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Innocent Mapuranga

Lillian Sibanda Sports Reporter
My first personal encounter with the man who had hung his boots in football six years ago is filled with mixed feelings.
I cannot believe all this talent might have gone to waste if it was not for legend Madinda Ndlovu who gave the veteran defender a lifeline to return to competitive football and eke a living out of his talent.
Today Innocent Mapuranga commands a regular place, probably the most consistent performer at Highlanders since his return to playing in 2009.

He is also the Highlanders captain.
At 37, his age sends tongues wagging with some saying age is slowing him down, but Mapuranga continues to defy that thinking with decent performances, week in and week out.

He continues to be a marvel to watch, patiently reading a striker’s intentions and then timely putting one of his feet to save Bosso from danger. In one moment he is initiating an attack taking on a man and then sending a long range pass into the enemy half.
He assures his fans that he still has it in him to soldier on.

“When my body does not allow me to run, then maybe I will retire but right now I am still in the game,” he says.
Mapuranga might have been thrown to Bulawayo by fate as he was born and bred in Mazowe where he attended Mvurwi Primary and Secondary schools. Having an interest in the sport as early as Grade Four, he played for Mvurwi Juniors who were in Division Two before he was elevated to Division One side Lulu Rovers for a year’s stint.

In 2003 he packed his bags for Bulawayo where he found home at the now defunct Railstars who were in the Premiership.
He served in the railway side for four years as a centre back.

In 2008, he moved to Harare where he played for Caps Football Club until he retraced his steps to Bulawayo where he started coaching Zimbabwe Women’s Soccer Premier League outfit Inline Academy.

While at Inline Academy he got his break through Ndlovu who invited him to go and play for Highlanders while attending a Coaching Level One coaching clinic.

He acknowledges his magnificent role.
“I had earlier tried my luck at Bantu Rovers and Njube Sundowns without any luck and the suggestion overwhelmed me. I decided to heed the call and the rest is history. Madinda played a big role in my life by calling me back to the field. He revived my career when I thought it was over,” he said.

Last month he turned five years old with the club which has one of the largest followers in the country. He concedes that it is not an easy task to lead the team which is loved by so many football lovers across the country.

“I admit that it is not easy to marshal a team and instill faith in the supporters as sometimes results do not favour us. As the captain, however, I have to make sure that the players soldier on no matter what as the fans will be anticipating favourable results. The team is loved by many people and football is a pressure game. But then, criticism is good for the game,” he says.

He however holds the 12th man in high regard and encourages every Bosso lover to grace the stadium. He professes immunity to the derogatory songs sung by Bosso supporters some which chide Shonas.

“Everyone must make it a point to come and watch us at the stadiums even when chips are down so that they rally behind us and instill high morale in the players. At Highlanders we are one family and it does not matter whether you are Shona or Ndebele so the songs do not bother me at all,” he says.

The fourth born in a family of six boys and one girl expressed optimism in the junior structures at the club.
“There is a lot of rising talent especially in our junior structures and it is a promising generation of players that will keep this team going. Zimbabwean football is fast improving as there are no longer any small teams in our league but only small names.”

A devout Impact and Change Ministry member, Mapuranga  says he likes to spend time with family and fellowship with his church members during his spare time. He is married to Lillian Mapuranga with whom he has two daughters Milicent and Shantell as well as son Vincent.

He says he draws inspiration from his coach Kelvin Kaindu to whom he says he is greatly indebted to.
“We are lucky and blessed to have him. He is more than a coach to us all and treats each and everyone of us equally and professionally all the times,” he said.

On future plans, the Liverpool and Barcelona devotee says he wants to open his own soccer academy and also wants to coach.
He is already paving his way through imparting his coaching skills to the Under-20 boys’ soccer team at Pumula High School.