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ELITE CLUB . . . Adidas brand ambassadors (from left) Masimba Mambare, Issa Sadiki, Ronald Chitiyo and Chris Mverechena pose with the new boots that were handed to them in Harare yesterday.

Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
CAPS United goalkeeper Chris Mverechena’s star continues to rise after the Warriors debutant yesterday became the latest out of a growing band of local players to be appointed a brand ambassador for international sportswear giant Adidas.

Mverechena has dislodged veterans Victor Twaliiki and his close friend Jorum Muchambo from the CAPS United’s number one position with some fine showings between the posts that have also endeared him with the Makepekepe fans.

He has also caught the eye of Warriors coach Callisto Pasuwa who named him in his travelling party for the African Nations Championships qualifier against Comoros in Moroni last Saturday where the senior side fought a 0-0 draw to advance 2-0 on aggregate.

Yesterday the tall goalkeeper, a product of the CAPS United juniors, became the latest member of the Adidas brand ambassadors in the local Premiership and only the second goalkeeper after Highlanders’ Ariel Sibanda to be a recipient of the sportswear manufacturer’s kit.

Mverechena joined fellow ambassadors — Dynamos midfielders Masimba Mambare and Ronald Chitiyo — and 17-year-old midfielder Issa Sadiki, young brother of TP Mazembe winger Ali Sadiki on the list.

Highlanders midfielder Rahman Kutsanzira and ZPC Kariba’s Raphael Manuvire have also been inducted as Adidas ambassadors but the pair could not attend yesterday’s presentation function at a local sportswear outlet e-sport in Harare where the players were handed the latest boots that were unveiled on during the just-ended COPA America tournament in Chile.

The players were given the Adidas Chaos and the Ace Control boots while t-shirts, tracksuits, kit bags, track shoes and gloves for Mverechena were availed to them by e-sport product manager Kudakwashe Chidemo.

Chidemo said the boots had been designed to enhance greater control and were vital for players’ technique.

“It is a new revolution in football and a boot like Chaos X or Ace control has reinforced leather and is suitable for any pitch, natural or artificial. It enhances better control, pace, has improved technology on the studs and helps with a quick turn and technique,’’ Chidemo said.

Mverechena reckoned that being picked an ambassador and a recipient of Adidas training and playing equipment would spur him to retain the CAPS United number one and also fight to become the Warriors’ first choice goalkeeper.

He also paid tribute to e-sport director and Adidas’ point man in Zimbabwe Edzai Kasinauyo for facilitating the deal.

“I am very happy to be the first CAPS United player to be associated with Adidas officially and to be now putting on the latest that will be manufactured by Adidas is an honour and a privilege.

“I would like to thank Edzai for giving us this kind of exposure and I think this will motivate many young players like me to try and emulate the top stars in the world who also use these boots and gloves.

“I also feel honoured to be called up to the national team. I will take it is a challenge for me to raise the bar and the recognition by the national coach means a lot to me and it means I now have to keep working harder at the club.

“Just being part of the national team that travelled to Comoros was a great experience,’’ Mverechena said.

The dreadlocked goalkeeper also spoke of how he was warming up to the pressure of keeping goal for a big team like CAPS United.

“I am adjusting to playing on the big platform and the three goals I conceded for CAPS United were at home but my away record has been perfect.

“I am happy that I have now become used to playing before the home fans and I must say I get a lot of encouragement from Jorum Muchambo who is also a close friend. I also used to get a lot of motivation from Tafadzwa Dube when he was with CAPS United,’’ Mverechena said.

Kasinauyo said the players were chosen largely because of their quality and performances and noted that Mverechena’s exploits in the CAPS United goal had won him the Adidas recognition.

He said the players would be the first on the domestic scene to receive any new products from the German sportswear manufacturer.

“Whenever there is a new product these players will be the first to wear them in this country. It is pity we don’t get to qualify for big tournaments like the World Cup where the products are usually launched so that they could get to wear them at the same time with the big stars from Europe.

“We still need to value our players and look after them and give them the equipment that is similar to what those in Europe are using. If you put on what the top players in the world are using it gives you confidence and motivates you.

“Their performance is key to them being recognised for the status of brand ambassadors, we look at quality of the players and performance for example Chris has shown good form, a lot of potential and is still young and Adidas can help to make him a better player,’’ Kasinauyo said.