Two years ago, Tymon Machope was not even a professional footballer. He toiled at Morrison Farm in Rusape, working hard in the tobacco fields.
Because of his age, Tymon Machope encountered discouragement from many around him, even though he knew he had the aptitude and love for football. Many thought he was too late to become a professional football player at the age of 28.
At first, Machope kind of believed them, but he kept playing football because it was in his blood.
Two years later, by some miracle of fate, Machope will play for Zimbabwe in the FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament. The Warriors will play South Africa and Lesotho in Group C next week to begin their resumption of efforts to earn a spot in the world tournament, which is slated for 2026.
Machope, who was included in the team named by acting head coach Jairos Tapera, is still pinching himself to be sure he’s not dreaming.
“When the official Warriors squad list was released by ZIFA, I was in the Central Business District with my friends. I could not believe my eyes when I saw my name on it. I was ecstatic,” recalls Machope.
“I was happy but not convinced it was true because there were many fake lists circulating on social media. I assumed it was probably one of them.
“When I then got a call from the ZIFA officials asking if I had a passport, that’s when I realized it was true. My biggest dream has come true,” said an elated Machope.
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The soft-spoken striker had a difficult road. He overcome many challenges, such as uncertainty, a lack of possibilities, financial assistance, and living in underprivileged areas of the nation that football scouts hardly ever visit.
“My father was a soldier, so life was easier when I was growing up. After he retired, we relocated to Mutorashanga, which is when everything changed, he recalls.
Most ambitious football players would be at academies or trying their luck with Premier League or Division One clubs’ development teams by the time they were eighteen. But Machope was just having fun with the game as he drove from farm to farm in Mutorashanga.
“I would walk long distances from farm to farm in the Mutorashanga area just to play football. People in the area knew I was good, so they invited me to participate in social tournaments,” recalls Machope.
“When I was 19, I moved to Rusape to work on a farm. I worked at Morrison Farm and played social football during my spare time. The work at the farm was tough, consuming most of my time. One day, we pruned tobacco leaves on a field of nearly 50 hectares with just 30 of us.
“That day was a turning point. I quit the job and relocated to Harare in search of greener pastures,” Machope said.
