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Tadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
AFTER breaking his right leg thrice in a space of just three years, Black Rhinos striker Lot Chiunga has surprised everyone, including himself, with what could be one of the most remarkable come-back stories in the local game.

The 35-year-old forward has been on the sidelines since suffering a double fracture while taking part in a pre-season sparring tie against then newly-promoted Mushowani Stars on December 9, 2018.

In fact, Chiunga had thrown in the towel after he was inserted with an implant in a correctional surgery on that same leg which had netted nine of the 11 goals the forward scored in that season.

That the same leg had also been fractured in 2016 when the army team were still playing in the First Division didn’t make it any better for him.

“It was like hell. That moment I fell to the ground after being smashed by two Mushowani players, I knew it was all over,” said Chiunga.

“It was so painful, especially at a time when I was enjoying my game at the top. The previous season I had become the runner-up in the top goalscorers’ charts.

“I thought I was never going to kick a ball again. It was hell.”

For more than a year, Chiunga had  turn to vending for a living.

“I am employed by the Zimbabwe National Army and I am more than grateful for that.

“But, look, as a footballer, I am used to work extra and I am used to those allowances like winning, camping and travelling.

“So, I found it depressing sitting at home doing nothing at all. I have four kids who are used to a certain standard of living and I had to look for some side hustle. That’s how I decided to venture into vending. I was selling everything, milk, bread, yoghurts…

“People would often ask me what became of you but I was never shy. I had to do that and I even expanded to clothing apparels. I was happy but very much hurt at the possibility of not playing the game again.”

But somehow, there is a ray of hope for the striker once again.

He has been certified fit to play the game after the implant was removed in October.

Chiunga has been training alone and as fate would have it, he is set to rejoin  his teammates on December 9, exactly three years after that nasty injury.

“I am back now. The doctors said I am back to where I was before the injury in terms of fitness and it’s now up to me to show that I can do as much as I did in the past.

“I will put everything into training. I have been working hard alone since October and I am now ready to rejoin my team on December 9 which is a perfect day for me.

“At first I wouldn’t believe what the doctors told me. I thought I was down and out, especially given that I had tried to come back in 2020 and failed.

“It’s now up to me to prove my worth. I will work very hard at training and I know that way, I will push and become the player I have always been or even better.”

Chiunga is inspired by other comeback stories scripted in the local scene by the likes of FC Platinum striker Rodwell Chinyengetere and Raphael Manuvire.

Chinyengetere suffered what looked like a career-ending injury when he was still turning out for Hwange a decade ago after coming at the receiving end of a reckless tackle from former Dynamos goalkeeper Atwell Mukandi.

But he rose from those ashes to become the local league’s finest footballer in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

Ex-ZPC Kariba Manuvire, who is now playing in the Eswatini top-flight, also limped out of the game for good after he fractured his leg following a nasty tackle by former Chapungu defender Blessed Mbavarira.

Dynamos legend Murape Murape also defied the odds when he won the Soccer Star of the Year accolade in 2007 in a year DeMbare won the league before helping them reach the CAF Champions League semi-finals in 2008 despite having been ruled out of the game due to injury suffered close to a decade earlier.

Without Chiunga to lead them in attack, Black Rhinos have struggled in front of goal since 2019.

Coach Herbert ‘’Jompano’’ Maruwa was using a false nine in Wellington Taderera who top scored for the club with seven goals in 2019 before signing for Ngezi Platinum Stars last year.

They seem to have struck the right chords this season though with the team having already found the target three times in two Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matches this season.

Former Dynamos striker Tawanda Macheke has been the leading light in that front three which also has Edgar Mhungu and Vincent Mhandu.