Sports Correspondent

Cobert Chimedza Junior, a talented 20-year-old Zimbabwean footballer, has secured a multi-year deal with Gil Vicente, a prominent Portuguese top-flight club. This milestone marks a significant achievement for Chimedza, who was born in Harare and relocated to the United Kingdom at the age of 14.

Chimedza’s impressive skills were showcased during his tenure with MK Dons, where he scored an impressive 18 goals in just 15 appearances in the English League 2. His potential was recognized by the Warriors’ coaching staff in 2021, and he even trained with the team during the Zdravko Logarusic era.

Knowledge Musona and Ovidy Karuru, then captain and vice-captain of the Warriors, acknowledged Chimedza’s exceptional talent, labeling him as “one for the future.” Chimedza’s accomplishment is historic, as he becomes the first Zimbabwean player to join a Portuguese top-flight club since the country gained independence. He follows in the footsteps of the late Freddy Mukwesha, who played for Sporting Braga in 1960.

Previously, Chimedza was on the verge of joining Turkish side Adana Demirspor in 2023, but the deal fell through due to the sudden departure of head coach Patrick Kluivert. Gil Vicente, led by coach César Peixoto, currently sits 14th in the league table with 26 points from 27 matches.