Douglas Mapfumo : Zim Player To Watch In The Dstv Premiership
As the number of Zimbabwean players in the South African Dstv Premiership keeps dwindling, the rising of Douglas Mapfumo at Polokwane City is something that is so refreshing to the eyes of most Zimbabwe football lovers.
The 23-year-old former Cape Town City and Legends Academy graduate who joined Polokwane City in July 2023 after a season long at NFD side Black Leopards last season, has began his season – back in the Dstv premiership on a positive note as he quickly established himself as an important attacking option for the Limpopo based side.
The bustling striker who Cape Town City chairperson John Commitis likened to Chelsea and Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku because of his ability to twist and turn with the ball at his feet, and to then strike it with either one – has already scored a goal plus assist in his first three league matches of the season so far -giving him a total of two goals contribution in three matches.
His goal plus assist came in Polokwane City’s 3-1 win over Cape Town Spurs last Saturday in a league encounter.
The Zimbabwean striker first assisted in the 15th minutes as Oswin Appolis opened the scores to lead 1-0 before heading home his first goal of the season in the 60th minutes to double the scores for City.
Appolis then strike the team’s third goal in the 78th minutes with Khaya Mfecane sealing the scores in the 80th minute after scoring a consolation goal for Spurs to finish the match on 3-1 and give City their second consecutive league win in three matches.
Mapfumo who like Knowledge Musona followed an unorthodox way to the South African premier league- having came straight from the academy to find his way in the country’s top flight league, arrived in 2020 and had a brief stinct at Bidvest Wits under Gavin Hunt before he was signed by the Citizens at the beginning of 2021 season and was sent to NFD side Cape Umoya on loan to get more experience.
The former Legends Academy graduate had quite a shaky start to the South African Premiership as he struggled to pin a regular place in the team. On his return to Cape Town City in 2022, Mapfumo was again sent out on loan this time at Cape Town All Stars .
He was officially released by City in January this year before joining NFD side Black Leopards coached by Zimbabwean coach Rodwell Dhlakama.
The striker seems to have find himself now at Polokwane City and could be Zimbabwe’s main attraction in the Dstv premiership that has now left with only a few players from the north of Limpopo.
From having nearly 30 players in the SA top flight league in 2017/18 season, the number has dropped down to only nine players remaining in the Dstv premiership this season as most players shun the league due to its decline in competition.
George Chigova, Washington Arubi, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Terrence Dzvukamanja, Knox Mutizwa, Douglas Mapfumo, Divine Lunga and Onismor Bhasera are the only players remain in the Dstv premiership.
