Three years on, Shonga blossoms

IN early 2020, when Zimbabwe women’s football goalkeeper Cynthia Shonga had begun making a name for herself in the local game, she boldly declared that she was aiming for the stars.

At the time, she was just a rookie in the Young Mighty Warriors squad.

However, just as she was about to break into the senior national team, Covid-19 struck and football activities were indefinitely suspended.

When the pandemic ended, Zimbabwe was suspended by FIFA.

The suspension was, however, lifted in July this year.

Despite the rust that comes with inactivity, the 23-year-old Shonga returned to action with a bang at the COSAFA Women’s Cup in South Africa.

She won the tournament’s Golden Glove Award and walked away with a R20 000 cheque. Although she sat out Zimbabwe’s final assignment — a bronze medal match in which the Mighty Warriors fell 2-0 to Mozambique — she had done enough to convince the selection panel that she had the safest pair of hands after conceding just two goals at the tournament.

Malawi beat Zambia 2-1 to become the 2023 champions.

“I did not think things would turn out this way. All I did was play my heart out. I have always dreamt of having a good time between the sticks, so I simply gave it my all,” Shonga said. She recalls her days at Sakubva Primary School in Mutare and how she always dreamt of being a goalkeeper.

Being accompanied by her brother Misheck, a former Tenax player, to her first game was an inspirational moment she remembers to this day.

She first put on the goalkeeper’s jersey when she was 11.

“I started playing football in 2011. Despite my age, I felt very composed.

“Football already meant everything to me, and people would be surprised at how much I understood the game given my age,” she said.

That same year, she joined Faith Drive Football Club as a midfielder, but it was not long before she found herself back in goal.

She also spent her spare time imitating some of the game’s renowned goalkeepers.

Unlike other girls, during her days at Nyamauru High School, she spent most of her time with the boys, learning more about football.

Sadly, her parents did not support her dream at the time.

“I always sneaked out or made up stories to attend training or games, but sometimes I would get caught and be beaten up, but it never deterred me.”

In 2018, she made her international debut for the Young Mighty Warriors at the Region Five Under-20 Games in Botswana.

She was so impressive at the youth tournament that she even began being touted as a possible successor of then-Mighty Warriors number one Chido Dzingirai.

Her exploits caught the attention of Harare City Queens, who signed her on.

“My dream was to play for the Mighty Warriors and I am happy this year I got the lifetime opportunity, and it was actually more fascinating than I thought,” she said.

“It was a moment to live my dream. I am actually working harder in anticipation of yet another chance.

“At first, I thought this would be a tough challenge considering where we were coming from as the Mighty Warriors, but the moment we stepped on the pitch, we realised that we can do it.”