To all the youths out there, never look down on your dreams, and never back down from them. I grew up in the countryside of Zimbabwe, herding cattle and with no idea that professional soccer even existed. My only knowledge of football was kicking around a homemade ball made from plastic bags while keeping an eye on the livestock. With no television set, watching live football games was just a dream. But that didn’t stop us. We made our own fun, playing with our makeshift balls towards sunset after a day of herding cattle. We found joy in what we had.

 

Later, I moved to Chitungwiza, one of the largest ghettos in Zimbabwe, and suddenly, my world changed. Life was different in every way—especially when it came to football. Now, real soccer balls were available at school, and more youths were playing in the streets. For the first time, I experienced what it was like to play with a real ball and in front of a crowd, even if it was just classmates and neighbors. Though we could now watch games on TV, I was never much interested in watching. For me, the streets were my stadium, and playing with my friends was more thrilling than anything on a screen.

 

In 2004, at the age of 18, I signed with my first Premier League team, AmaZulu FC, marking the start of my professional journey. But even then, football wasn’t my priority—school was. I moved on to Masvingo United, where I spent two seasons before a Polish scout discovered me. He brought me to Poland, but not to the top leagues as I had imagined. Instead, I found myself playing in the 7th division, one of the lowest levels in the Polish league system. It wasn’t what I expected, but I didn’t let it discourage me. I fought my way up from there, and in 2008, I signed with Zaglebie Lubin, a team in Poland’s 1st division. That same year, we achieved promotion to the Ekstraklasa, Poland’s highest soccer league—a huge achievement. I worked hard to cement my place as a regular starter and spent five amazing seasons playing in the Ekstraklasa with Zaglebie Lubin.

 

Then came another chapter in my journey: moving to the Czech Republic. There, I joined AC Sparta Praha, and my career reached new heights. I won my first domestic league title, the league cup, and the super cup all in the 2013/2014 season. I was even voted the best foreign player of the season. Competing in the UEFA Europa League and reaching the quarter-finals in the 2015/2016 season with AC Sparta Praha was an unforgettable experience. Every season with Sparta Praha was about striving for the title and playing in Europe. It pushed me to become a better player and person. I wasn’t the most talented or the most skillful youth out there. What I had was an opportunity—and I was determined to fight for it.

 

To the youths out there, especially those from places like where I grew up, remember this: It doesn’t matter where you come from, what you have, or what you don’t have. What matters most is what you believe in and how hard you’re willing to fight for it. Inner strength is the foundation of a successful journey. The right attitude, focus, and discipline can open doors you never thought possible.

Keep dreaming big. Fight for those dreams. Never give up. 

 

Sincerely,

Costa Nhamoinesu