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Lovemore Dube
HWANGE based former goalkeeper and now goalkeepers’ trainer, Leon Mwale, has set his eyes on leaving the coal mining town in search of a new challenge.
Mwale is the son of Weekly Mwale, the former Hwange and Hippo Valley goalie who in the first years of Independence, was third in the pecking order of the national Under-20 team goalkeepers. The first slot was Lucky Dube’s with Japhet Mparutsa deputising and at times getting the nod.
Leon runs the Lefae label that does sport and leisure wear in Hwange. His passion has stayed football and he is burning to have the bite elsewhere.
“I need a new challenge, I have reached saturation point here in Hwange and I believe it is my time now to leave Hwange and be a man. Something new will give my coaching curriculum vitae a boost. I believe I can add value,” said Leon whose father, Weekly, began coaching him when he was just 10 years old.
“I started playing soccer when I was around 10 years old, my father used to train me. I was born a goalkeeper. I was born and raised in the mining town of Hwange and I went to one of the most successful in sport primary schools, St Ignatius’, a school attended by Method Mwanjali, Malvin Longwe Gilber Zulu, Vitalis Kamocha, Misheck Sibanda, Alberto Kaunda and Walter Chuma, all these played for Wankie (Hwange),” said Leon who played in the competitive Hwange Primary Schools soccer league.
At secondary school, his talent was identified by members of Rufaro Rovers a legendary local league club that produced some of the best players to don the Hwange FC jersey like David Zulu.
He also trained with Hwange FC reserve team, Young Pirates and got an Under-17 call up.
He moved to Iwisa but when Hwange were calling for the young goalkeeper to come on board, injury struck and his playing career was brought to a sudden halt leaving him to try his hand at coaching, a move that has brought him rich returns.
“I am a holder of a Zifa Elite Goalkeepers Certificate and Zifa Level Two. I am looking forward to doing my Caf C this year. Over the years, I have managed to produce both infield players and goalkeepers for our national junior and senior teams. Some of my boys are flooded in local PSL and Division One clubs, internationally- Nyasha Dube who went to the US on scholarship and goalkeeper Collen Phiri who played in Zambia,” said Leon.
Others are Joseph Kaunda, the former Zimbabwe Under-20 goalie, Claivert Tshuma, William Mutoma, Craig Ndlovu, Hamilton Gomba, Anesu Richards, Pritchard Mpelele, Stanford Taruvingira, Dingani Maphosa, Gilbert Mwanza, Garikai Siagoma, Courage Sibanda, Justin Kaunda, Milton Nyangu, Elton Phiri, Elisha Zulu, Wayne Mupande and Brendon Rendo.
“They are some of the players that I coached at elementary and junior level,” said Leon.
He is proud of having worked with Taimon Mvula, Harmony Nare, Future Sibanda, London Zulu and Nonjabulo Dube in the Zifa Southern Region with a number of Hwange clubs.
Leon, who is 38, has worked at Makomo, Technosphere and ZPC (Hwange).
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