PLUCKED from the obscurity of lowly Castle Lager Premier Soccer League new outfit Tsholotsho FC, by Warriors coach Kalisto Pasuwa defensive midfielder Gerald Takwara has emerged as one of the rising football stars in the country.
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIA
He might not be at the same level with players like Danny Phiri, Willard Katsande and Nqobizitha Masuku in the holding role but certainly, he has shown great potential to be one of the brightest prospects in Zimbabwean football.
It’s not every day that you have a player coming straight from a lowly club like Tsholotsho that has just gained promotion into the elite PSL donning the Warriors’ green and yellow shirt.
It takes somebody full of commitment and the drive to reach the stars in his career. And Takwara- a product of Prince Edward High School who was born and bred in Chinhoyi, attributes hard work and commitment as reasons which earned him a call up to the national team soon after joining the club this season.
The 20-year-old appears to be slowly endearing himself with the Zimbabwean fans in his holding role in the Young Warriors.
The former Prince Edward High School student has also received call ups to the senior national soccer team- the Warriors although he is struggling to make a break- through in a team boasting an array of talented midfielders.
The midfielder was a key member of the Young Warriors squad that defied odds to beat fancied Cameroon 2-1 on aggregate to qualify for the All-Africa Games to be held in Congo, Brazzaville in September following a 1-1 draw in Yaounde having managed to beat their more illustrious opponents 1-0 at Rufaro in Harare.
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Takwara is also part of the squad that is on the verge of qualifying for the Under-23 African Championships to be held in Senegal after they held Swaziland to a 2-2 away draw to advance to the final qualifying round where they will meet neighbours South Africa.
He however, failed to make the cut in the final team that played against Comoros in the preliminary round, first leg of the African Championships which the Warriors won 2-0, but did play in the reverse fixture on Saturday which ended in a 0-0 draw to put the Warriors through.
But the DC Academy midfielder who turns 21 on October 29 remains hopeful to cement a regular place in the senior team.
“I didn’t make it for the first game but I knew I would get back into the team,” said Takwara at training at Rufaro last week.
“This is my first season in the PSL. I joined Tsholotsho from DC Academy at the start of the season and I felt grateful to receive a call up to the national team. It has always been my dream and I think my hard work and commitment gave me the platform.
“Once I got the opportunity to play for the national team, I said to myself, I shouldn’t look back and I think, I have shown the coach, I have potential and I am so happy. My aim now is to cement a place in the team. I believe when you get the chance, you have to prove your worth,” said Takwara.
The former Prince Edward High school student was raised in Chinhoyi and completed his secondary education in 2012.
