Rising Zimbabwean winger Cobert Junior Chimedza delivered a standout performance on Sunday, inspiring his side, AC Marinhense, to the second round of the Taça de Portugal, the country’s premier knockout tournament.
The 20-year-old Chimedza, who is on loan from Portuguese top-flight side Gil Vicente, was instrumental in Marinhense’s hard-fought 3-0 penalty shootout victory over GD Samora.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Chimedza’s trickery and pace gave a torrid time to opposition defenders, as the youngster created numerous goal-scoring opportunities for his side.
The move to Marinhense has proved to be a step in the right direction for Chimedza, as game time is coming in handy for the bustling forward, who once trained with the Warriors in 2021 and got rare reviews from then captain Knowledge Musona and his deputy Ovidy Karuru.
Chimedza’s journey to Portugal has been nothing short of historic. He is the first Zimbabwean to sign with a Portuguese league club since the late Freddy Mkwesha, who played for Sporting de Braga in the 1960s.
Born in Harare, Chimedza moved to London at age 14, where he was discovered by English club MK Dons. His career path, which included a near-move to Turkish side Adana Demirspor in 2023, highlights his determination and resilience.
At AC Marinhense, Chimedza joins Botswana international goalkeeper Jovan Nikolić, who also played a crucial role in the victory.
The club’s success in the cup bodes well for their season, and fans are hopeful that Chimedza’s loan spell will continue to be fruitful for both the player and the team.
