NEWLY crowned Soccer Star of the Year Joel ‘Josta’ Ngodzo says Caps United gave him the love that he was starved off at his boyhood club Highlanders.
Ngodzo was deemed overweight and undisciplined at Highlanders in 2015 and was jettisoned out by then coach Bongani Mafu before Caps United took him on board.
“Bongani Mafu didn’t like me, I was said to be overweight but this is the same weight I am playing with at Caps United,” Ngodzo said.
“Mark Harrison welcomed me and put me through a rehabilitation and training program until I regained my confidence. Lloyd Chitembwe came in and did a lot, telling me that I will be back at the top again. He said I am the engine room of the team. So I would say, Caps United is my home more than Highlanders. I feel more loved here than Highlanders.”
After rejoining Highlanders from FC Platinum, Ngodzo along with Charles Sibanda earned the moniker of ‘bad boys of the team’ – a term which gained traction after they drank on the team bus coming from an away match in Mutare.
In 2014 he was arrested by police at Hartsfield Stadium for driving without a licence. His rough patches at Highlanders also included reports of scuffles with fans and police.
Ngodzo, however, put those dark chapters behind him by putting up a stellar performance in 2019 in which he was voted the best player on the domestic league ahead of Ralph Kawondera of Triangle United who was voted first runner-up while Prince Dube of Highlanders Football Club who landed the second runner-up award
