Hadebe can pave way for more Zim talent at Chiefs
KAIZER Chiefs legend Tinashe Nengomasha has urged Teenage Hadebe to not only do well for himself at Amakhosi but also for fellow Zimbabweans who aspire to play for the Glamour Boys.
The club’s announcement of signing the 21-year-old centre-back was met with scepticism by Chiefs’ fans as a number of Hadebe’s countrymen – from Ovidy Karuru to Michelle Katsvairo and Edmore Chirambadare – have failed to shine at Chiefs lately.
“It’s a big responsibility for him because there are some boys who have come from Zimbabwe and didn’t set the stage alight‚” Nengomasha‚ who serves as the ambassador for the Best Brew League – Castle’s five-aside tournament‚ said.
“He must understand the situation he is in.
“He also has to redeem things for us and pave the way for youngsters back home who aspire to play for Chiefs.
“If he does well‚ Chiefs will believe that we still have the quality.
“If you look in the past‚ you have a number of players who came from Zimbabwe and shined at Chiefs.
“You can go as far back as the days of Mike Maringa‚ Robson Muchichwa and [Ebson] Sugar Muguyo.
“When I started at Chiefs‚ I was told about Muguyo by most people in the club.
“Teenage must carry that responsibility of raising Zimbabwe’s flag.”
The irony in the outcry of Chiefs’ signing another Zimbabwean is that Hadebe is the club’s best buy so far for the club.
The lanky centre-back‚ who stands at almost 2m‚ is comfortable with the ball at his feet and is strong aerially. He also has the ability to score goals.
Hadebe could be the perfect replacement for Tefu Mashamaite.
But he has to first get over the stigma that Zimbabweans have when they join Chiefs‚ of being seen as part of “a buy one get one free bargain”.
“I am someone who has a different belief‚ negativity always inspires me‚” said Nengomasha.
“If someone says something negat I want to go out there and prove a point.
“Okay‚ you can go out there buy one and get another one for free because of me. I am the one who is making them buy one and get one free because I am doing well.
“At the end of the day‚ Teenage mustn’t take the negativity to heart.
“He needs to show to these people that he is worth it.
“The team has invested in his talent. I know him very well. He is a good player. But at the end of the day this is Kaizer Chiefs that he has joined.
“He must stamp his authority and make sure that he contributes towards the team’s effort to reclaim the glory,” Nengomasha added.
Meanwhile, Amakhosi announced that they will send Zimbabwean forward Michelle Katsvairo out on loan as part of their overhaul that affected seven players.
Chiefs said they would assess Katsvairo after his loan stint to see if he still has a future at Amakhosi.
That overhaul exposed Chiefs’ erratic signing policy at times as the list featured some players who had been signed at the start of the season‚ like Katsvairo who joined Chiefs from Chicken Inn last year, along with Zambian Lewis Macha‚ whose contract was terminated.
“As far as I am concerned‚ I am still a Kaizer Chiefs player‚” said Katsvairo. “As a footballer‚ a lot of things are said about you‚ you just have to stay strong and stand your ground. As I striker‚ I didn’t do my best at Chiefs. I was still gelling in. I am going to go back to Naturena and work hard to play again.”
Katsvairo will arrive in Naturena as a champion as he was part of the Zimbabwean national team that won the Cosafa Cup at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Place‚ beating Zambia 3-1 in the final.
“I want to remain at Chiefs because they are a big team and I have been dreaming of playing there‚” said Katsvairo.
“I am going to fight hard to play for that team again. I think that I deserve to be at Chiefs. I have to man up and fight for my place.” — TMG