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Tobias Mandoreba Hwange Correspondent
FORMER  Hwange, Motor Action and ZPC Hwange dribbling wizard Malvern “Jayiro” Longwe has set his sights on reviving his career after joining Zifa Southern Region Division One newcomers Makomo FC.The coalminers started their pre-season trials and training sessions at GVZ Stadium on Monday but will be using Old Ground for their home league matches.

Longwe spent last year on a rather surprising football sabbatical which left the soccer crazy Hwange community wondering whether one of the rare and most sublime talents ever to emerge from the colliery concession area was not prematurely going down the drain.

“I want to revive my soccer career in Division One at Makomo FC. I know that after a few matches and hard training, I’ll have regained my touch on the field of play.

“Last year, I tried to sign up with ZPC Kariba but the deal never materialised and by the time I came back here the season had already started.” said Longwe in an interview with Chronicle Sports yesterday.

The 30-year-old attacking midfielder, who left many defenders mesmerised during games especially during his first spell at Hwange FC from 2002 to 2009, is again eager to leave a mark on the local football scene.

“After I feature for Makomo this year, I hope  to try my luck with other bigger clubs locally but I’m also not ruling out a return to my childhood team Chipangano if they’re impressed  with me.

“My other dream in the near future is to play in the regional leagues like in South Africa  and Botswana as I feel there’re a number of  years left in me to showcase my natural football talent.”

Longwe left the coalminers at the end of the 2009 season alongside Norman Njelele, Charles Sibanda and William Shayanewako to join Motor Action in the capital.

He was to trace his steps back to the coal mining town in 2011 when he joined Zifa Southern Region Division One side ZPC Hwange where he played for only six months before rejoining Hwange FC in what turned out to be an unsuccessful second coming  up to the end of the 2013 season.

Makomo head coach Tapela Ngwenya is a happy man over the news of Longwe joining his charges.

“Obviously as a coach I’m more than elated to have a player like Malvern Longwe in my team as there’s no substitute for experience in football.

“Even if you look at the ongoing Afcon games in Equatorial Guinea, the teams which left their seasoned players are struggling. I hope Longwe will add a new attacking dimension to the team after gelling with some old players and the new ones we’re assessing. I had a meeting with the company’s operations director Kuda Nyabonda who highlighted to me their high expectations as a club this year and we will work tirelessly to bring glory to Hwange,” said a beaming Ngwenya, who was a player/coach for the miners last year.

Makomo have lost one player Craven Tamirepi who requested for a clearance letter and Longwe could play alongside impressive players like Lloyd Chimuchenga,  Lovemore Dube,  Terrence Kudenga,  Peter Gani,  Barnabas Mudimbu, Richard Mwalugale and Lawrence Khumbula.

Seasoned goalkeeper and penalty specialist David Bizabani is expected to keep his position in between the posts.

Both Nyabonda and club chairman Mernard Maera have declared that they are eager to see their team play in Zimbabwe’s top flight league in 2016.