Sports Writer
The name, Kwangware is not new in football circles especially Masvingo province. Alois, Elphas, Cuthbert and Joe Kwangware all shined on the football pitch during their hey days.
Now, there is Eddson Kwangware, the current gaffer of Ngundu based Division 2 B side, Gwatipedza Mine FC.
Who is Eddie Kwangware?
“I was born at Gaths Mine Hospital in Mashava on 28 December 1979.
I started my primary at King Mine primary in 1988 until 1992 before transferring to Temeraire primary school in 1993,” he said.
Kwangware said he discovered his football talent while in grade 3 and from there he never looked back.
“In 1993 at Temeraire primary that’s when I started playing soccer at the age of 13 years.
“After completing my primary education in 1994 at Temeraire primary I then enrolled at Temeraire High school in 1995.
“I was the captain of the team from 1997 until 1998. When I was at high school in 1997 I started training with Gaths Mine FC, that same year they were playing in Division 1 Southern region competing with the likes of Railstars, Gweru United, Bulawayo Wanderers, Ziscosteel etc.
“Training with a Division 1 club was an big advantage to me, whenever we were playing at school I was way ahead of my other peers,” he said.
Upon completion of his secondary education, Kwangware joined Gaths Mine FC on a full time basis.
“After finishing my secondary education in 1998, I went straight to play for Gaths Mine FC in the 1999 and I was appointed the captain of the team. At the end of the season we were champions of Division 2 Masvingo province which was sponsored by N Richards and became promoted to Division 1.
“I remember that used to play in the same team with my two brothers namely Ernest Kwangware and Maxwell Kwangware.
“I was born in a family of soccer, my father Alois Sakala Kwangware, Elphas Kwangware, Cuthbert Kwangware, Ernest Snr Kwangware and then Joe Kwangware who once played for Kismet United, Shu Shine FC, Zimbabwe Saints and then lastly Masvingo United”.
Kwangware said when he was growing up he was motivated to play football by his late father, Alois Sakala Kwangware, a very popular former player in Mashava mining community.
“When I was growing up, people talked a lot about how good my father was in defence, so when I started playing soccer I told myself I want to be good or more than the way he used to be but, people who saw him playing told us that none of his kids would ever reach his level, fortunately he was involved in an accident which cut his career short before I could see how good he was.
The person who inspired me more to play soccer was my uncle (babamunini) Joe Machira Chete Kwangware, he was very good if not one of the best in Masvingo province. It’s always every player’s dream to play top flight football, my highest level of playing was up to Division 1, I played for Gaths Mine FC both division 1 and 2, I played for RFC hotels (Ritz, Flamboyant and Chevron) in Masvingo division 2 , in 2003 up to 2004 , I then played for Lennox Mine division 2 in Mashava.
” In 2005, I went back to play for Gaths mine FC but I had a knee injury which restricted me from playing regularly. I then went on to play for Mutema Brothers in 2006 in Division 2 and then we were promoted to Division 1 in 2007.”
Kwangware then decided to go south to look for greener pastures.
“Due to the country’s economic hardships, I went to South Africa in 2007 to seek for greener pastures, I came back home in 2022.
“When I found out that I have failed to play in the top flight football league, I decided to venture into coaching, my biggest motivation for coaching locally came from my uncle Cuthbert Adhazhi Kwangware locally and across the border I have always liked Steve Kompela current assistant coach for Mamelodi Sundowns.”
Kwangware said he currently holds a CAF D coaching license and coaches Gwatipedza Mine FC in Ngundu.
He hopes that one day, he will coach a team in the country’s top flight league.
“My main aim is to give back to the community, the underprivileged and my dream is to coach in the Premier Soccer League…God willing. At the present moment I have a Caf D coaching liecense and I am currently coaching Masvingo Division 2 B club Gwatipedza Mine FC.”
Kwangware paid gratitude to the team leadership for reviving and taking soccer to greater heights in the Ngundu community.
“My special thanks and gratitude goes to my chairman and sponsors at Gwatipedza Mine FC namely David Vurayai, Farai (Big Fatso) Vurayai and Edmore Gwatipedza for reviving sport in the community.
“We have been playing in the social league upon the formation of the team in 2022 and our sponsors then decided to give it a try in the division 2 .
“We have played 3 games in the Mhunhumutapa Cup and won 2 games and lost on penalties to Chiredzi Beavers and we were eventually knocked out of the cup.”
Kwangware said his side is currently performing well in Division 2 league.
“In the league games our guys have been performing well, I can’t complain about our form, this is our first season in a competitive league.
“We have managed to pull a lot of surprises, the mood in the camp is very high, our squad consists of young players so there’s room for improvement.
“Our main aim come end of the season is to be among top 4, however promotion to Division 1 will be a very big achievement and also a bonus.”
