by FIFA/CAF Instructor El Wash of Egypt, who tutored us for the first FIFA international youth academy in 1987 and the intermediate coaching diploma in 1997.
“He emphasised the need to look for players with the potential to grow big; the only alternative being speed.
“So, the practical experience of playing against big West and North Africa U-17s, plus the teachings we got from the instructors, shaped my selection mindset.
“This saw the likes of Stanley Ngala, Andrew Tandi, Tatenda Munditi and Munetsi meet the criteria.”
Chigowe’s Under-17 squad of 2012 also included Tino Kadewere, Carlos Mavhurume, Brett Amidu and Tatenda Mkuruva.
He recalls how good Munetsi was when he was still 16 and playing for Ali Sundowns in Mabvuku.
“When his coach at Ali Sundowns brought his boys, I insisted on size, and I recognised a giant boy (Munetsi), who could exhibit technical ability. He was exactly what the doctor ordered.
“His confidence on the ball was good. At first, we played him as a full-back, then with time, his composure grew and we shifted him to centre-back.
“I then converted him into a central midfielder and he was a fierce competitor, earning him the moniker Giant.”
Football fans and former players in Mabvuku, where Munetsi was raised, are revelling in the player’s success.
“Mabvuku has always been a conveyor of football talent, and we are happy with Munetsi’s progress.
“It’s also good that we have people like (Scott) Sakupwanya sponsoring tournaments that are providing the platform for more Munetsis to be discovered,” said former Warriors goalkeeper Brenna Msiska, who played for Black Aces and CAPS United.
He is one of the football legends raised in Mabvuku.
The late Joe “Kode” Mugabe, Wilfred and William Mugeyi, Innocent Mugabe and Albert “Dalala” Mabika are some of the yesteryear players who also came from Mabvuku.
Active players from the suburb include Lincoln “Badra” Zvasiya, King Nadolo and Godknows Mangani.
“We have a lot of good players here in Mabvuku, but sometimes we lose talent due to drug abuse and lack of opportunities,” Luckmore Mbirinyu, a Mabvuku-based football fan, said.
■ Twitter: @LangtonGuraz
