Tadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
CAPS United president Farai Jere has been blown away by Nyasha Mushekwi’s benevolence after the China-based striker donated football boots worth over US$25 000 to his ex-club.
The former Warriors forward on Saturday took time to visit the Green Machine family at their training base in Harare and handed over more than 60 pairs of football boots to the players.
He also pep-talked them to value their careers as they could walk the same path he has walked in his rewarding football journey.
Mushekwi first arrived at Makepekepe as a raw striker he quickly got down to work and grew to become an accomplished goal-scorer.
He would soon attract interest from South African teams where he sparkled in the colours of Mamelodi Sundowns, before he was snatched by clubs in Swden, Belgium and China.
He has donated several items to the Green Machine, including purchasing a luxury bus which ultimately cost about US$170 000 to land here, for the team some three years ago.
“Nyasha Mushekwi is something else. His heart is warm. I have never seen anything like that. I have met so many good people but he stands head and shoulders above the rest.
“Since he left CAPS United he has never forgotten about the team.
“He is always speaking highly about CAPS United, the opportunity the team gave him. I don’t know how to describe him.
“Wherever he is, he is always thinking about the team. He always speaks to me saying he cherishes the life-changing chance that he was given by CAPS United.
“He always tells me how CAPS United transformed him from being a basketball player to be a footballer. He is very grateful”.
Growing up under the custody of his grandmother, who didn’t want him to play football fearing that he would get injured, the bustling striker worked his way up in a short period of time.
He added:
“We would like to thank those who brought up this boy especially his late grandmother. “His love is something else. Most of the players he played with at CAPS United are working for him at his company in South Africa.
“He wanted to make it a surprise for me (donating the football boots) but I was already in my constituency doing something in Murehwa.
“Nyasha is always there for the team in good and bad times.
“I almost cried when I came back to see that everyone at the time got something including those who came to watch the team training. He brought at least 60 pairs of the soccer boots, real boots with a value of at least US$340 per pair.
“We are talking of something between US$25000 to US$35000 which he poured to the team if we are to put it into monetary terms.”