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Roderick Mutuma

Tedious Manyepo, Harare Bureau
THE self-proclaimed Prince of Zimbabwean football, Rodreck Mutuma, reckons he will now focus more on his football after making his debut for his third club, in the past eight months, at Morris Depot yesterday.

He helped his new club Yadah Stars beat Harare City 1-0 in a Castle Lager Premiership tie.

Wellington Kamudyariwa scored the priceless goal for Yadah Stars.

Denis Dauda, fresh from captaining the home-based Warriors in a Chan qualifier against Namibia at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday, was back in the battles in the colours of Yadah Stars.

Leeory Mavunga and Jimmy Dzingai, who also played for their country in that match, were back in the Yadah Stars colours.

But, as expected, all the focus was on Mutuma who joined the Harare side from Highlanders.

“I was homesick. Highlanders are a very good team and I enjoyed working with coach Erol Akbay who I should be quick to say is one of the best mentors I have ever worked with during my career,” said Mutuma.

“Everyone at Highlanders is very professional and the fans were amazing.

‘I will always miss them but I wanted to be closer to my family, which is in Harare, and when Yadah knocked at the door I was very happy.

“I always had to balance work and family commitments and I was sort of unsettled and as a result I could not concentrate much on my play which is the reason why I seemingly failed to assert myself and really rise to expectations.

“I am very happy I am now living with my family and I can fully concentrate on playing soccer without any mental stress.”

Mutuma saluted his new teammates after they showed character to win yesterday’s match.

The Prophet Walter Magaya-owned team had gone for two consecutive games without registering a win.

They now hope to take that form to Kariba where they have a date with ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga on Saturday.

“I am very impressed by my new teammates. They have the character to withstand the demands of the Premiership. After scoring that goal, we never relaxed but kept on fighting for every ball.

“The win is a morale-booster and we hope to maintain the form and help the team achieve a decent finish in the marathon,” said Mutuma.