Marshall Munetsi epitomizes the saying that good things comes to those who work hard. The Zimbabwean midfielder has worked his way up from Ubuntu Cape Town, back then campaigning in South Africa's second tier. Subsequent stints at Baroka FC and Orlando Pirates followed, but he didn't stay that long at both sides before a dream move to French Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims landed on his lap. As it is currently, he is coach William Still's preferred enforcer in the centre of the pitch. In this interview with Soccer Laduma's Thomas Kwenaite, the former Buccaneer reveals the proudest moment in his life as a professional when he attended the recent Best FIFA Football Awards in Paris, the best solution when facing Lionel Messi, and the pain of sitting by the wayside while other nations contest the Afcon due to the ban imposed on his native Zimbabwe by FIFA.
Thomas Kwenaite: Marshall, first of all, please tell us about the experience of attending the glittering Best FIFA Football Awards in Paris recently.
Marshall Munetsi: Attending the awards was a privilege and an honour, something special for me personally as any footballer always dreams of being at the biggest football stage and meeting some of the global legends of the game. I really had a good time.
TK: We understand you also sat down with Liverpool and the Netherlands defender Virgil Van Dijk. Is there anything, in particular, that you discussed with him?
MM: Meeting Virgil was amazing and I only spoke to him about my admiration of him as an individual and his game. I also spoke to him about playing for a team that I grew up supporting (Liverpool).
TK: As a member of FIFPRO's (International Federation of Professional Footballers) Global Player Council, what are the duties of your department?
MM: My duty as a member of FIFPRO Global is to speak out on matters that affect players in general and we also discuss how to find solutions to the said problems with the relevant governing authorities going forward.
TK: Do FIFPRO, as an organisation, also discuss the racism prevalent in football across Europe and what can be done to end it?
MM: Yes, there are so many different issues that we are working on and racism certainly forms a huge part of our discussions as we try to find ways and implement certain decisions that have already been taken in some parts of Europe. We also support initiatives like "Let's Kick Out Racism", "End Racism Now" and so on. We also engage FIFA to see how we can, together, find solutions to the scourge.
TK: Senegal national team head coach Aliou Cisse has received a backlash from his home country for voting compatriot and captain Sadio Mane third behind Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi for the Best Men's Player accolade. Do you think the criticism is fair and warranted?
MM: With due respect to Aliou Cisse, and mind you he is an individual I respect for what he has achieved both as a player and a coach… I mean, recently he guided Senegal to the World Cup finals, but I think the coach, for me, got it completely wrong as we have all witnessed the greatness of Sadio Mane and his contribution to the team by scoring the winning goal when Senegal won the Afcon trophy. He was also instrumental in the Lions of Teranga qualifying for the World Cup finals in Qatar. I am left wondering if Senegal, as a country, can't acknowledge Sadio or vote for him for his contribution in lifting the country's flag in the selfless manner that he has done, then who will?
TK: You've faced Lionel Messi several times playing for Stade de Reims. Tell us, how does an opponent plan around someone like the little magician, who is best known for gliding past players with consummate ease?
MM: I think over the years we have seen what Messi is capable of and has achieved. We can all acknowledge and accept that there is simply no concrete plan really regarding how to stop him. However, you can always try as a team to devise a plan to prevent or deny him from getting the ball to his feet, because if he does (get the ball), then chances are that he will cause untold damage.
TK: What about Mbappe, his teammate? Is he as fearsome as we have watched him on TV? After all, you have also physically faced him on the field!
MM: For me personally, I see Mbappe as the next big star after both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He is a fantastically gifted individual and puts in the shift both at training and in a match situation. The way he dribbles with the ball seemingly glued at his feet, his blinding speed and of course his goalscoring abilities makes him, in my book, currently the best player in the world.
TK: Your teammate Folarin Balogun is a lethal finisher. Have you personally contributed to some of the goals he has scored this season?
MM: Balo has really progressed since his arrival and he has been my good friend both on and off the pitch. So, I guess that contributes also in a way when you have a close friendship on and off the pitch. But, truth be told, for someone to score 16 goals in 26 appearances is phenomenal. Balo is a key member of the team and we know his strength and support him to the best of our collective abilities.
TK: Are you happy about your own progress since you moved to Reims from Orlando Pirates?
MM: I have really progressed a lot as a player and as a human being since my arrival here in France from Pirates and that can be seen with the results on the pitch. It has taken a lot of hard work and a lot of listening to the coaches and other experienced players in the team to help with the progression though.
TK: Few people are aware that you only played one full season for the Buccaneers. How did the experience of playing at the Soweto giants assist you in adapting to life in Europe?
MM: I actually played a season-and- a-half at Pirates, and playing for the biggest club in South Africa and probably on the continent really helped me tremendously. When you play for a team like Pirates, you have to give your all in each and every game and that requires a lot of dedication and hard work. I learnt so many things from Pirates and when I came to Europe, the adjustment was not so difficult because the way they do things here is a lot similar to how it was done at Pirates.
TK: How did you attract the attention of Reims after just 18 months at the Houghton-based outfit?
MM: Obviously Pirates is a well-known club here in Europe, so I guess Reims…anyway, from what they told me…were monitoring me and following my progress closely. (I was also told that) they also watched me when playing for my country Zimbabwe, which I believe played a huge part in how I also managed to play against international players even from Europe.
TK: What fondest memories do you have about your time at your last club?
MM: My fondest memory for Pirates was the day I signed with them as that was a dream come true to represent such a big institution.
TK: So now you switch over to France's Ligue 1, a top league as we know. Do you still remember your first match for Reims?
MM: I remember every minute of it as it was a league match against Lille at home on September 1 during 2019. They had in their line-up Nigerian Victor Osimhen, who now plays for Napoli, and it was a closely-fought affair. I came in as a substitute and one of their players, Yusuf Yazici, got sent off. We ended up winning the match 2-0 and I knew my career had reached another level and that there was no longer time to slack but to give 200% every day.
TK: Any significance to the number 15 jersey you wear at your current club?
MM: I actually love the number 8 jersey, but when I signed here, it was already taken, so I had to settle for my second-best number, which is 15, just because it is a number I wore when I was still at high school back in Zimbabwe.
TK: You scored a brilliant goal against Troyes recently. Take us through that strike and what went through your mind before you 'went for the kill'.
MM: As I was saying that it takes a lot of hard work even at training, that goal was something special. Together with the coach (William Still), we have been working and talking a lot during our sessions. It is something that we practise almost daily at training and it makes things simple and comfortable for me when it comes to those scoring situations, like the goal I scored.
TK: We have heard rumours linking you to a possible move to English Championship side Burnley, who look on course for a return to the English Premier League, in the next transfer window. Anything you can tell us about that?
MM: I don't normally listen to a lot of news or rumours that go around as my main objective will be to focus on the job at hand. I believe such rumours might distract your focus and ability to concentrate, so if anything happens or is about to happen, then my management will notify me.
TK: Let's turn our attention to Zimbabwe now. It must be heartbreaking watching other national teams playing Afcon qualifiers knowing your country is suspended by FIFA.
MM: It's one of the saddest things that I have had to endure in my career as playing for my beloved nation brought so much joy to me, my family and all the people of Zimbabwe. The suspension also deprives the young generation of similar opportunities that we, like myself, Tino Kadewere and Marvellous Nakamba, got. I hope the relevant people dealing with the issue can be able to realise that football is more than a game.
TK: Have you, as players, tried to lead with administrators and politicians in the country to work together for the sake of Zimbabwean football?
MM: The process has already been started by FIFPRO, which I believe will enable players to have a sit-down with the authorities to find a solution to this matter. I am hopeful that a solution can be found, especially because Kenya, who were suspended at the same time as Zimbabwe, had their suspension lifted recently. So, we pray that our suspension could also come to an end soon.
TK: Lastly, have you spoken to Khama Billiat lately and encouraged him to keep his head up as his career seems to be affected by never-ending injuries, with his Kaizer Chiefs future also up in the air?
MM: I haven't spoken to Khama in a long time but knowing him as a player and as a person, I know how mentally strong he is and I have no doubt that he is fighting hard and within a short period of time, will definitely come back stronger and show people what is he capable of.
MARSHALL MUNETSI FACT FILE
Full name: Marshall Nyasha Munetsi
Date of birth: 22 June 1996
Place of birth: Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Position: Midfielder
Jersey number: 15
Club: Stade de Reims (France)
Previous clubs: Friendly Academy, Blue Rangers
(both Zimbabwe), Ubuntu Cape Town, Baroka FC, Orlando Pirates
Honours: 2018 Telkom Knockout runner-up (with Pirates), 23 Zimbabwe national team caps
