Zaka’s Chipezeze plea

29 Nov, 2020 - 00:11 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

Langton Nyakwenda

MORE often than not, gaffe-prone Warriors keeper Elvis Chipezeze has been at the receiving end of harsh criticism from local football fans, but back in Zaka where he traces his roots, the goalie enjoys hero status.

The 30-year-old Chipezeze was raised in Bulawayo and Gweru but his late father Caleb hails from Chipezeze Village, a few kilometres from Jerera Growth Point.

Chipezeze is arguably the biggest football name to come out of Zaka, a place that also produced 2013 Soccer Star of the Year finalist Menard Mupera and former Masvingo United player Asmin Rupanga.

Chipezeze’s uncle, Mike Sanganisayi Chipezeze, who played the family overseer role when Elvis’ father died in the early 1990s, is based in Zaka and has often been a subject of mockery from some angry fans at the Growth Point, whenever the goalie makes costly mistakes.

Chipezeze was back in the limelight for the wrong reasons when Zimbabwe lost 1-3 against Algeria in an African Cup of Nations qualifier in Algiers on November 12.

His blunder, when he spilled Sofiane Feghouli’s shot into the path of Algeria forward Baghdad Bounedjah, who scored the Desert Foxes’ opening goal, is still a talking point.

An injured Chipezeze was replaced by Talbert Shumba in the second half and was ruled out of the second leg in Harare on November 17. Chipezeze also came under fire from fans after his blunders cost the Warriors at the 2019 AFCON finals in Egypt, especially when Zimbabwe were hammered 4-0 by the Democratic Republic of Congo in a Group A match. 

However, Chipezeze, who is highly rated at South African Premiership side Baroka FC, has found the backing of his kith and kin.

A bold message has been delivered from his homeland.

“It’s very unfair for the whole nation to always blame our son whenever the Warriors lose,” Chipezeze’s uncle, Mike, told The Sunday Mail Sport at Jerera. “Sometimes people mock me here at the Growth Point but I have to defend my son. 

“Yes, he makes mistakes here and there but he is not the only player on the field.  “A team has 11 players so why blame one individual? “Let’s learn to take responsibility as a team when we lose.

“The strikers should also score more goals and defenders should also defend as well,” said the 62-year-old uncle. 

It seems the majority at Jerera know Chipezeze is their “home boy” but there are some, like Jeremiah Gozho, a food vendor, who don’t follow football and are not aware the Warriors’ number one goalie hails from Zaka.

“Yes, sometimes I come across the name Elvis Chipezeze either on radio or in the newspaper but I didn’t know he comes from Zaka,” said Gozho. 

A tout, who only identified himself as “Terry”, is proud of Chipezeze. 

“He is putting Zaka on the national map. Some of us here get mad whenever the blame games start. Elvis is not the only player on that pitch. Why do these critics keep quiet when he makes good saves? . . vanongoona paatadza chete,” he said. 

Anderson Matika, a middle aged shop attendant, expects Chipezeze to plough back into the community.

“I don’t know how, but I am sure he can assist some upcoming footballers here. 

“Now we have Zaka Academy FC playing in Division One, it shows we have talent here.

“Chipezeze is our hero,” he said.

According to his uncle Mike, Chipezeze was “a disciplined boy” during his childhood.

“His father was a policeman with the Support Unit section, one of our brothers, Kennedy, is also a retired officer, another brother Rodgers was in the army. “Perhaps that explains the discipline within the family,” said Mike, whose son Takunda is the first choice keeper for Masvingo United.

“Elvis had better football opportunities growing up and he was lucky to work under a respected coach like Joey Antipas. Antipas is behind all his success because he gave him the chance at the right time,” he said.

Chipezeze was Chicken Inn’s first choice goalie when the Gamecocks won the league title under the tutelage of Antipas in 2015. He was subsequent ly named Castle Lager Goalkeeper of the Year before he joined Baroka FC in 2018.

Chipezeze is likely to visit Zaka when the South African Premier Soccer League season concludes.

“I have been talking to some people in Zaka about the football club that is rising there.  I will see how I will do it, maybe during the offseason,” he said from his South African base.

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