Dumisani Mpofu
Player Profile
But now strikers get the shivers at the mere mention of his name. Tony Yeboah and Nwako Kanu could tell you a lot about him.
Dumisani Mpofu affectionately known as "Commando" among CAPS United fans, is a tough-tackling defender. His big mascular body would qualify him as an amateur wrestler.
Yet a few years ago, the Zimbabwe and CAPS United defender never dreamt he would become one of the country's top footballers. It is thanks largely to his late father, Felix Mpofu, who urged him to quit athletics for soccer. Dumisani's name is now a household name in soccer circles.
"My first love was athletics", he says. "I was an excellent long-distance runner at school. But dad didn't like that. Because he was a footballer, he always told me soccer was more fun and more challenging than athletics. Now I know he was right, and I don't regret following his advice."
Born on 12 December 1973 and raised in the small Midlands city of Kwekwe, in the dusty suburb of Amaveni, Dumisani's rise to soccer stardom has been so rapid that some critics are wondering what the future holds for him. Where does he go from here - up or down?
"Up! I'm not going down. No! South Africa is where I will go from here."
From virtually nowhere, Dumisani has become one of the country's top defenders. Serious football for him started when he joined John Nyamasoka's Rufaro Rovers, playing in the Premier League in 1992. He was then playing at centre-half before joining Darryn T Football Club where he played the last game of the 1992 season.
When Darryn T was banned, Dumi joined Blackpool in 1994. It was then that he attracted the attention of the national under-23 selectors. He played for the Zimbabwe under-23s during the sixth All-Africa Games in 1995.
Avenues to the senior national team started opening up when he played in a friendly against Ghana at Rufaro Stadium that same year.
"I marked Tony Yeboah out of the game," he says proudly. "It was the game of my life. I had to prove that I could do the job."
Another friendly followed, this time against Gabon. And before you could say Goal! Dumi was in football to stay.
In March 1995, he played for the under-23 against Nigeria in both legs of the Olympic qualifiers.
Ironically, as a young lad at Glen View One and Kuwadzana primary schools, Dumisani says he did not play in the first teams.In secondary school, he terrorised goalkeepers with his thunderous shots. However, he admits he didn't like the striking role "because I am not that stylish and also because there was too much pressure for me."
He says: "It's easier to defend than to strike, as long as you know how to mark your man."
Born the second in a family of seven children he is the only one who plays soccer. Dumi worked as a forklift driver at Aluminium in Kwekwe. His father, a footballer in his own right, once played for Aluminium Tigers too.
Name : Dumisani Mpofu Nicknames : Munhu or Commando Date of Birth : 12 December 1973 Place of birth : Amaveni, Kwekwe, Zimbabwe. Marital Status : No comment. Club : CAPS United "Makepekepe". Former clubs : Aluminium Tigers 19?? to 19?? Rufaro Rovers 19?? to 19?? Darryn T Football Club 19?? to 19?? Blackpool Football Club 1994 to 19?? Position : Central Defender Favourite Teammate : Edelbert Dinha Favourite Local Players : Adam "Adamski" "Bayethe" Ndlovu Vusumuzi "Vusi" Laher Most Difficult Oponent : Tauya "Flying Doctor" Murehwa of Dynamos Favourite local team : Dynamos Favourite foreign player : Mark Fish & Shoes Moshoau of South Africa Ambition : To play in Europe Dislikes : Strikers who use dirty tricks Favourite food & drink : Rice and Fanta Clothes : Sportswear Car : Nissan Sunny Hobbies : Watching basketball Most Memorable Match : Zimbabwe Under-23 vs Nigeria, Olympic qualifiers 1995
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