. . . Soccer star of the year finalist.

NAME:  Hardlife Zvirekwi

BORN: 05-05-87.

PLACE OF BIRTH: Chivhu General Hospital.

POSITION: Right (back/ midfielder/winger).

NICKNAME: I am called all sorts Nairobi, Nyore Nyore.

HOOD: Waterfalls.

HEIGHT: 1,6m.

WEIGHT: 63kgs.

SHOE SIZE: Eight.

PREFERRED FOOT: Right.

JERSEY NUMBER: Six.

SCHOOLS ATTENDED: Gwinyai Primary School, Lord Malvern High (Form1-2) and Mt Pleasant High School (Form 3- ‘A’ level).

SCHOOL REPORT: I have six ‘O’ Levels including Mathematics and English.

LANGUAGES: Shona and English.

RELIGION: Christian. I fellowship at Kairos Community Church International.

FAVOURITE: Sadza and beef stew.

TEMPERS: I have my parameters but it comes with maturity.

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE WORDS: Humble, prayerful and hardworking.

FAVOURITE COLOURS: Green and white.

TUNES: Gospel, R’n’B and Jazz.

FAVOURITE ARTISTES: Donnie McClurkin, Don Moen, Chris Brown, Freeman and Sebastian Magacha.

MOBILE HANDSET: Samsung Galaxy 6 Edge.

WHEELS: Toyota Sprinter.

MARITAL STATUS: I am happily married to Saru Maromo.

KID: I have a three-year-old son, David.

FAMILY: I am the first born in a family of five: Three boys (Happymore and Emmanuel) and two girls (Pretty and Beauty). My dad is late and my mum is around

FLICKS: Movies and sport.

SOCIAL NETWORKS: Yes, I do but I am not very active.

BOOZE: I stopped alcohol in 2003 when I was born again.

HAIRSTYLES: Short hair.

CLOSE BUDDIES: My wife, Saru, Kingson Jakarasi and Ronand Pfumbidzai.

CLOTHING LABELS: Puma, Adidas and Giorgio Armani.

PERFUME: Givenchy.

IF YOU HAD NOT BEEN A FOOTBALLER: Lawyer. I am weighing options to start my studies.

OTHER SPORTING ACTIVITIES: I play cricket and basketball.

YOU PLAY A BIT LIKE: Hernandez Xavi. I just admire his passing game.

CHILDHOOD HERO: Moses Chunga. I used to play street football and I would call myself Bambo.

MESSI OR RONALDO: Messi.

FOOTBALL HEROES: Zinedine Zidane, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi.

STRENGTHS: Besides being defensively conscious I am more forward thinking and crossing is my strength. I can deliver from deep or more towards the byline, and my crossing attributes more and can be effective at delivering into the box.

I believe it is hugely important that I am both quick off the mark and over a distance too. My quick pace also allows me to track back effectively in defensive situations.

My position is expected to make crunching challenges on a consistent basis, and that has groomed me to be more strong in tackles. My dribbling attributes can work particularly well with my acceleration/pace and balance and agility rating.

WEAKNESSES: My height is a challenge on aerial balls.

BEST ADVICE GIVEN: Moses Chunga told me not to give up. I almost quit football in 2008 but he kept me in the game. He was my coach at Gunners then.

TELL US SOMETHING WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU: I am preacher of the Word of God. I lead worship in church. I am thinking of recording an album.

PERSONAL HONOURS: Premiership Promotion Gunners 2008: ZNA Charity Cup 2013 with CAPS United: 2013 Soccer star of the year finalist: 2016 Soccer Stars of the year finalist: Premiership championship 2009 and 2016: AFCON qualifications 2017: CHAN top four 2014.

WHO DO PEOPLE COMPARE YOU TO? Umm tricky. I don’t know.

TEAMS SUPPORTED: Man U, CAPS United, Orlando Pirates and Barca.

PRE-MATCH RITUAL: Prayer.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN JUJU? Ku CAPS hakutombodiwe izvozvo. It’s unacceptable. We pray and train hard for results.

PREMIERSHIP DEBUT: 2008 with Gunners against Lancashire steel in Baghdad Stadium.

FORMER CLUBS: Gunners FC, Harare United and ASSA.

CAPS UNITED FC: We have our ups and downs but I am at home. It’s a professionally run club.

CHAMPIONSHIP: Having played 28 matches without being substituted, I feel good winning. I worked for it. I sweated for every result. It’s my second gold medal after winning with Gunners in 2009. I was just coming from school then.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS YOUR STRENGTH AS A CLUB?  We thrived on team work and unity.   This was the best group of players I have worked with since 2012. 

YOU HAVE MADE IT INTO THE BEST 11: I have been there before in 2013. I am looking forward to something better.

DO YOU THINK YOU BANG THE BIG ONE? It’s up to the heavens. You can only wish for the best.

CONTRACTED UNTIL: 2018.

GAMES PLAYED SO FAR: 28. I missed the Chicken Inn game due to injury and I was suspended against Hwange (away).                  

ASSISTS: Five.

BIGGEST JOKER: Dennis Dauda.

MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER: Phineas Bhamusi.

MOTIVATOR: Tostao Kwashi.

LLOYD CHITEMBWE: He is a hard worker and he believes in team work. We are champions because of his positive influence to the squad. He is the father figure at the club. He is motivating and no nonsense man.

TARGETS FOR THE SEASON: We achieved what we wanted. We won it.

BEST STADIUM: NSS. We had an unbeaten run this season and we enjoy the natural.

HOW ARE YOUR TEAMMATES TREATING YOU? We respect each other.

FANS: They need positive results and we will strive to bring smiles on their faces this year.

BEST COACHES WORKED WITH: Kalisto Pasuwa, Klaus Dieter Pagels and Taurai Mangwiro.

HIGHLIGHTS: My move from Gunners to CAPS: Warriors (seniors’) debut against Botswana UNDER Klaus Dieter Pagels in 2013. Wiining the championship.

MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT: Missing a penalty.

RED CARD: Yes. I was at Gunners and we were playing against Lengthens at National Sports. It was for a second bookable offence. We were leading but the team later conceded after my expulsion.

FEARS: Injuries.

HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED TO COPE WITH THE PRESSURE AT CLUB LEVEL AND ON NATIONAL DUTY? It’s all about discipline, dedication and determination. I give myself enough time to rest. I don’t drink beer and I make sure I am always focus with every

WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND IN THE TUNNEL ON YOUR WAY TO THE PITCH? I am goal-getter. I love to win. I will be strategizing how to squash opponents.

INTERNATIONAL CAPS: I have lost count but I started playing for the Young Warriors from the U17.

WARRIORS: We have a good squad. It’s a pleasure playing a team with quality from all over the world.

SUMMARISE YOUR SEASON SO FAR: It’s been a purple patch and I want to carry the form to the national team ahead of AFCON.

IS THERE SOMEONE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET BEFORE YOU DIE? President Robert Mugabe.

NAME ONE THING YOU’D NEVER TRAVEL WITHOUT? My phone.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME? Moving to a better league in Europe.

LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL: I will be practicing law. I am studying ahead for a Law degree.

PARTING NOTE: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

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