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Blessing Nyamuziwa

KNOWN simply as “Neymar” to the fans that already know him, 18-year-old Blessing Nyamuziwa is the name to watch in football circles this year.

Blessing caused a sensation during his debut appearance in the CAPS United Football Club colours as the “Green Machine” took on Dynamos in a Harare derby last weekend. The ZNA Charity Shield semi-final match was played at Rufaro Stadium.

Our Cool Lifestyle reporter Mathew Masinge (MM) took time out with Blessing Nyamuziwa (BN) during their Thursday training session at the Reserve Bank Sports club in Harare this week:

MM: How did you end up being nicknamed Neymar?

BN: I am a determined football player. Well that is quite a funny story to recall, I got the name after I played my first high school game at Prince Edward High School. I dribbled past three defenders with the same style just like the Barcelona forward Neymar Jnr does. Since then it has stuck on me like glue.

MM: Which school did you go to?

BN: I first did my primary school at Mutiunokura Primary School and then moved to Kuwadzana 2 Primary School when we relocated. I proceeded to write my Grade 7 examinations at Mbizi Primary School in Highfield. My high school years were also disturbed as I continued to change schools. I started at Alight High School in Masvingo, went to Kuwadzana 1 High School and then ended up at Prince Edward where I wrote my O’Levels last year.

MM: Did the constant change of schools affect your performance?

BN: Yes because sometimes I would arrive home and see my parents packing. I would just dump my books and forget about homework to help out. It was more than just physical movement as I would have to settle in and start afresh time after time.

MM: At what age did you start playing football?

BN: I started to play football when I was in Grade 6 at Mbizi Primary School in Highfield, that is when I got selected to play in the school’s A team for the first time. After I made that appearance I got calls from Sunrise Academy to join their junior team. I got called for trials at CAPS Juniors when I was 14 but that did not work out well so I remained at Sunrise until recently when I was recalled to CAPS by coach Mark Harrison and this time to the senior team.

MM: Do you remember the first time you scored?

BN: Yes. I was in Form 1 at an Under-14 NASH Coca Cola qualifying match against Dzivarasekwa 2 High School. It was a superb goal I scored in the 18-yard box after the ball was crossed from the right wing. I struck in an acrobatic move that excited my school coach who came to embrace me immediately and since then it has kept me going.

MM: How often do you train?

BN: At first it was just the normal high school routines to train only when the need arises because there were no physical games or mind games. With time, after I joined Sunrise Academy more was needed so I had to work out really hard just to make it to the top team. I am looking forward to visiting the gym often too.

MM: What do you do outside the pitch?

BN: I like hanging out with my friends going to the movies, listening to music, playing pool and helping out my parents at home.

MM: Now that you have been signed to play for one of Zimbabwe’s biggest soccer clubs, how does that make you feel?

BN: First of all this is a miracle, I never thought that with my age and body size I will be one day battling it out with the “who is who” of Zimbabwean Premier League football. Last week when I featured in CAPS colours, that was my first game and already I can feel the pressure that I need to deliver more for my team so that we can win the Premiership this season.

MM: What other career would you prefer beside football?

BN: I would prefer maybe working in a bank as a bank teller.

MM: What is the challenge you face in yourself?

BN: I am short and a lot of people tease me for that, but that will not pull me down. I will keep on working out to be physically fit.

MM: Do you have anything that you fear?

BN: My greatest fear is God, and the Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.