Fungai Muderere
FC PLATINUM vice-captain Kelvin Madzongwe reckons that the inability by his father to provide him with full cricket equipment forced him to take up football at a tender age of 12.
Madzongwe (30), is now a midfield enforcer who arrived at free spending FC Platinum virtually unknown but with a curriculum vitae that took him to Highlanders juniors, Sparrows in the Division Two League, now defunct Njube Sundowns, Boston University and Bulawayo City.
Madzongwe played college football at Boston University where he also studied for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications, majoring in public relations and marketing.
“I wanted to play cricket and that was the game I like playing so much as compared to football. However, my father told me that for me to play cricket I would need lots of equipment hence the need to find someone who would sponsor me. Knowing that for me to play football, I would simply need a pair of boots and socks, I ended up taking up the game at the age of 12,” said Madzongwe.
“I was discovered by one Clemence Chinyemba who took me to Highlanders Under 12 juniors side. At Highlanders, I played up to the Under-16 level and this was where I would see the likes of Joel Ngodzo, Welcome Ndiweni and Rahman Kutsanzira around,” said the former Mpopoma High and Njube High student.
Interestingly, Kutsanzira is also in the books of Pure Platinum Play, a club that also previously provided a home to Ngodzo and Ndiweni.
Born on 5 January 1990, Madzongwe admits when he joined FC Platinum in January 2018, he could not help but ponder what his position might be in the team and how he could help them win titles.
He knew he was joining an excellent team who were over achieving and he did not expect to be a success straight away.
“I am happy that I have won two titles with FC Platinum. This happened so fast for me. It’s also pleasing that I have been to places like Dubai, Egypt and Tunisia courtesy of this great club,” said the player that now vaunts of CAF Champions League inter club football contest experience after joining the Zvishavane-based football two seasons ago.
His energy, strength and ability to sniff out danger has made him the key difference at Pure Platinum Play.
