Warriors star Tawanda Chirewa, for the first time in his career, spent part of his pre-season break in Zimbabwe before returning to Europe last week.
During his stay, the Wolverhampton Wanderers forward had the opportunity to meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa and First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa.
He also interacted with Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary George Guvamatanga (GG) and watched GG Academy in action, while also attending Castle Lager PSL matches.
ZIMBH⚽LA held an exlcusive interview with the 22-year-old forward while back at his base.
He reflected on his first pre-season break in Zimbabwe, his meeting with the President and First Lady as well as the Permsec of Finance Guvamatanga and other highlights from his visit.
𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 Tafadwa “𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬” Chigandiwa 𝐚𝐧𝐝 Tawanda Chirewa “𝐓𝐂”.
𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬: It was your first time spending part of your off-season in Zimbabwe. How has the experience been?
𝐓𝐂: My experience in Zimbabwe was amazing. It was great to see the people, my family and different things that I had never experienced before.
𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬: What made you decide to spend your break back home this year?
𝐓𝐂: The reason I came to Zimbabwe is because it was the first off-season break where I didn’t have a specific training programme from my club. I was training on my own, so I thought Zimbabwe was the best place to spend my time.
𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬: How important has it been to reconnect with your roots before returning to Europe?
𝐓𝐂: It’s home and where I want to be. It is very important to me and something I never take for granted.
𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬: You had the opportunity to meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa and First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa. What was that experience like?
𝐓𝐂: I want to thank the President and the First Lady for taking time out of their busy schedules to meet me. It was amazing. Meeting them motivated me to keep working hard, keep improving and hopefully invest in our beautiful country one day.
𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬: You also met Finance Permanent Secretary George Guvamatanga and watched his Division Two team play. What stood out from your interaction with him and how encouraging is it to see influential people taking an interest in Zimbabwean football?
𝐓𝐂: Meeting Mr Guvamatanga was also amazing, especially watching his team play, seeing the youngsters work hard and speaking to them. I was able to share some advice with them and I hope they took something from it.
He is a passionate investor with interest in football, which is something I would also like to do in the future. I want to help young players by giving them a platform to showcase their talent. I also hope to start a foundation and help young people achieve their dreams of playing in Europe.
𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬: You attended Castle Lager PSL matches. What impressed you most about the standard of football?
𝐓𝐂: What impressed me the most was the work ethic of the players. They are hardworking and committed.
𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬: Were there any players who caught your eye?
𝐓𝐂: The two legends, Knowledge Musona and Khama Billiat. I would also have loved to see Tadiwa Chakuchichi and Nathan Mutasa play because they are players I know.
𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬: How do you compare the atmosphere in Zimbabwean football with what you experience in England?
𝐓𝐂: The atmosphere is completely different. It’s much noisier back home. Of course, there are many fans in stadiums in England, but Zimbabwean supporters are incredibly vocal and passionate despite being a few in stadiums.
𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬: What goals have you set for yourself this season, both with the national team and at club level?
𝐓𝐂: My goal is to help the national team qualify for the next AFCON competition and continue growing within the Warriors setup. I want to become a key player and establish myself as the next top number 10.
At club level, my aim is to play as much football as possible in Europe. It’s a huge stage, so I need to keep working hard and showcasing my talent.
𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬: What’s your message to Zimbabwean football fans who have supported you since making your Warriors debut?
𝐓𝐂: The fans have always supported us amazingly and we never take that support for granted. I hope that one day we will make them proud by helping Zimbabwe qualify for the World Cup. That’s the dream and I genuinely believe we can achieve it.
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