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NewsDay

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Musona’s dream move

Sport
Warriors and Kaizer Chiefs hotshot Knowledge Musona has finally realised his dream of playing in Europe after signing a five-year deal with German Bundesliga side TSG 1899 Hoffenheim yesterday. Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung said Musona was now awaiting his visa before packing his bags for Hoffeinhem — a team powered by the financial backing […]

Warriors and Kaizer Chiefs hotshot Knowledge Musona has finally realised his dream of playing in Europe after signing a five-year deal with German Bundesliga side TSG 1899 Hoffenheim yesterday.

Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung said Musona was now awaiting his visa before packing his bags for Hoffeinhem — a team powered by the financial backing of alumnus and software mogul Dietmar Hopp.

Musona’s move will not be on loan.

Musona’s mother Janet was over the moon yesterday on the move.

“I am extremely happy; I can’t describe how happy I am. I never thought that Knowledge would achieve all this in his life. He told me yesterday (Wednesday night) that he had signed a deal with Hoffeinhem.

“Knowledge is a disciplined boy and has already bought me a house in Strathaven in Harare. He is young, but has a big heart.

“When he was growing up he was a quiet boy, he had a few friends. He was not that interested in football, but in cricket. Even if he comes here, he does not go out, he is always indoors enjoying PlayStation.

“He will go far in his life,” she said at her home in Norton.

She has six children and Knowledge is the fifth born. Walter is the youngest and already at Aces Academy in Norton. The other siblings are Rita, Winnie, George and Patience.

Hoffenheim use the 30 160-seater Rhein-Neckar Arena Stadium as their home ground.

Motaung at a press briefing in Johannesburg said: “It is not a loan. It is a fully-signed contract of five years. It is confirmed and we will miss him at Kaizer Chiefs.

We want to wish him all the best . . . we give him all our blessings. Musona is going as soon as he gets his visa.”

Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim’s sports director Ernst Tanner believes the 21-year-old striker will make the grade in Europe.

“What we have seen is astonishing,” said Tanner. Musona’s parting word is that he is grateful to Amakhosi for the good treatment he enjoyed at the club.

“’Khosi for life . . . I hope one day I will be back playing for the team. I will not forget where I came from,” he said.

Musona was active in the past two years at Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa, where he managed to score 15 goals to win the Golden Boot.

“For me it was always a dream to play in Europe. I am very happy and look forward to Hoffenheim. I will do everything to quickly get used to the life in Germany and the football in the league”, said Musona. Hoffenheim sports director Tanner said of Musona:

“We watched him for quite a while and were not surprised that he has managed to make this big break. The long-term commitment also shows that we give him time for his further development.”

Head coach Holger Stanislawski added: “Knowledge will strengthen our squad in the offensive. He is only 21 years old, but both in the club and in the national team, he has demonstrated that he is able to score goals.”

Fact box: Knowledge Musona Birthday — Place of Birth: June 21 1990 in Norton (Zimbabwe) Nationality: Zimbabwe Height: 1,74m Position: Striker Previous clubs: Kaizer Chiefs (RSA, July 2009 — July 2011), Black Aces Youth Academy, Harare (Zimbabwe), Haka United (Zimbabwe, youth), Manyame FC (Zim Youth) International Caps: nine for Zimbabwe (four goals)