Unheralded Zimbabwe footballer Salad’e Machemba is on the verge of making history as the first Zimbabwean to play in the Italian Serie A.

The 25 year old Machemba signed for Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio towards the end of last season and started training with the reserve side.

Machemba was also due to go for trials at English premier league side Tottenham Hotspur but opted for the Italian league.  

Although Machemba dreams of playing in the Barclays Premiership, he says he could not take a gamble when Atalanta BC approached him first early this year.

The striker was born in France before returning to Zimbabwe at the age of two in 1993. He did his primary and high school education in the country before returning to Europe after his ‘A’ level studies.

It has taken long to get to the Promised Land but he seems to have got a big chance now.

“I had the invitation to go for trials at Tottenham but then, that was the same time the opportunity in Italy came up and I had to go for something that was certain,” Machemba said.

He spend the better part of his career concentrating on his studies in England. His first break was with Manchester United Under 21 and after that he has not settled at one club for long.

“After completing my A level studies in 2009, I joined my family in Manchester to pursue my Accounts degree and that was also the time I was spotted by a guy who took me to Manchester City juniors.

“That is how my journey started and things have never been smooth until I finally signed for Atalanta BC in April this year. This has become my first long term deal and I hope to make an impact,” Machemba told Sportszone recently.

Machemba believes Italy is tough.

“Italy is different. I think Italy is very tough in terms of the physical approach to the game.

“We start training from 9 am and you can feel it is more cold than London. Someone who has stayed in Zimbabwe for the better part of his life would not stand the weather.

“For me it is not that very difficult adapting because the difference is not very big with London