NAME: Edmore Sibanda.           

CLUB: CAPS United FC.

BORN: 02-01-87.

PLACE OF BIRTH: Kadoma General Hospital.

POSITION: Goalkeeper.

NICKNAME: Zikeeper.

HOOD: Manyame.

HEIGHT: 1,8m.

WEIGHT: 90kgs.

PREFERRED FOOT: Right.

SHOE SIZE: 10.

JERSEY NUMBER: 01.

SCHOOLS ATTENDED: Manyame Primary and Manyame Secondary.

SCHOOL REPORT: I have five ‘O’ levels but opted to pursue sport.

LANGUAGES: Shona and English.

RELIGION: Christian. I fellowship at PHD Ministries.

FAVOURITE DISH: Sadza and maguru.

TEMPERS: I am good at handling my temper. I am not easily angered.

FAVOURITE HOLIDAY RESORT: Vic Falls.

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE WORDS: Jovial, shy and hardworking.

FLICKS: Sport and reality shows.

FAVOURITE COLOURS: Blue, white and green.

TUNES: I listen to any types of good music.

FAVOURITE ARTISTES: I like Nigerian musicians like Lilkesh, P Square, Davido and Peter Moyo.

MOBILE HANDSET: Samsung Galaxy Note 5.

WHEELS: I am not driving.

MARITAL STATUS: It’s complicated.

KIDS: Ethan (eight) and Edric (five).

FAMILY: Third born in a family of four, two sisters Leah, and Hilda and a brother Elvis. My parents are in Mvuma. My dad is a retired soldier.

CLOSE BUDDIES: Tafadzwa Rusike, Oscar Machapa and Peter Moyo.

SOCIAL MEDIA: I am active on social networks.

BOOZE: I used to drink occasionally but I stopped.

HAIRSTYLES: Zuda chairo (baldhead).

TATTOOS: I have a lion head tattoo on my arm. I don’t think I will have more.

DO YOU WEAR EARRINGS? I don’t and will never do so.

CLOTHING LABELS: Adidas.

GLOOVES: Nike.

PERFUME: Givenchy.

IF YOU HAD NOT BEEN A FOOTBALLER: Musician.

OTHER SPORTING ACTIVITIES: I play basketball and cricket.

TELL US SOMETHING WE DONT KNOW ABOUT YOU: I am a shy guy.

YOU PLAY A BIT LIKE: Manuel Neuer.

INSPIRATION. Prophet Walter Magaya. He picked me from the mud. Pandanga ndiri zvinhu zvanga zvadhakwa. But he gave me a hand to be where I am.

WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ? I read my bible every day.

 NAME ONE THING YOU’D NEVER TRAVEL WITHOUT? I don’t leave my iPod.

PRE-MATCH RITUAL: I pray. With a day or two to go, I fast.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN JUJU? It’s a crazy world. Gone are the days when juju used to control our game. Hazvishande.

STRENGTHS: Today’s keepers come in all shapes and sizes, but what elite level keepers are expected to have is a tremendous athletic ability.  No matter how tall an individual may be what will set them apart in the goal is their agility, explosiveness, and strength. I think I am gifted on that aspect.  Any goalie will tell you that it is not the high shot that is the hardest to save but the knee high blast to a corner, where quickness and explosiveness really come into play. I have the qualities, quickness, explosiveness and strength.

While keepers do not do a large amount of running on the field, they are the players that have to be the most conditioned and focused and that’s my strength. I can shout to the last player in the pitch. I also participate in buildup play and get involved as much as possible in shaping the play when team is in possession.

WEAKNESSES: I struggle with my weight.

TEAMS SUPPORTED: I don’t follow any specific team. I just watch football.

HOW DID YOUR CAREER START? My career started as a striker but I ended up swapping roles when I was in form four. I enrolled with the Zimbabwe National Army before joining Blue Swallows in Division One. To date, I can play as a striker. When I joined Yadah in 2015, I was playing as a striker in Division 1.

MESSI OR RONALDO: CR7.

PREMIERSHIP DEBUT: I featured for Chapungu in 2006 against Motor Action. I was introduced as a substitute replacing Brighton Muchambo (the late) with 15 minutes to time and conceded three goals. I was nervous.

FORMER CLUBS: Blue Swallows 2004, Chapungu 2006-7, CAPS 2008-13.

WHO TOOK YOU TO CAPS: Lloyd Chitembwe.

LIFE AT CAPS: Its family, all is well.

CONTRACTED UNTIL: 2018.

GAMES PLAYED IN 2016:13 games.

2016 STATS: I managed to keep nine clean sheets out of nine wins. Of the 13 matches we didn’t win, two were draws and two were defeats. I conceded six goals in the second half of the season.

 2016 CHAMPIONSHIP: It’s an achievement and my first time winning gold. We worked for it throughout the season. It was more of team work and we were united from the first game to the last.

BEST SAVE: Against Ngezi in the opening minutes. It was going to be a tough game had we conceded an early goal.

MOST MEMORABLE GAME: Tsholotsho 2-0. I was in fine form.

WORST GAME: Bulawayo City when we lost 3-1. It was just a weird game.

WHAT DO YOU FOCUS ON WHEN IN THE GAME? My position requires total concentration and I make sure the back line is always alert.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR YOU TO MOTIVATE YOUR TEAMMATES AFTER GIVING UP A GOAL? It is never easy, being the last man to pick the ball from the nets. But you can only be positive to overturn the result.

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: It’s an opportunity for us to put our country and club on the map. I know the demands. And we are ready.

LIOLI FC:  We don’t need to underrate them. It’s not a fluke that they are playing in the champions league.

THEY KNOCKED OUT BIDVEST WITS OF SA: That’s enough proof for us to know that it’s a good side.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT LESOTHO FOOTBALL? Football is universal. We just need to fully prepare mentally and physically.

YOUR PREDICTION: 1-0 or 2-0 win.

ANY TACTICS AHEAD OF THE MATCH? We must not concede at all. We need an away goal in Maseru. We have to attack and defend as a unit.

TARGETS FOR THE SEASON: It has to be an improved season from the previous one. We won the league and won gold as a team, but I will also fight to be the best player of the season.

HOW ARE YOUR TEAMMATES TREATING YOU? It’s a relatively cool squad. It’s my second year, and I am cool with everyone.

NEWCOMERS AT CAPS: They are equally good and their input is valuable. There is competition in all departments.

FAVOURITE TEAMMATE: Fire.

BIGGEST JOKER: Dennis Dauda.

FANS: I am ok with them. I understand their expectations. I have been with the CAPS family for some time.

TIPS FOR THE 2017 CHAMPIONSHIP: We will defend it.

BEST STADIUM: NSS. I have a soft spot for it. We make sure every opponent leave empty handed.

HAVE YOU EVER MISSED A PENALTY? No. I am good with set pieces.

INTERNATIONAL CAPS: 2007 to 2010. I have 25.

LLOYD CHITEMBWE: He is more than a coach to me. He is a big brother. We have good and bad times, but everything points out for the best.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUSELF IN FIVE YEAR’S TIME? I will be playing football. I can play up to 35 years.

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