Uheralded Zimbabwean striker Simbarashe Manyoni has joined ambitious Botswana Premier League [BPL] outfit Masitaoka on a 2-year contract.
Manyoni is the first Zimbabwean to be signed by his compatriot Mandla Mpofu, who joined the club in August.
The 20-year-old joins the club from Zimbabwe’s Eastern Region Division One side Surrey FC where he had a trailblazing season to emerge as his club’s top goalscorer.
The Rusape-born forward is on cloud nine following his life-changing move to Botswana.
WHAT THE MOVE MEANS FOR MANYONI
“I’m really happy to have signed for Masitaoka FC because they are a very professional club, and the environment here is very conducive to my growth,” Manyoni said, as quoted by Zim Sports Connect.
“I really want to thank the management here, the technical team and the players for their warm welcome during my trial stint.
The rookie forward promised to repay Mpofu with goals when the season starts.
“I promise to do my best to repay the faith shown in me by the club, and I also want to do well to put my hometown Rusape in the limelight.
“I want to show people that there is a lot of talent in Rusape and other small towns.”
His manager Trust Nyambiya of TKT Sports Agency, is also brimming with confidence that his player will not disappoint.
Nyambiya is delighted after appraising Manyoni from a rural community to a foreign top-flight league.
“As TKT Sports Agency, we take great satisfaction in opening avenues for young players to grow in their careers.
“Simbarashe Manyoni is a very talented player with a lot of potential and we believe that he is going to blossom well under Mandla Mpofu, given that the coach is also good at nurturing young players.
TALENTED YOUNGSTAR
“For me having players come straight from the lower leagues here and impress at foreign clubs gives me great satisfaction.
“The Botswana Premier League is developing, and for Manyoni to make a breakthrough at his age is encouraging.”
Nyambiya added: “I want to salute junior coaches Victor Gombedza, Maticha Chamwanda, Robson Chisoma as well as Tichaona Wesere at Surrey for the work they are doing, although they are not getting much plaudits for that.
“I also want to thank Surrey FC for doing a lot to make sure that Manyoni beat the deadline to get his clearance to Botswana.
“I also want to urge players in small towns and lower leagues to believe in themselves. Football like God doesn’t discriminate; it doesn’t look at the background.
“You can aim for the stars from wherever you are. Just work hard and target your goals and you will achieve them in football.”
Meanwhile, the 2022/23 Botswana Premier League season is expected to start at end of this month, though without a flagship sponsor.
