The curtains came down on what has been yet another enthralling football season across all the major leagues in Europe, and for Zimbabwe’s football exports and the football mad following behind them it has been one of the most memorable in recent times.
The January transfer window of the just ended season came with a good omen for Zimbabwean football as midfield maestro Marshal Munetsi whom at the time was turning out for Stade Reims in the French Ligue 1 was on the radar of English Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.
With the move going through on deadline day football fans across the nation had their fingers crossed hoping the deal goes through and go through it did with Marshal Munetsi becoming the most expensive football export from the pot shaped land in a reported deal worth over 20 million Euros.
The ball went rolling fast and before time Munetsi was getting wonderful post-match ratings, almost coming close to scoring on his debut match in the FA cup against championship side Blackburn Rovers.
Deployed in an unfamiliar position in front of goal his exploits seemingly turned the fortunes of the West Midlands side around who had found themselves in the murky waters for the better part of the season.
With heart and sheer grit Wolves found themselves grinding results under new coach Vitor Pereira.
Munetsi would score his first goal in the English Premier League and for his new home with an equalizer against Merseyside outfit Everton in a match that would end all square at 1-1. Munetsi and his equalizing goal rescued the all important point as Wolves were beginning to create daylight between them and the murky end of the log.
As match week 38 arrived this past weekend Wolverhampton had all but won the battle for survival and Munetsi once more would seize that special moment in front of the West Midlands side’s faithful.
The West Midlands side hosted Brentford at Molineux stadium in front of a rapturous reception that wanted to savour the moment of surviving relegation and the wonderful prospects instore for next season with how the season ended on a high.
Brentford would go into the lead in the 25th minute with their starman Mbeumo.The match went to halftime with Brentford holding on to that lead.
The 2nd interval would start with the home team determined to end the season with a positive result.
As the match wore on Munetsi found Guedes inside the box with a cut back after an interchange of passes with Semedo but couldn’t convert.
In the 75th minute Wolves kept pushing forward with a long ball from the back that found striker Larsen back paddling and between 3 opposition players.
With Munetsi making a complimentary run Larsen sweetly headed the ball down with calm onto the path of Munetsi who with sheer power unleashed a thunderbolt strike that beat the goalie all systems out heating the roof of the net.
The commentary team was astounded and the phrase “Marshal Munetsi with one of the goals of the season, someone take that trophy from Pablo Sarabia” who earlier in the season had scored a beauty against Manchester United was clear testament of the beauty, and magnitude of the strike.
Molineux stadium burst into rapture and applause for what was arguably the finest goal on matchday 38. Munetsi could not hide his joy and elation with emotion and passion evident on his face as he celebrated with teammates.
Across the North Sea in Denmark another football export from Zimbabwe in Munashe Garan’anga was capping off a debut season with a league title triumph.
Danish giants FC Copenhagen who had an illustrious chapter with former Bafana Bafana legend Sibusiso Zuma, capped the final day of the season with being crowned champions.
Copenhagen secured the Danish Superliga title following a 3-0 victory against Nordsjælland on the final matchday of the season on Sunday.
For FC Copenhagen it was 16 Danish league titles with the Sunday title triumph and for 24 year old Munashe Garan’anga it was his 2nd league medal having previously won the league in Moldova.
Though he did not play and stayed on the bench, his contribution to the title charge can’t go without mention even in the Europa conference where they were knocked out by London giants Chelsea.
With such remarkable exploits from the country’s football exports, the nation’s football trajectory is on an upward turn, and with the Africa Cup of Nations tournament on the horizon, one hopes that confidence comes along with them to the national team.
