Marabha picks incredible form
HERENTALS College mainstay Godfrey “Marabha” Mukambi used to be a prolific striker before the late iconic coach, Friday “Amayenge” Phiri, shaped him for deep roles in midfield and defence.
That’s a little more than a decade ago at then-first-division club Border Strikers.
It was his goals that played a huge part in the promotion of the Beitbridge team in 2015, the same year he also won the Southern Region Soccer League’s Player of the Year after scoring eight goals.
Mukambi played alongside now Herentals teammate John Zhuwawu and Dynamos captain Frank Makarati during that campaign.
He has now gone close to eight years playing either in defence or in midfield, making a name for himself as Dynamos captain between 2017 and 2018 before crossing the floor to Yadah in 2020, then settling at Herentals last year.
While he made huge impressions as a tough midfielder at Tsholotsho, Dynamos, and Yadah, Mukambi’s goal-scoring instincts have never been as evident as they are this season.
The 32-year-old is increasingly becoming the go-to man for Herentals, whenever the Students are searching for goals.
He has rescued Paul Benza’s boys thrice this season, with his goals giving the team a seven-point net on the Premiership log table.
Deployed mostly to mop up play in midfield, where he has partnered either Blessing Phiri or William Kapumha in twin anchor roles, Mukambi has been putting in loads of energy into the game and is always probing in the attacking third.
He helped Herentals pocket maximum points with his solitary strike sinking ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga six weeks ago, before rescuing a point against Highlanders at Rufaro a fortnight ago.
With Bosso having the majority of both ball and territory while carrying a 2-0 halftime advantage, Mukambi took matters into his own hands to force a corner kick from which they halved the deficit before his solo run ended up in the nets to peg the Bulawayo giants back to 2-2.
Last weekend Mukambi was back at his best when put together a commendable show against his former team Yadah with his 11th-minute goal ensuring the full points for Herentals.
With three goals to his name, Mukambi is not only leading the scoring charts at his team but is also amongst the early Golden Boot contenders, as only two goals wedges him from the leading pair of Never Rauzhi of Bulawayo Chiefs and Highlanders’ Lynoth Chikuhwa.
“I played as a striker the whole of my footballing life until I met Friday Phiri at Border Strikers. I was the youngest player in that team and he liked the way I was carrying myself, I mean in terms of my energy levels,” said Mukambi. “So he said he wanted me to play as a defensive midfielder. While others would go home after training, he would give me extra training, making me carry bags with stones because he wanted to toughen me.
“Within a short period, I was in the groove and I started playing as a central midfielder or defender. I would say, it is Friday Phiri who made the Godfrey Mukambi that you see today.
“But I never stopped to venture forward and this is what I am simply doing this season. I want to keep on scoring and providing those passes for others to score as well. I am happy at Herentals, as is everyone, so we need to make sure that we win as many games as we can and see where we will be at the end of the marathon.
“We don’t speak of relegation at Herentals. We are a good team with quality players and we need to compete not fight relegation.”
Mukambi will be hoping to replicate the same form he had against Yadah when Herentals come face-to-face with another of his former employers Dynamos at Rufaro on Sunday.