From star on the playing field to fitness training...

From star on the playing field to fitness training: Promise Mandidzidze’s inspirational journey

**Promise Mandidzidze, left, at Nsingizini Hotspurs**

Edmore Zvinonzwa

In modern times, parents have seen the light and encourage their children to pursue other career paths outside academics, something that was loathed yesteryear.

Parents and guardians would not want to hear of children who would spent most of their time in the sports fields but rather those who remained glued to their books were the envy of any parent.

It was however, different with Promise Mandidzidze, whose parents supported his pursuits from Mhakwe Primary School to Nsingizini Hotspurs in Eswatini.

The fifth born in a family of eight, Mandidzidze was born at Harare Central Hospital on November 14, 1986 and grew up in Chitungwiza. He, however did his Grade One and Two at Mhakwe Primary School in Chimanimani, Manicaland Province before moving to Zengeza Main Primary School in St Mary’s, Chitungwiza but did not stay there for long.

His first inspiration, Mandidzidze said, was his brother Lloyd, who would take him to soccer matches because he liked football but I did not have interest. He later lost interest in soccer but by then, I had grown into an avid soccer lover. Then also my uncle,

**Promise Mandidzidze, right, with Amazulu coach, Pablo Franco Martin, centre,and an unidentified colleague in South Africa**

Mandidzidze moved to Pfumo Primary School where he started playing soccer. “At that time, I was taken by the late Gishon Ntini, former Head Coach at Makepekepe who drafted me into the Green Machine’s Juniors.

“I was doing my secondary education at Zengeza 2 High in Chitungwiza then, where I honed my soccer playing skills. I captained the first team at the school and grew into a role model there,” Mandidzidze told Zim Now.

At CAPS United, I played in the Under 10, Under 13, Under 15, Under 17 up to the reserves.

“Gizha would at times take us as substitutes in the first team. That was when I was spotted by Beitbridge-based Premiership side Underhill, who took me on loan from CAPS United. I played for one season at Underhill before being taken by Lloyd Mutasa to join Highway. Kalisto Pasuwa is the one who knew me from his days at Chitungwiza United. However, CAPS United had refused to release me to join Chitungwiza United. I played at Highway for a single season alongside former Warriors captain Willard Katsande, Tofirei Sambo, Hebron Makukutu, Dhana Makukutu, Romeo Kabesha.

“I moved again to the capital where I joined Motor action after being taken to Joey Antipas by David George. Antipas was impressed and signed me.

Mandidzidze won the league championship with the Eric Rosen-owned side in 2010.

However, he did not stay there for long as the lure of the dollar drew him to the ambitious Naison Muchekela Division One side FC La Liga in 2011.

FC La Liga were offering an irresistible package and I decided to go,” he said.

**Promise Mandidzidze, next to woman in cap during his time at Flame Lily**

From 2012 to 2014, Mandidzidze was at Flame Lilly, a Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services-owned side. He eventually get employed as an officer with ZPCS and I am still an employee of ZPCS. We got relegated after a single season and then the management decided to merge the two ZPCS teams into Tenax. We were promoted again into the PSL. That is when I decided to look at my life after football.

Mandidzidze added that as a player, he experienced knee and tendon injuries while at LaLiga and Flame Lily.

“I did not want to move into the usual where players end up in technical teams as coaches but decided to exploit my passion in fitness training, joining Nyasha Charandura’s of Major Sports Africa where I was taught a lot of things. Later joined International Soccer Science and Performance Federation, Alison Major Sports Institute, leading me to reach Level 1 and 2 Strength and Conditioning as well as a Diploma in Physical Fitness.

Mandidzidze says he got help from a number of coaches such as Gibson Mutemera. “I actually salute him for helping me through,” Mandidzidze said.

“Representatives of Eswatini side Nsingizini Hotspurs came to Zimbabwe looking for a fitness trainer and current Simba Bhora gaffer Tonderai Ndiraya called me to notify me. He is the one who connected me to Nsingizini Hotspurs.

Changed base in 2015 moving to Tenax in Mutare where I ended my playing career. Started fitness training at Tenax and we got promoted into the PSL in 2019. Like every other football team, we were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic that ravaged the world between 2019 and 2021. In 2022, I moved to Nsingizini Hotspurs in Eswatini and that is where I am now.

**Promise Madidzidze taking players through their paces**

Mandidzidze said, as an officer with ZPCS, he owed everything to ZPCS Commissioner-General, Moses Chihobvu

“I would like to thank my employers at ZPCS, especially ZPCS Commissioner-General Chihobvu for allowing me to be the correctional services ambassador outside the country. It is through the ZPCS that I am here, learning skills that I will return with to assist ZPCS teams as well as the country as a whole,” Mandidzidze said.

“Soccer administration in Zimbabwe when I left was in shambles and this eventually led to the country’s suspension from international football. However, right now the suspension has been lifted. In Eswatini, they are trying very hard to uplift the standard of the game in the country. The major difference that I see between the two topflight leagues – Zimbabwe and Eswatini – is that the quality of play in Zimbabwe is high. In Eswatini, while the quality is also there, the players do not know why they are playing.

“They do not know why they are playing or where they eventually want to get. They have the quality but are still in their comfort zone. However, they are very competitive.”

Mandzidzidze said he is also looking at the future with a keen eye.

“My ultimate objective is that I do not want to end in Eswatini. I have been having attachments with outside teams, especially in South Africa. There are teams like South Africal Premiership side Amazulu, where I have had stints, observing their methodology in fitness training, meeting coaches from major European leagues such as Spain. This should make my career better because I am meeting different coaches with different styles of play and also learning modern trends in football.

“If I am given the opportunity with the national team, I will take it up. I believe I have learnt a lot of things here in Eswatini and South Africa. In Zimbabwe, there is a lot more that should be learnt in fitness training. Back home we do not use GPS trackers in fitness, things that I have learnt from my attachments with South African clubs,” Mandidzidze told Zim Now.

“In a nutshell, I have passion with football and should be prepared to work with the national team if the call comes. Zimbabwe is my country and I have so much pride in being Zimbabwean. Nothing will gratify me beyond implementing what I have learnt to help the national team,” he said.

Already, Mandidzidze, who is currently studying Performance Analysis, said he has acquired a lot on Sports Science essentials such as performance and recovery, First Aid as well as introduction to Sports Medicine.

Mandidzidze is married to Benardette Huni and the two have a son, Kayden, who is now seven.

“My family is very supportive of what I do and they have been my pillar of strength all along, urging me on even where it appears difficult,” he said.

Mandidzidze parted by saying everyone has their best and bad day. “My worst game was against Eastern Lions at Mucheke Stadium in Masvingo. I remember our coach, Beaven Gwamure introduced me into the match. l was overweight, coming from long lay-off with a knee injury. Haa hapana chandakatamba, ndaitadza even kumhanya chaiko. (I had a poor game, I could not even run.)

“The other game was against Highlanders at Luveve Stadium. That game was tough, l was marked by Gift Lunga Junior. He was too hard on me and l ended up even missing a sitter in that game. We lost the match, l think it was 4-nil if l’m not mistaken,” Mandzidzidze reminisced.

“However, I also had very good games in 2009 when I was still with Highway. First was a league game against Bantu Rovers and then a friendly against the national team at Sakubva. I scored brilliant goals in both matches,” said Mandidzidze.