The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
Sports Reporter
WHILE much of the gaze has been on Bill Antonio, the 19-year-old Dynamos flying forward who is literally dominating most conversations on local football, a mini-revolution inspired by a white and pacey winger is unfolding in Gweru.
Apart from making history by being the first local white infield player to feature for a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League team in almost two decades, Callum English-Brown, who recently joined Whawha, has also charmed fans with his pace, trickery and an eye for that fine pass.
The 20-year-old is part of the youth brigade that have breathed life into Whawha’s battle against relegation.
Coach Luke Petros’ side sprung a huge surprise last weekend when they upstaged championship favourites Chicken Inn 3-0 at Ascot Stadium.
It was Chicken Inn’s second defeat of the season and their heaviest in a PSL match since the 4-0 drubbing at the hands of rivals Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium on October 10, 2017.
Reigning champions FC Platinum also needed a last-gasp penalty to edge Whawha 1-0, but not before neutrals at Mandava had been charmed by what they saw in the Prisons outfit a fortnight ago.
Nesbert “Yabo’’ Saruchera’s Cranborne Bullets also survived a huge scare before grinding a 3-2 win over Whawha.
Their revival has seen the side move from the basement of the log for the first time this season.
Petros is optimistic his charges will get themselves out of the murky waters.
However, much of the fresh impetus has been attributed to the arrival of Legends Football Academy products English-Brown and the Mapuwa brothers, Dibbellar (20) and Washington (17).
Whawha have scored five goals in their last three matches, with 19-year-old Jayden Barake, who had already been on the club’s books, netting twice.
Barake has also immensely benefited from teaming up with other youthful players.
“We had the mandate to make sure we use much of the players we had in Division One. We, however, saw that they wanted a bit of reinforcement and Lady Luck smiled on us and we found an academy to partner with.
“We now have players from Legends Football Academy. The coming in of these youngsters was a blessing in disguise,” Petros told The Sunday Mail Sport.
The former Kaizer Chiefs and Warriors striker is looking forward with hope, although he agrees the first 11 weeks of the 2021/2022 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League have not been kind to his side.
Whawha have two wins in 11 matches.
They have the worst defence in the league, as it has leaked 28 times.
The team now sits second from bottom with eight points.
“The team tried its level best in the past 11 weeks, looking at the level of competition in the Premier Soccer League and also looking at our situation.
“But, you can see the youngsters are coming up. It is only that some of them took time to adjust to life in the top-flight.
“The team has been revived, competition for jerseys is high and we now have players with tactical and technical ability.
“There is notable progress since the coming in of those youngsters.”
Petros also hailed 19-year-old striker Barake, before warning his youth brigade against getting ahead of themselves.
“The revival of our top striker Barake, whom we had since the Chibuku Super Cup matches, has also helped us,” he said.
“He is scoring and the sky is only the limit for him. “What I just want to urge him and other youngsters who came in is to compete the very same way they did when they first joined us. They should not be complacent.
“I am now optimistic that Whawha will come out of the relegation zone. As coaches, we were not happy with the number of games we lost and the number of goals we were conceding.”
He thanked the club owners for providing “a conducive environment for the players”.
“The boys are now wearing good kits, they have good accommodation and the travel arrangements are spot on.
“Also, the community of Gweru is rallying behind us. We want them to come in huge numbers and support us as we fight to move away from the relegation zone.”
Petros, who incidentally made his debut for CAPS United at the age of 18 under the late Freddy Mkwesha, said he would continue to invest most of his trust in young players.
“I met coach Farai Dhliwayo and visited Legends and witnessed their training sessions and their professional set-up. They must be the leading academy currently producing young players.
“All three players are Young Warriors. Coach Farai and the academy help mentor and manage the academy players, so signing them on was never a problem.
“They came ready to play and contribute, and I can count on them when called upon,’’ Petros said.
English-Brown, who had a brief stint in Germany, hailed his new coach.
“I have settled very well here and I feel at home already after a few weeks of staying here.
“The club has found us a very good place to stay with the Mapuwa brothers. I want to thank coach Petros for having trust in me, to start me. That helped my game.
“At Herentals, I wasn’t given that trust but here I feel like I can continue to improve. That is why I had to look for a club where I could play every week and enjoy my football,” said English-Brown.
He also paid tribute to Moses Chunga for exposing his talent.
“I am grateful that he (Chunga) saw the ability in me and selected me for the national Under-17. He gave me the kick-start to my career, I didn’t know how good I was.
“That exposure really helped me and it’s all because of Chunga.”
Dibbellar Mapuwa, a former national Under-17 and Under-20 player, could have gone for trials in South Africa but that move was halted by the Covid-19.
He was part of the Under-17 team at the COSAFA tournament in Mauritius alongside English-Brown.
Although they were playing for their academy side, it was the legendary Chunga who gave them their breakthrough at Under-17 level.
Dibbellar joined Whawha after a short trial at Northern Region Soccer League side Golden Eagles.
His brother, Washington, is beaming after scoring his first-ever PSL goal.
“It is always great to score on your debut for the club and also my first goal in the Premier Soccer League.
“The goal I scored on my PSL debut was for my dad and my academy coach Farai (Dhliwayo), who were in the crowd to watch me play my first game.”
He also paid tribute to Petros for daring to throw him in with the big boys.
“There is no one better for me to learn from than coach Petros. He is a former national team striker who has played internationally.”
The Premiership is on an Easter weekend break.
Whawha will travel to Luveve Stadium for a date against flamboyant Bulawayo Chiefs when the league resumes on April 23.
