Chunga to grace Hwingwiri tourney

Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWE’S celebrated soccer legend, Moses “Razorman” Chunga, will the guest former player to grace this year’s edition of the AZ Hwingwiri Invitational U19 Soccer Tournament set for August 8, organizers have said.

The tournament is held every year during the Heroes Day holidays in honour of the first black Mayor of Kwekwe after independence, the late Alderman Alois Zachariah Hwingwiri whose remains are interred at the Midlands Provincial Heroes’ Acre. He died in 1992.

According to Godwin Hwingwiri, this year’s final will feature Globe and Phoenix Secondary School and Amaveni High School, both boys and girls, at a venue to be announced.

“Prizes will be one full kit uniform for the winning team and individual prizes for outstanding players. We will also provide lunch and drinks to both teams and staff.

He said Chunga will provide a half time pep talk to the teams.

Chunga, the former Warriors player, is the only midfielder in Zimbabwe to score 45 goals in one season. Other former footballers who have graced the Hwingwiri tournament include Desmond Maringwa, Stix Mtizwa, Kennedy Nagoli, Jairos Tapera Harlington Shereni and the late Paul Gundani.

Chunga, who is known as Bambo in the football circles, is also a legend in Belgium where he played for Eendracht Aalst, started his football career with a stint with Dynamos football Club.

He was said to be a dribbling wizard who could crack open any defence, his dribbling skills would eventually earn him the name “Razorman”.

Chunga was also a dead ball specialist such that at one point he scored a goal directly from a corner kick. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players to ever emerge from Zimbabwe and had been ranked with other greats such as Peter Ndlovu, George Shaya and David Mandigora.

After spending five seasons with Dynamos, Chunga completed a transfer to Belgian side Eendracht Aalst where he also became very popular for his skills on the ball.

In almost similar fashion to his footballing career, Moses Chunga has also had some successes as a coach in the Zimbabwean Premier Soccer League.

He coached several teams like Chiredzi Football Club , a team that he coached since it was in division one and ensured its promotion into the top flight league. He also had a stint with CAPS United Football Club and played a pivotal role when Caps survived relegation on the last day of the Premier Soccer League.

Arguably, the pinnacle of Chunga’s coaching career was when he lifted the Premier Soccer League with

Gunners Football Club, a team he had helped in establishing. He also coached Harare City coach.