IT NEVER dawned on Cranborne Bullets midfielder Kelvin Chibunyu that someday he would be required to possess a Driver’s License.
Owning a car is something that the 19-year-old never imagined would happen so soon just a year ago as he was concentrating on helping his team to win the sole ticket into the Premiership which they did.
Although he knew he would be considered for the 2019 Northern Region Soccer League Star of the Year accolade, it never crossed his mind that he would win the grand motor vehicle prize and never bothered to acquire a Driver’s License.
When he was voted for the accolade and announced in February this year, Chibunyu never had time to start driving lessons as he was already in camp with the local based Warriors contingent that was scheduled to fly to Cameroon for CHAN.
He wouldn’t do anything as the camp was cancelled as it became apparent that the tournament would be called off due to Covid19 and as everyone went on lockdown, Chibunyu stayed home waiting for his vehicle which was undergoing sponsorship branding to be delivered.
The branded vehicle was handed over at Zifa House but, like it was back in February, Chibunyu still can’t drive.
“You know; I never saw myself winning this vehicle. I was concentrating on giving my team everything on the pitch as we had set ourselves targets to win the ticket to the Premiership,” said Chibunyu.
“So I didn’t have any time you know to think about acquiring a driver’s license. To me, it didn’t make any sense. I thought maybe I would be amongst the Soccer Stars of the Year but I didn’t give myself that big chance to land the top gong.
“This is the reason why I didn’t make any effort to learn how to drive. This is why you see me without a license at the moment. Hopefully, that department will be opened soon and I enroll for the lessons.”
Interestingly, Chibunyu’s lack of self-confidence almost led him off football’s path.
“For starters, I never saw myself making it big in football. I just loved the game but, I never thought one day I would be making some news in the field.
“You know I was a Harare High student and I was in the school team but I think back then I was not good enough even for the school team because football is something that I never thought I was very good at.”
After writing his Ordinary Level examinations, Chibunyu then asked to join Zimpapers Football Club which was then competing in the social Communications League.
“For good measure, I was not even a starter in that team. I just wanted somewhere to spend my time. I wanted to run away from social ills like drugs so I just decided to join this club.
“The team was so entertaining with professionals and the environment was so relaxing but one thing was for sure, I never saw myself as someone who would make it beyond those amateur ranks.”
It was not until one car broker, Jonah Chaendera saw Chibunyu playing in that amateur league.
“He approached me and told me that I was better than what I thought. He took me to Yabo (Nesbert Saruchera) who is the CranbornE Bullets coach.
“At first, Saruchera never said anything and he just told me to continue attending training sessions which I did until he registered me in the second half of the 2017 season.”
Saruchera, who also won his own vehicle after being voted the coach of the year for the same season yesterday said he didn’t doubt Chibunyu despite the fact that he had been brought in by someone without any football credentials.
“I just said fine let him join others. At first Chibunyu was not that confident. He was reserved and shy. I just gave him his chance and here we are,” said Saruchera.
“He is a talented player. I rate him as one of the best attacking midfielders in the country. He has that knack of scoring important goals. I think he will go places. It would have been a big shame had he decided to do away with football. He is the next big thing to happen in Zimbabwean football, just watch the space, we pray that Covid-19 scourge spares us.”
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