Panashe Madanha has made history in the Isuzu UTE A-League and is flying the flag for his family back home in Zimbabwe. KEEPUP’s Sacha Pisani charts the rise of another Adelaide United youngster.
It’s little wonder Adelaide United teenager Panashe Madanha idolises Bayern Munich sensation Alphonso Davies, when you consider the similarities between the pair.
Both were born in Africa. Both relocated to different continents, albeit in varying circumstances but with their families sharing a common goal – the pursuit of a better life.
Born in Zimbabwe, Australia was the location for a four-year-old Madanha, whose father received a job opportunity Down Under. Davies, meanwhile, was born in a refugee camp in Ghana after his Liberian parents fled during the Second Liberian Civil War, and they eventually immigrated to Canada in 2005.
BUY TICKETS TO THE SEMI FINAL SECOND LEG BETWEEN CENTRAL COAST & ADELAIDE
BUY TICKETS TO THE SEMI FINAL SECOND LEG BETWEEN CENTRAL COAST & ADELAIDE
Both are also attackers by nature, but operating as wing-backs for their clubs.
The latter’s career path – from refugee to UEFA Champions League winner and Bundesliga victor to FIFA Men’s World Cup participant – continues to be a source of inspiration for Adelaide’s 18-year-old talent.
“100%. The way he grew up (inspires me),” Madanha told KEEPUP heading into Saturday night’s Semi Final second leg against Central Coast Mariners. “He grew up in not the best setting but he managed to find an opportunity in Canada.
“Played in school level there, then got a chance in MLS. He just kept on working hard. Players like him just show you that if you continue to keep your head down and work hard, chances will come.
“Now he is playing for Bayern Munich. Similar position to me, similar story to me. He started as an attacker and Bayern using him more as a wing-back.”
He continued: “It’s been an interesting year because I’ve been an attacker for most of my career. But, since I’ve come into the Adelaide United first team, I’ve been playing that wing-back position.
“When I was younger, I used to look up to Kylian Mbappe. A very quick player, a lot of speed. My main attribute is my speed too. But lately, I’ve been watching more football at the highest level and looking at players like Kyle Walker, Reece James, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alphonso Davies.
“These top, world-class full-backs who are also good at getting forward and using their speed to help their team.”
BUY TICKETS TO THE SEMI FINAL SECOND LEG BETWEEN CENTRAL COAST & ADELAIDE
BUY TICKETS TO THE SEMI FINAL SECOND LEG BETWEEN CENTRAL COAST & ADELAIDE
Madanha stands alone as the only ever Zimbabwe-born player to feature in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
After making his professional bow in an Australia Cup match July last year, he stepped out for his A-League Men debut against Newcastle Jets in December.
It is a flag he continues to fly high.
Madanha, who featured in the 2-1 first-leg loss at home to the Mariners, said: “It makes me feel very proud. It’s a real privilege.
“It means I’m an inspiration to people overseas who watch football.”
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Madanha may now call Australia home, but he remains connected to his Zimbabwean and African roots.
His family back in Zimbabwe – currently 126th in the FIFA men’s rankings – regularly watch his matches for Adelaide. In fact, his grandmother made the trip to Australia to attend last week’s Coopers Stadium showdown – the first time she had seen him play live.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t get the result but she was just happy that I got a few minutes and she got to see me play live,” said Madanha, who returned to Zimbabwe prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“They (family) watch as much as possible. They watch the games on KEEPUP YouTube. They always ask for jerseys. It’s a really big support. It means a lot that your family supports you overseas and looks up to you.”
His heart, though, is with Australia and the Young Socceroos. He was part of the team that reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 AFC Under-20 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan.
Would he be open to representing Zimbabwe?
“It doesn’t really cross my mind too much. It would be an honour to represent the country where you’re from,” admitted Madanha, who split his energy between cricket and football in the summer and winter months after first arriving in Australia.
“But obviously with the Australian football system, it’s looking really good and strong. You seen Australia at the World Cup. The A-Leagues is getting a lot more attention these days and the standard has gone up.
“I’m just doing what I can at my club. If a chance comes to represent, it comes. Then it will be a decision I’ll have to make.”
Regardless, Madanha is at the heart of a strong African-Australian contingent in Adelaide, alongside past and present youngsters like Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure and Yaya Dukuly – who both now play for Stade de Reims in France – Al-Hassan Toure (now playing for Macarthur FC), Musa Toure and Kusini Yengi (now at Western Sydney Wanderers).
“It’s a really big privilege because there’s a lot of young African-Australian footballers who want to achieve the same things we’ve achieved.
“To be an inspiration to them, to give them motivation… it’s good to be someone people look up to. It’s really special.”
And some of those players are coming together for the African All Stars Cup – a charity match in Adelaide next month.
“Some of the boys are trying to get over,” Madanha, who has big dreams of playing abroad, said. “(It’s) a charity game to promote football in the local area. Get kids down to meet some of us. To engage the community and inspire kids.”
