Munashe Garananga Making Strides In Europe
At only 22-years of age Munashe Garananga has already featured in four champions league matches, four Europa league, four Conference league matches and has played for two European premier clubs up to date.
It is usually not surprising for young lads who grew up in Europe to find themselves in top leagues of that continent, but for Garananga who began his career in Zimbabwe at Prince Edward Academy before moving to South Africa in 2017 to join Ubuntu Cape Town, it is a huge step forward for the young defender who has now settled well in Europe. It takes a special player to do that and the former Zimbabwe under-23 center back is special.
The talented defender who is also a natural defensive midfielder, was destined for great things. Soon after his arrival at Ubuntu Cape Town in 2017, Garananga won the Engen defender & player of the tournament simultaneously after some eye catching display in the 2019 competition which was won by Ubuntu.
In 2022, he became the first player from Ubuntu Academy to move to Europe after signing for Belarusian side Dinamo Brest, where he played as a starter throughout the season, making 28 appearances, scoring two goals in the process and helping the team which was fighting relegation to maintain their top status.
On February 13, 2023, the Zimbabwean defender was scooped by the Moldovan top side Sheriff Tiraspol, where he has already won the league and the FA cup in his first season with the club.
In European football adventure with Sheriff Tiraspol, the Zimbabwean has won matches against Farul Constanta (Romania), Macabi Haifa (Israel), BATE Borisov (Belarus), Klaksvik (Faroe Islands), Nice (France) and Partizan Belgrade (Serbia).
They have now qualified for the UEFA Europa league group stages where they have been drawn to play against AS Roma (Italy), Slavia (Czech Republic), Cervett (Switzerland) in Group G of the competition which starts from 21 September to the 14th of December 2023.
Garananga is still one of the few players to play in Europe’s inter club competitions having started his career in Zimbabwe. Bruce Grobelaar, Norman Mapeza, Costa Nhamoinesu, Benjani Mwaruwari, Marvelous Nakamba and Tinotenda Kadewere are some of the few locally groomed players to have played in prestigious European inter-club competitions.
