The setback suffered at the age of 24, when he had set out to establish himself at South African side, then-Wits University, dashed any hopes ‘Varume’ had of representing his country. The former player, now 35, recalled the setback in a recent interview. “That ankle injury, sustained during training, ended my dream,” said Nyoni, now a waiter in Johannesburg.
“Then, things were difficult for me as I was a breadwinner for my family. I had to quit the sport and concentrate on other activities”
Having starred in the Ziscosteel midfield between 1995 and 1998, the linkman had seemed destined for the national team.
“I had high hopes of representing my country. I wanted to preserve the legacy of such great players like Benjamin Nkonjera, Rahman Gumbo, Moses Chunga and Willard Khumalo.” He finds solace in having represented Zimbabwe at Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 levels. While his career did not pan out the way he had planned, Nyoni still had some good memories. A winner of such awards as the Most Promising Player (Lancashire Steel) and Most Disciplined Player at both teams, he reminisces playing alongside such household names like Khumalo, John Banda, Tawanda Simango and Ackim Muganyi, after Bennedict Moyo organised the move to the side, having watched Nyoni’s progress through the junior ranks.
He also remembers his stint at another Midlands side Lancashire, particularly bringing down the so-called big teams at their Baghdad fortress.
“I joined Lancashire in 1998. We always aimed at destroying big teams like Highlanders, Caps and Dynamos. No big team won a match at Baghdad Stadium while I was playing for the team. Wearing that famous maroon kit earned me a lot of respect in the Midlands community as I always performed very well every time I put it on.”
Nyoni is nonetheless not lost to football. He runs Spurs FC, a Johannesburg-based social soccer club that consists of former Zimbabwe professional footballers.
“I live, eat and enjoy soccer. Daily after my working hours in the restaurant, I concentrate on the team and addressing their needs. I do not have sufficient money to efficiently run it, but I will always make time for them.”
Post published in: Football