Knox Mutizwa’s former coach Dumaza Dube has revealed how former Kaizer Chiefs defender Teenage Hadebe pushed the Golden Arrows forward to the top.
Mutizwa and Hadebe were together in the Highlanders team in 2015, but they first met in the juniors then under the mentorship of Dube.
AmaZulu midfielder Butholezwe Ncube and FC Platinum defender Lawrence Mhlanga were also part same junior team.
In fact it was Dube that plucked Mutizwa from the high density suburb of Pelandaba as a novice footballer.
However, the revered Bulawayo based scouter says Hadebe was one of the driving force in Mutizwa’s rise to stardom despite their two-year age difference.
“Knox [Mutizwa] belonged to a team that had very talented players. He played in the Highlanders juniors with Teenage Hadebe and Lawrence Mhlanga. I was part of the technical team.
“That AmaZulu midfielder Butholezwe Ncube was also part of the team. I plucked him [Knox Mutizwa] from Pelandaba and I vividly remember the day we went to talk to his family to negotiate with them.
“He joined a team that was in good shape with talented boys determined to rise. That helped him push hard. Since his days, at Highlanders, his main attribute has been the ability to adapt quickly than anyone,” Dube told FARPost.
As Mutizwa graduated to the Highlanders senior team, Hadebe was with the now defunct Bantu Rovers.
HOW TEENAGE HADEBE PUSHED KNOX MUTIZWA
According to Dube, Hadebe played a brotherly role in Mutizwa’s rise despite that they parted ways upon graduating into Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League.
“Hadebe was an imposing figure. The player is tall. He had effective attributes of a defender. To Knox he was a pillar of strength and energy despite the fact that he is two years younger,” Dube said.
“They pushed each other hard in training, off the field of play and I’m not surprised that they both rose to be the stars they are today.”
Mutizwa was recently honoured by the DStv Premiership side Golden Arrows after becoming the club’s all-time goal-scorer with 51 goals to his name.
He surpassed Mabhuti Khenyeza, who previously held the club record. Without doubt the 29-year-old currently stands as one of the best performing and consistent strikers in the elite league.
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