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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
TAKING off his shorts and going on a 50-metre sprint in front of a packed Barbourfields Stadium was never his intention, eight years on, former Bosso forward Gabriel Nyoni fails to explain what transpired on that afternoon.

While a majority of football players are known to remove their shirts after scoring a goal, In his moment of bliss, Nyoni went a bit further; when he removed his shorts.

Nyoni, making his first start since joining Highlanders during the mid-season transfer-window in 2013, scored his first goal for the Bulawayo giants in the 76th minute of a league game against Monomotapa at Emagumeni having come on as a substitute.

Overwhelmed by emotions after scoring, the Highlanders striker made a high school celebration removing his shorts and running for at least 50m showing off his black and white boxer short which matched his jersey.

Nyoni’s celebrations earned him a yellow card from referee Allan Bhasvi. His unorthodox stunt earned him nicknames such as Mabhurugwe, Skhindi (pants).

Eight years on, Nyoni says that was one of the most embarrassing moments of his career yet it made him who he is today.

It took that weird goal celebration for Nyoni to announce his arrival on the local football scene.

“That moment made my whole career,” said Nyoni.

“It was an unintended thing but it worked to my advantage. What it did was it announced my name on the domestic football scene. I was an instant hit. Every stadium l would go they would want to see the guy who took off his shorts in celebration. So, they would pay attention to how l play. Some even hoping l score and repeat the same stunt,” he said.

Asked on if he had planned on removing his pants Nyoni’s answer was simple.

“Absolutely no,” he said.

“It wasn’t a planned celebration. If someone had come to ask me at that particular time to do the celebration l would completely refuse. The excitement of the moment caught up with me. I was so overwhelmed by excitement that l just found myself removing the pair of shorts as l celebrated the important goal,” Nyoni said.

At the time of pulling this stunt Nyoni was a student at the National University of Science and Technology, one can only imagine the reception he got on campus the next day.

“I instantly became popular at school. Everyone wanted a piece of information of what really transpired in my head. Even with my teammates I think everyone saw my teammates laughing hard. And some were in disbelief that this is actually happening. My coach spent the whole week just asking me Gabriel what happened,” said Nyoni.

The striker is adamant he will never pull such a stunt ever again.

“Never again. Never in a lifetime,” said a chuckling Nyoni.

The forward left Highlanders to join Caps United in 2019 before moving to South Africa to join Maritzburg United player. He was haunted by injuries leading to him joining GladAfrica Championship side Cape Umoya.

However, he sustained a Lisfranc foot injury against Richards Bay FC in the GladAfrica Championship last season and had been told at the time that there was a possibility he would never play professional football again.

Nyoni, though, has kept hope that he will play again.

The owners of Cape Umoya sold the club to Venda Football Academy, who are now competing in the GladAfrica Championship, but they have kept their promise of ensuring that Nyoni fully recovers from the injury, whether or not he ends up returning to the pitch.

Nyoni took the misfortune in his stride and ventured into the perfume manufacturing business.

He now manufactures 100 percent undiluted long-lasting oil-based perfumes inspired by Designer Brands. — @innocentskizoe