How Army Service Recharged Richard Dube's Football...

How Army Service Recharged Richard Dube's Football Dream

Witness Runodada - ZimNow Reporter

From the dusty streets of Cross Dete to the green pitches of the Zimbabwe National Army and the heart of Division Two football, Richard Dube’s journey is a testament to raw talent, perseverance, and unbreakable spirit.

Born on August 4, 2002, in Victoria Falls and raised in Cross Dete, Dube’s football journey began early. At the tender age of 10, he joined Oyoms Soccer Academy where his passion for the sport ignited. From there, he transitioned into competitive football through Shumba Reserve, a team that competed in the Iganyana Soccer League, now rebranded as the Rhinos Cup Champions League (RCCL).

His stellar performances at Shumba Reserve saw him promoted to the senior team, Shumba Division Two, where he quickly rose through the ranks to become team captain at just 17. This early show of leadership and skill would become a theme in his career.

In 2019, Dube made a move to Binga Pirates, a Division One team, although his time there was brief, playing only half a season. Still, his talent could not be ignored. He was soon signed by Southern Region powerhouse ZPC Hwange, where he spent a season and a half, netting an impressive 12 goals and finishing as the team’s second top scorer in the 2022 season.

That breakthrough earned him a contract with Hwange FC, affectionately known as the "Coal Boys," who had just been relegated to Division One. His time with Hwange FC was promising but ultimately cut short by a devastating knee injury that sidelined him after just 13 games. The injury threatened not only his career but his dream of playing professionally again.

“I couldn’t even think I would play football again,” Dube said, reflecting on the dark period that followed.

In an unexpected twist, he found a new path by joining the Zimbabwe National Army. After completing his training at RTD Bulawayo, he was posted to 2 Presidential Guard. It was there, on the military football fields, that Dube’s passion was reignited. He led the Presidential Guards to victory in the ZNA Soccer Championship, finishing as both player of the tournament and top scorer, playing as a defensive midfielder.

That performance did not go unnoticed. Dube was picked up by DZ Royal Stars, a team now playing in the HPSL Division Two after being relegated from the Northern Region Soccer League. Once again, Dube is proving himself, driven by a relentless desire to rise higher.

But his path has been anything but smooth. Dube recalls the heartbreak of being robbed of an international opportunity. In 2017, after passing trials that should have seen him travel to Belgium, his name was allegedly replaced at the last moment. "I had prepared everything—documents, gear—but on the day of travel, I found out I was no longer on the list," he said. "It broke me."

Beyond politics, financial struggles also limited his ability to join better academies in Zimbabwe. Despite this, he has pressed on, guided not by privilege or luck, but by resilience and belief.