The few hours leading to the closure of the January transfer window deadline last night were the longest for every football loving fan in Zimbabwe, as our very own was ear-marked for a big move that only had a couple of hours to go before the deadline closed.
West Midlands English Premier league side Wolverhampton Wanderers were chasing Zimbabwe international Marshal Munetsi for his signature, with his French Ligue 1 side Stade Reims, in a twist to the impending transfer stating that they would only release their midfield linchpin if a suitable replacement had been found, and let’s not forget it was only a few hours before the transfer window lapsed.
Football fanatics who following developments became very anxious with conversations making rounds, “Wolves ought to have made the offer earlier” as with time ticking many thought the deal would collapse and Munetsi would not make the switch.
Considering also the leadership qualities he was bringing on to the club as the Vice-Captain at Stade Reims, the French Ligue1 side’s position was very understandable, you cannot lose both a player and a leader at the same time without replacing either of the qualities, which speaks to how important he was to Stade Reims.
Wearing the armband for a club in Europe at the highest level is no mean fit and when you do, it speaks volumes to your play and conduct both on and off the pitch, and such is Marshal Munetsi for you, having put on the armband 4 times already in the current season.
As mentioned prior about fate in the earlier article leading up to this one ,with comparisons between him and Peter Ndlovu who played in West Midlands also, Coventry City manager at the time when Arsenal, Liverpool made offers for him Peter Ndlovu, he is reportedly to have threatened to leave the club if the flying elephant would leave Highfield Road, and like Marshal his club would only agree to the switch if a replacement was found, speaking volumes to the importance both hold and held though at different times of their playing careers to their respective clubs.
However, on the morning of February 4th, 2025, with everyone trying to follow up on whether or not the deal had materialized, the football loving community in the country woke up to the news that Warriors midfield maestro Marshal Munetsi had successfully made the switch from the French Ligue 1 to the English Premier League, the most followed and biggest football league in the world.
Marshal Munetsi is officially a Wolverhampton Wanderers player in a move that cost the West Midlands side a whooping 16 million Pounds in a 4-year deal, the equivalent of 20 million euros and close to half a billion South African Rands (400 million Rands), making him the most expensive Zimbabwe football export to date.
Just hours before the deal went through, we dropped an article on the impending move, and it is with the uttermost elation that we are here once more celebrating such a milestone by one of our own that is set to inspire, ignite, and invoke high performance levels, commitment, professionalism as we look forward to the 2025 continental games.
With this big move football loving fans hope, and trust that like his namesake Marshal Munetsi will marshal the Wolves midfield like a true “Marshal” giving command and secure his place in Zimbabwe and the continent’s football folklore, like the Warriors trio before him former national team captains the great Flying Elephant Peter Ndlovu, the undertaker Benjani Mwaruwari and the jungle man Bruce Grobbelaar.
With such positive developments the new ZIFA administration ought and should use this as a launch pad and galvanize all stakeholders to pull in one direction for the betterment of our football, such that we can have more footballers achieving what Munetsi has just done not only for himself but the nation at large.
Like a true Warriors Marshal you are, Marshal the Wolves pack in West Midlands just as the greatest Warrior Peter Ndlovu did at the home of Wolves’ rivals at Highfield Road with Coventry City FC.
