By Fungai Muderere recently in Malawi
There was a moment during Chicken Inn’s recent pre-season tour of Malawi when Obadiah Tarumbwa asked his roommate Guide Goddard to vacate their room.
Tarumbwa’s request was simple. He was about to pray and read the Bible and if Goddard could not join him as he spoke to his maker, then he would rather do so on his own.
For years, Tarumbwa’s transgressions have graced B-Metro pages, as one scandal after another painted a picture of him as a typical soccer bad boy.
There was that time when a Kenyan woman Esther Mwaka claimed that he had fathered her baby and there was that time when he landed behind bars for failure to pay child maintenance.
Such a man whose luggage that he took to Malawi included his personal Bible, is not one expected to be religious but if the recent Chicken Inn camp in Blantyre is anything to go by, it would not be a surprise if the former Highlanders, Bantu Rovers and Zimbabwe international, was leading praise and worship at a local church.
Question: Is Tarumbwa now a true Man of God?
“I have always been a Christian but this time around I must say I have taken it to another level as I seek to be a true believer,” said the ex-Highlanders striker who goes to the Bishop Henry Muzhari-led Family Covenant Church (FCC) in Bulawayo’s central business district (CBD).
“I had no issues with Goddard who is a very close friend of mine. I just needed my space to read the word. I’m a normal human being who is trying to get closer to God.
I now know that the word of God can positively impact on someone’s life. By reading the Bible, you get to know how to deal with life situations and challenges.
I have also got to know that some things were set to happen in my life but through the grace of God, I know that I will be delivered,” said the footie star that recently started going to FCC at the invitation of Pastor Cox Moyo, father to former Idols East Africa 2008 winner and gospel singer Eric Moyo.
Tarumbwa also revealed that he was working towards being a Sunday school teacher at FCC.
“I like working with children and I’m currently practising to be an ideal Sunday school teacher and in that regard I have been getting assistance from our Bishop and Pastor Moyo. I’m now an ardent reader of the Bible which I will always carry when our team goes into camp,” he said.
Chicken Inn Under-20 player, Future Gumbo, who also travelled to Malawi, said Tarumbwa had always invited his teammates to come to his church.
Tarumbwa (33) was not at his usual best last season finishing with a paltry seven goals under his belt.
Ahead of the start of the 2019 season, it is an open secret that he faces stiff competition for a starting place in the Joey Antipas mentored side which has Clive Augusto, Innocent Mucheneka, Bravie Sibanda, Nicole Mutatatiwa, Obrey Chirinda, King Nasama, Valentine Kadonzvo, Clemence Matawu, Malvin Gaki, Brett Amidu and Sipho Ndlovu as their other attacking options.
As if that will not be enough, it remains to be seen if Malawi striker Muhammad Sulumba who started his week-long trial stint at Chicken Inn on Tuesday will be signed by the Zimbabwe 2015 champions.
Meanwhile, Chicken Inn will on Friday play a friendly match against Harare City at Luveve Stadium.
Last Sunday, Antipas’ men walloped Bulawayo giants Highlanders 4-0 in a friendly match that was played at Barbourfields Stadium. B-Metro.
