Archford Gutu
| Archford Gutu | |
|---|---|
 Archford Gutu | |
| Born | August 5, 1993 Zimbabwe |
| Residence | Zimbabwe |
| Nationality | Zimbabwean |
| Education | Cranborne Boys High |
| Occupation | Footballer |
| Employer | Dynamos Football Club |
| Known for | Playing for the Zimbabwe National Soccer Team |
Archford Gutu is a Zimbabwean former footballer who played for Kalmar FF in Sweden. Back home, Gutu won the league with Dynamos and CAPS United.
As a talented midfielder, Gutu rose to prominence during his days with Dembare. He has also featured for The Warriors on several occasions.
Background
Archford Gutu was born on 5 August 1993.[1] He grew up at Mbare Matapi Flats Block 5.
Gutu did his primary and secondary education at St. Peter’s Primary School and Cranborne Boys High School, respectively.[2]
Career
Gutu started his football journey at A Team and Sprouting Academy. He disappeared from the football scene after his second stint at Dynamos back in 2019.
He joined Ajax Cape Town in 2009 on a three-year contract but was unable to complete his registration with the South African club after Ajax failed to secure a resident local guardian to help him process his papers as his parents had passed away.[3]
Ajax Cape Town terminated Gutu's contract on 14 September 2010 and did not register him with PSL as he was still a minor.
The club's CEO at the time, George Comitis also said Gutu had become homesick so they decided to terminate his contract.
On his return to Zimbabwe, Gutu joined Dynamos and signed a two-year deal with the club on 25 September 2010.[4]
He made his debut for Dynamos on 4 November, coming on as a substitute in a 1–0 win against Monomotapa United.
On 20 September 2011, Swedish club Kalmar FF confirmed that they had reached a deal with Dynamos for a six-month loan deal starting 1 January 2012.
On 14 March 2012, Kalmar FF announced that they had decided to purchase Gutu on a four-year deal. Gutu is the first Zimbabwean footballer to play in Sweden.
Retirement
Gutu announced his retirement from professional football in May 2023 at the age of 29.
He said an inherited heart problem and injuries sustained in a car accident were the major reason for his retirement from professional football. Gutu said:
I announced my retirement from professional football last week and I’m actually a heartbroken man and I have been for some time now. I stopped because of a family heart-related issue. My mother passed away because of heart problems and I have a heart condition. That's why I stopped football... I also had a car accident when I was driving home alone and the car overturned a couple of years back. I haven’t quite recovered from that.
Events
Gutu played for two of the biggest and rival teams in Zimbabwe Dynamos and CAPS United and won the Premier Soccer League with both clubs. He won the PSL title with Dynamos in 2011 and with CAPS United in 2016.
In 2021 he established the Archford Gutu Football Academy based in Mt Pleasant, Harare.
International Career
Gutu represented Zimbabwe's National Teams at all levels, that is Under-17, Under-20 Under-23 levels and the senior National team.
He captained the Under-17 and Under-20 sides. is currently the youngest Zimbabwean player to ever make their debut for the national team.
He made his debut at the age of 16 years in a 3-0 loss to South Africa on 27 January 2010.[5]
In 2007, Gutu won the COSAFA Cup U17 as captain, and in 2009 he won the COSAFA Cup with the Warriors which Zimbabwe hosted.
Teams Played For
- 2009 - 2010- Ajax Cape Town
- 2011 -Dynamos Football Club
- 2012 - 2014- Kalmar FF
- 2014 - IFK Värnamo.[6]
- 2015 - 2016 -Kalmar FF
- 2016 - CAPS Utd
- 2017 - 2019 -IFK Varnamo
- 2019 - Dynamos Football Club
Picture Gallery
Gutu in Dynamos Colours
Gutu in Sweden
Gutu during a training session
Controversy
Asiagate Scandal
Gutu was one of the players who were implicated in the controversial Asiagate Scandal in 2011. Together with other players accused of match-fixing, Gutu was given a temporary suspension by the Zimbabwe Football Association. They were eventually cleared of any wrong-doing after FIFA had intervened.[7]
Romance with Bev
Gutu was rumoured to have been having an affair with dancer Bev. It was speculated that the pair spent the Christmas holidays together sometime in 2013 with Gutu frequenting Bev's place on several instances. Bev however denied the allegations saying that they were just friends.[8]
Arrested for assaulting Motorist
In April 2016, Gutu and fellow football star, Method Mwanjali, was arrested for assaulting and stabbing a motorist in Harare during road rage fight.
The case against them was that a car they were travelling almost collided with the vehicle of Tonderai Nhunzvi after which the two football players got out and assaulted Nhunzvi.
Mwanjali stabbed Nhunzvi twice in the stomach. Nhunzvi was hospitalised and was said to be out of fatal danger. Mwanjali was charged with attempted Murder. [9]
Fraud Allegations
In 2023 Gutu was reported to the police for fraud after he allegedly duped a guardian of one of the 17 players he took to Dubai.[10]
It was alleged Gutu promised one Nyaradzai Makove a 40 percent share in his AGFA Soccer Academy which promotes talented kids.
The deal entailed that Makove invested US$10 000 into the Academy. She allegedly paid the money in March at an office at Chisipite Shopping Centre.
It was further alleged that after Gutu left for Dubai, Makove failed to locate him and later discovered that he has no soccer academy.
References
- ↑ , ARCHFORD GUTU,Transfer Market, Published: No date given, Retrieved:25 June 2015
- ↑ Munyaradzi Madzokere, Uche hangs boots prematurely, The Standard1, Published: 14 May 2023, Retrieved: 17 May 2023
- ↑ Ernest Fakude, Archieford Gutu back in Zimbabwe, The Standard, Published: 14 September 2010, Retrieved: 17 May 2023
- ↑ Dynamos Bring In Fresh Talent, The Zimbabwean, Published: 25 September 2010, Retrieved: 17 May 2023
- ↑ The Top Ten Youngest Players To Make Their Debut For Zimbabwe Warriors, SOCA263, Published: 10 November 2021, Retrieved: 17 May 2023
- ↑ , Archford Gutu,Eurosport, Published: N date given, Retrieved:25 Jun 2015
- ↑ G. Chingoma, ZIFA Blacklist 80,The Herald, Published:31 Jan 2012, Retrieved:25 Jun 2015
- ↑ H-Metro, Nehanda Radio, Published: January 13, 2013, Retrieved: August 5, 2015
- ↑ Tendai Rupapa, No bail for Mwanjali , The Herald, Published:21 April 2016, Retrieved: 10 April 2016
- ↑ Tadious Manyepo, Murwira settles well at CAPS Utd, The Herald, Published: 18 May 2023, Retrieved: 29 May 2023
