Zimpapers Logo

Cool Lifestyle Reporter
Meet talented teenager Precious Chirinda (16) who is the youngest soccer player at ZRP Harare Ladies and also one of the youngest players in the Super League.
The girl has managed to create a name in women soccer countrywide.

When her team started playing in the Super League, Precious was instrumental in bringing down Auckaland Queens from its good form. Auckaland Queens had enjoyed a long streak as log leaders with no defeat until they met ZRP. Precious scored the two goals that shocked the high riders.

She describes her soccer journey as interesting, having started at the age of three.

“When I was in Grade Three I was transferred from Nharira Primary School to Adbernie Primary School. Unfortunately, there was no girls’ soccer team at the new school. I loved soccer so much that I asked the coaches to join the soccer team. They did not refuse and allowed me to play,” she said.

Precious said during that time the boys liked having a girl in the team.

“The boys would treat me like their baby sister, a baby sister who was good in soccer. They also liked it because I contributed to the team’s winnings. They all saw the passion and commitment I had so they knew how soccer was so close to my heart. I then went to Harare where I joined the soccer team,” she said.

The teenager said she was happy with the support she got from her family after she told them about her passion.

“My mother supported me and all my siblings followed suit, not because I am the last born child but because they also saw the commitment I had towards the game.

Precious wrote her Ordinary Level exams last year

“I was doing eight subjects. I used for play for a Highfiled team. I left Catarlan Queens when I was 15 years old after they sold the franchise to Herentals which was in Division 1.

“That is the same year I joined ZRP and I remember very well that it was on August 15 2013. I never went for trials at ZRP. We had played against their team when they were still in Division 1. When they heard that I was no longer playing for Catarlan Queens they came to our house and asked me to join their club. My mother permitted me and I signed with them,” she said.

Precious said her experience in the Super League was full of excitement.

“We played so well and I remember scoring more than 10 goals. When we were promoted, we were overjoyed,” she said.

She said she was inspired by her coach Felistas Muzongondi.

“Felistas Muzorongodi is very respectful. She is a good coach. She is so good in football yet she does not boast but she is humble and kind.”

Like all high achievers, Precious believes in accepting her shortcomings as a way of overcoming them.

“My weakness is I easily get tired very fast.

“I used to train with the team on Fridays only which meant that for all the other days I was not doing anything after school,” she said.

Contrary to common perceptions that soccer players are academically challenged louts, Precious is equally at home with figures and dreams of becoming the first top accountant footballer in the nation.

◆ The story is an extract from an interview by Melody Gwenyambira published in H Metro