Scottland FC striker Knowledge Musona has shared the key to his longevity in football amid expectations on him to put Kaizer Chiefs defenders to a stern test in Sunday’s Toyota Cup at Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
The Soweto giants meet the Zimbabwean PSL champions in the third edition of the Toyota Cup, with Musona facing his former club Chiefs, with whom he had two stints. Also turning out for Scottland and expected to come up against his ex-paymasters is Khama Billiat.
Striker Terrence Dzvukamanja, formerly with Orlando Pirates, is a Scottland player as well and could feature for Norman Mapeza’s side. Musona was back at the Kaizer Chiefs Village in Naturena on Friday as he now gears up to face the team that gave him the big break into professional football as a fresh-faced 19-year-old in 2009.
Now 36, the former TSG Hoffenheim and RSC Anderlecht forward is still going strong, showing no signs of tired legs. He is one of the top-performing players in the Zimbabwean PSL, boasting eight league goals so far this season with 10 games remaining.
KNOWLEDGE MUSONA OPENS UP ON STANDING THE TEST OF TIME
Speaking exclusively to FARPost at Naturena, Musona reflected on what has kept him going in a career that took him to Germany, Belgium and Saudi Arabia.
“I’m a professional, and I always try to stay professional. As a professional football player, you need to take care of yourself in and outside the field of play,” Musona told FARPost. “I have really tried my best to take care of myself and try to work hard and be disciplined in everything that I do. That has kept me going until now.
“I still feel strong and still work hard just like during the days when I started playing football. Doing that makes everything easy for me in this game.”
MUSONA’S EMOTIONAL RETURN TO FACE KAIZER CHIEFS
Sunday’s match will mark the first time the former Warriors captain faces his ex-club, Chiefs. His attacking partnership with an equally in-form Billiat, who boasts 11 league goals, is expected to give the Amakhosi defence the ideal test to gauge their preparedness for the new season.
“I feel a bit emotional because Chiefs is my team, they are my home. It’s good to know and realise what you have done in the past and that people still appreciate the job that I did when I played for Chiefs,” Musona went on.
“So, I’m very grateful that I got the opportunity to play for Chiefs and also made my move to Europe from here. So, I’m very grateful to the club and also the supporters who are always supporting their team whether in good or bad times. I’m looking forward to Sunday’s game.
“Playing against my former team, I want to do my best and help Scottland, although it is going to be an emotional game for me. But we look forward to a positive result.”
‘IT CAN ONLY BE KAIZER CHIEFS’
While Musona appears to be edging closer to retirement, his scoring exploits have seen him still hogging the limelight. Jokingly addressing the possibility of returning to the Betway Premiership at the age of 36—much like Cristiano Ronaldo did at Manchester United—Musona revealed the team he would prefer to join.
“There is no other team that I will play for here in South Africa which is not Kaizer Chiefs. Only if the offer is from Kaizer Chiefs, then we can talk,” Musona declared.
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