BULAWAYO – Ageless former Warriors and Highlanders FC goalie Tapuwa Kapini has expressed his interests of becoming a full-time football coach after hanging his boots.
“I play for Highlands Park here in South Africa, I am a player-coach. When I retire, I want to have badges of coaching, not only as a goalkeeper coach but I want to try as a head coach,” said the veteran star in an interview with ZimLive.
Kapini says he comes from a soccer family which inspired him to take up the rewarding football career together with other greats such as Tendai and Victor Mwanasanga.
“I grew around football; my brothers, all played. Itai who now works as a trainer at a Bulawayo gym and Noel Kapini who is currently the assistant coach of Yadah FC really inspired me.
“To be a goalkeeper it was Brenna Msiska, Tendai and Victor Mwanasanga who inspired me and they used to be my coaches back at junior level.”
Kapini who was initially an infield player said he opted to be a goalkeeper in fear of sustaining injuries.
“I started soccer at an early age as an infield player. I used to play right wing or midfield. I used to score a lot of goals with good techniques for free kicks.
“I realised that I was also good between the goal posts; so I had to make a decision as to where to play. I was scared to get kicked in-field so that’s why I had to opt to play as a goalkeeper.”
The player said the biggest highlight of his career was to play at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Egypt.
“When you play at AFCON, everyone is watching around the world. Willard Katsande used to say that the number one team is your country. So, the moment you represent your country, you know your career is going somewhere,” he said.
“The match I will never forget is when we played Ghana in that tournament. I rubbed shoulders with players like Samuel Essien, Soli Muntari, and Stephen Appiah while playing in what I can call the dream team which had the likes of Peter Ndlovu, Benjani Mwaruwaru, George Mbwando, Wilfred Mugeyi and Alois Bunjira.
“I also had to compete for the jersey with Energy Murambadoro, Chenjerai Dube, Brito Gwere and Tendai Tanyanyiwa.”
In the tournament, Zimbabwe finished last with three points in a group that had Nigeria, Senegal and Ghana.
Kapini called upon football club owners to rope in legends and get them more involved in developing structures so as to improve the quality of the popular sport.
“There are so many legends who played football that should be roped in the soccer clubs’ developing structures.
“Teams can do better in terms of looking after our legends, giving them jobs, whether as a manager in junior level or as a scout for the main team.
“Most people despise scouting but it is an essential part in football. A team cannot only rely on signing players that come for trials.
“These soccer legends, when they return to their clubs as scouts, know the culture of that team and what crop of players it needs therefore they can do a better job.”
He advised young players to remain humble and be disciplined and learn from mistakes of their predecessors.
“I want to advise upcoming stars that they should know what they want because life has choices and they must be disciplined and keep good friends who advise them well.
“Football is an easy job. You only train for two hours and wait to play for 90 minutes over the weekend. So, never lose your vision and dream,” he said.
Born July 17, 1984, Kapini attended Kuwangira Primary School and Highfield High school, both in Harare.
He began his professional career at Highlanders FC (2001 – 2006), Silver Stars Polokwane, South Africa (2007), Platinum Stars Rustenburg, South Africa (2008 – 2011), Amazulu Durban, South Africa (2012 – 2015) Highlands Park football club, South Africa (2016 – Current).
A memorable yet shocking moment from his career was when he scored two goals against CAPS United football club. One of the goals was kicked directly from his 18-yard box to the Makepekepe goal. He has been called the ‘miracle scorer’ because of such goals.
