If It Was Not Football l Would Have Become A Professional Cook-Mutero

By Branton Matondo

He is tall, gangling, composed, no nonsense defender, talented, a Caps United child, a national cap holder, and boasts of local, regional and international experience. Yes, it’s Charles Mutero.

If you are a stern football lover the name Charles Mutero is not new to you.

It rings a plethora of bells as you mention an avid Green machine son who rose through humble ranks at developmental football to land a hard earned national cap in 2013.

His professional career initially took shape at Caps United in the early 2000’s, a club that laid the bedrock for his career.

“I started my career at Caps United in 2000 at a very young age, 9 years to be exact. After years of grassroots football at one of the biggest and prestigious clubs in Zimbabwe l can say that football has become ultimate source of inspiration both financially and emotionally,” said Mutero.

In the minds of some football fanatics across Mutero is an underrated players to ever come from Zimbabwe.

His footballing stature as a defender and prowess outside Zimbabwe has gone a long way in enhancing his name and to the teams he has pitted for.

They say football is a passion, a very strict passion in that manner but without the beautiful game Mutero would have become a typical Gordon Ramsey of our generation.

“This talent, the talent of football is God given because the amount of passion you start with should guide you to become the best of yourself. As for me, if it wasn’t football I would have gone full swing into catering, that is becoming a professional cook.”

The much waited breakthrough came when he was loaned from Caps United to former PSL side Shooting Stars.

It was at Shooting Stars where the Harare based defender displayed good football at the same time scoring 6 goals.

In 2012 Mutero joined Motor Action and then went on to ply his trade with the game cocks Chicken Inn, that was 2014 helping them to gain promotion in the PSL.

A well appreciated perfomance at Chicken Inn saw Mutero going back to his home, Caps United where he played in 2016 season.

“In 2017 l played for Mochudi Center Chiefs, a big team in South Africa. It was a great experience altogether. In 2018 l then played for Mbambani Swallows in Swaziland PSL and then returned back to Mochudi Center Chiefs in 2019,” added Mutero.

One of the most memorable moments for Mutero is featuring in the national team. In his own words it was an honor and a great moment in his career.

“I played for Under 23 national team, by that time it was coached by Norman Mapeza and the late Friday Amayenge Phiri. That was my first time to wear the yellow and green jersey. In 2012 I played all Olympics qualification games. 2013 was a big year for me, l was called to represent Zimbabwe in the senior national team and by that time the coach was Valinhos.”

Though he is already in his 30’s Mutero is still pushing to become a better version of himself.

His tenure at Yadah and Telone (2020-2022) and his current career path at division one side ZPC Munyati shows that he still has a lot to offer.

Quizzed on what he thinks should be done to develop the local football fraternity Mutero said there is need to put proper structures and give football player’s the respect they deserve.

“There is need to put structures from grassroots to senior teams. I have played outside Zimbabwe and you can easily see that football in places like Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland is improving daily. If you take a football player from Zimbabwe and a player from within the region you can easily see that there is a big difference. This is a career driven profession and football bodies and clubs should respect player’s.”