YOUNG former Dynamos fullback Tinotenda Muringai has pleaded for a chance in the Warriors squad, which begins its World Cup journey following a successful stint in the Mozambique top-flight league.
The 22-year-old left-back joined Mozambican champions UD Songo back in February where he garnered experience playing in the Caf Champions League.
UD Songo made it to the second preliminary round of the Caf Champions League before they were knocked out by Angolan side Petro de Luanda 5 – 2 on aggregate last month.
Muringai is one of the players plying his trade outside the country, who was overlooked by the technical team led by Baltemar Brito for the Warriors training camp last week.
“It’s good that Zimbabwe is back in international football and we are going to be taking part in the World Cup qualifiers. I would have loved to be invited to the Warriors training camp last week so that I show what I can do. I feel I am ready to help the national team fight for a place at the World Cup with the others after the experience I had in Mozambique this year,” Muringai said in an interview with The Sports Hub from his Mozambique base.
“Mozambique league teams are organised and competitive while the salaries are also good. The Mozambique national team also qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations so it shows how football has improved here.
“I am so excited to have competed with some of the best football players on the African continent. It was like a dream come true playing against teams like Petro, which is one of the big teams in Africa and it gives me confidence going forward in my career.
“The experience has been good so far although it’s quite challenging. It’s different from when you are playing in your own country you can relax here and there, but in foreign land you have to work extra hard to keep the faith of the coaches.”
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Muringai has been the first choice in the left-back position at UD Songo and has recorded one goal and six assists thus far.
In terms of trophies the team lifted the Super Cup and also won the Bonanza four nations tournament in Malawi and were in the semifinals of the local TAS Cup.
UD Songo is currently second on the log standings in Mozambique with 31 points from 19 matches, four points behind leaders Ferroviario Beira.
The former Dynamos set piece specialist spoke about how the opportunity to play in Mozambique arose.
“Dynamos received a letter from Mozambique requesting a left back and I jumped on to the opportunity, especially because there was a chance to play in the Caf Champions League. I felt it was an opportunity to be seen on a big stage by teams from bigger football nations. "The big dream for me is to play in Europe," he said.
At first, language was a big challenge for me in this country especially communicating with teammates from Mozambique, but the good thing is our coach is from Serbia and he speaks English. But I am also getting to learn the native language.”
Muringai burst onto the local scene as a 17-year-old playing for one of the biggest teams in the country, Dynamos, after he was given the chance by the then-head coach Lloyd ‘Mablanyo’ Chigowe.
He is a Friendly Academy graduate.
