Within the 2023/24 season, there have been 11 Zimbabwean gamers registered with Premier League groups. Of those 11, just one, Marvelous Nakamba of Luton City, was registered as a first-team participant, with the remainder being part of their membership’s U21 group.
For sure, even traditionally, Zimbabwe hasn’t been a well-represented nation within the English league and their standing as a footballing nation just isn't very glittering with success.
Nonetheless, as was seen by the revolution that somebody like Park Ji-Sung triggered in South Korea, it usually takes solely a participant to interrupt by means of the glass ceiling and persuade youngsters again house that the promised land is certainly doable.
For Zimbabwe, Wolves’ Tawanda Chirewa will be that man. It’s a variety of weight to placed on the shoulders of a 20-year-old with a grand whole of 24 senior Wolves minutes to his title. Nonetheless, typically, the glimpses are all it takes to see that a participant is destined for excellent heights. Chirewa is one such title.
Who's Tawanda Chirewa?
Tawanda Chirewa is a 20-year-old ahead who performs for Wolves. He joined from Ipswich U21s at first of the 2023/24 season on a free switch and has primarily been with the Wolves U21 facet as effectively.
Nonetheless, as he has seemed increasingly more snug at that degree, he has been given a style of senior motion as effectively. His two Premier League appearances have totalled 11 minutes and he has performed 13 minutes in an FA Cup fixture towards archrivals West Brom.
On the U21 degree, Chirewa has scored 4 targets in simply six video games in Premier League 2. The uncooked stats turn into extra unavailable if you realise that Chirewa just isn't an out-and-out striker.
With no consideration-footed ahead, he's a dynamic and versatile participant who has been deployed all throughout the entrance line in addition to behind the striker in a No 10 position. Nonetheless, like most of academy attackers in the present day, he isn't a quintessential inside ahead who is available in off the left flank on his stronger proper foot.
Chirewa’s recreation may be very unpredictable, as we talk about under.
Enjoying fashion
In his profession, it may be mentioned that Chirewa has maybe suffered from being too versatile. He can begin on the proper, beat his man on the surface after which in the reduction of or cross for his teammate. He may also come off the left to turn into a extra goalscoring risk as an inside ahead, whereas he additionally has the shut management and agility to get himself out of tight areas as a No 10.
In consequence, he hasn’t been in a position to nail down a single place for himself. Whereas that has helped him to get extra minutes and managers at all times respect a utility participant, this shifting hasn’t allowed him to develop one ability to a excessive degree, as an alternative has a wide range of abilities at a serviceable degree.
Chirewa’s largest power is his dribbling and tempo, which makes it possible that his long-term future shall be on the wings. Standing at 5’11” with a deceptively robust bodily recreation, Chirewa can provide his fullback nightmares together with his capability to dribble previous his marker.
He combines these uncooked instruments with the intangible of getting excessive confidence in himself. Chirewa can usually be seen taking penalties for his group and has spoken about not being afraid of that strain however relishing it as an alternative.
His fashion of play has rapidly allowed him to turn into a fan favorite of the hardcore followers who observe the groups U21s. If he retains it going with the step as much as the senior degree, one would presume that followers of the senior group will be a part of that bandwagon too.
However, how far-off is that breakthrough?
Future at Wolves
One factor that's working in Chirewa’s favour is that Wolves lastly appear like a settled Premier League group underneath Gary O’Neil. A group that isn't combating for its life within the league is of course extra more likely to experiment and discover gems for the long run than the one whose speedy focus is three factors within the subsequent recreation.
It has transpired that approach too, with Gary O’Neil giving loads of possibilities to kids, particularly in cup fixtures. By way of Chirewa’s senior group prospects, it's unlikely that he'll turn into a daily member this season.
In Matheus Cunha, Pablo Sarabia, and Pedro Neto, Wolves have a core of experiences worldwide who've all sealed their place within the first XI when they're match. In Enso Gonzalez and Nathan Fraser, they've a few kids who deputise for his or her senior counterparts within the odd recreation.
Tawanda Chirewa must power his approach into that image with a robust pre-season at first of the 2024/25 season. Nathan Fraser did the identical and with the potential of Neto outgrowing the group sooner or later, there's a place to be received on the wings if Chirewa can put his head down and take advantage of no matter minutes he will get.
It's straightforward to imagine that he would possible already be coaching with the primary group, giving the supervisor a glimpse of what he can provide. Now comes the onerous a part of separating himself from the pack.
Chirewa has already began separating himself from the pack because the hopeful main gentle of a brand new era of Zimbabweans for whom Premier League has by no means seemed nearer. Making that leap to the promised land and provoking a era behind him again in his homeland is the following step.
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