Tadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
NGEZI Platinum Stars defender Carlos Mavhurume knows the hefty task that lies ahead of his comeback from a nasty injury that kept him on the side lines for the better part of last season.
The former Herentals and CAPS United player suffered a career-threatening knee sprain in the initial stages of the 2023 term.
He never kicked a ball again as the Mhondoro team went on to claim the league title for the first time in its seven-year stay in the top-flight.
But the miners did not discard their man who needed surgery towards the end of last year.
He is now back on his feet and training once while the rest of the team trains twice a day ahead of the 2024 season.
And the 27-year-old is content with the gradual re-integration he is having as he targets to come back strongly.
“The injury I had last season was just too bad. At one point I thought that was the end of my playing career.
“But I would like to thank everyone at Ngezi Platinum Stars, especially the executive, for keeping me around and seeing to it that I got the best treatment possible,” said Mavhurume.
“I really appreciate their efforts. I feel loved and valued.
“I am almost up and running again as I can train well with the rest of the team.
“But I have had to train once on my coach’s (Takesure Chiragwi) recommendation.
“That has helped me a lot and I believe in the coming weeks or days I will be in a position to train twice with the rest of the team. I am feeling very well now.
“But I know I will have to play very well to be able to return to where I was before the injury.”
Before he was floored by the injury, Mavhurume had played six games as part of Chiragwi’s back three that had him, Gareth Madhake and Kudzai Chigwida.
At times though, he was deployed as pivot in the five-man midfield which Chiragwi used to good effect last year.
“I need to work my way back to the top again. I need to put in the work and work really hard to be able to regain the form I was in
“My colleagues did a fantastic job in my absence and I know what I ought to do to be able to join them in the thick of things again.”
With things hotting up in the championship race last year and Mavhurume clearly still in pain, Chiragwi had to recall Ariel Makopa from Triangle where he was on loan.
But the latter would also suffer a season-ending ankle injury prompting him to rotate Polite Moyo and Leslie Kashitigu to partner Madhake and Chigwida in defence.
Ngezi Platinum Stars have added three players to their squad so far after signing Talent Chimboko, Never Tigere and Richard Hachiro.
They did not retain the services of Wayne Makuva who was on loan at Triangle last year.
The left-back, who is also good in an advanced position, has already joined CAPS United.
There are also reports from their camp that Tapiwa Sibanda has been told to look elsewhere after his return from a season-long loan spell at Triangle.
He still has one year remaining on his contract.