Milton Ncube relocates to UK

FORMER Highlanders utility player, Milton Ncube says he is still part of the game despite dumping the local Premiership to join his family in the United Kingdom.

 Ncube terminated his contract with Harare City last month in order to move to UK with reports indicating that he had quit the game, but he revealed he was very much into football. He said the economic situation in the country forced him to bring closer his move to join his family in the UK.

Ncube said football will always be a part of his life and will be moving to coaching or administration in the near future adding currently he is still looking for a team to play for.

"Well, with the current economic situation back home it was a no brainer. My wife was already working in the UK so I just decided it was time for me to relocate and join her. I'm still involved in football and looking for a club to join at the moment. I haven't quit football yet like some have said, football will always be a part of me even when I retire. I haven't decided yet which role I will take when I hang up my boots but I'm definitely going to be involved be it administration or coaching," he said.

Ncube revealed he is still finalising his papers and is yet to secure any form of employment but is eager to ensure it is something related to the sport. Ncube started his career at Luveve with FC Windermere. He also had a stint with Zimbabwe Saints and moved to Shooting Stars in Harare in 2008 to have a taste of Premiership football, before moving to Motor Action two years later. After  two years with Motor Action, during which he won the Premier Soccer League championship title, he signed for Highlanders, where he says he had the greatest moments in his football career.

He revealed despite winning the Premier Soccer League championship, he believes his greatest time during his playing days locally was at Highlanders.

"I just felt at home when I played for Highlanders. The chemistry among that group was unbelievable, which I think is very important for every team which ever sport you play. I always dreamt of scoring goals in front of huge crowds and there is no better stadium to do that than Barbourfields. Yes, I won the league with Motor Action but I wouldn't say that was the greatest moment of my career. It's one of my biggest achievements but not the greatest moment," he said.

Ncube's move to Highlanders coincided with the coming in of Zambian coach, Kelvin Kaindu along with several other players that included Mthulisi Maphosa, Heritein Masuku, Bhekimbilo Ncube, Dumisani Ndlovu, Munyaradzi Diya (goalkeeper) and midfielder, Peter "Rio" Moyo. Other players who were with the side are Arial Sibanda, Lawson Nkomo, Innocent Mapuranga, Bruce Tshuma, Tendai Ndlovu and Honest Moyo, along with Knox Mutizwa, Simon Munawa, Bruce Kangwa, Milton Ncube, Eric Mudzingwa and Ozias Zibande.

He said they were unfortunate during his spell at the club not to clinch the championship as in the two consecutive years he was at the club they finished with the same number of points with Dynamos who went on to be crowned champions due to a superior goal difference. In 2014 he got a breakthrough and was snapped up by South Africa's Ajax Cape Town after featuring for the national team at the 2014 African Nations Championships.

Unfortunately he was dogged by injuries at the club and got little game time leading to his decision to return home two years later. He returned and joined  How Mine FC in the middle of the 2016 season before trekking to Caps United at the beginning of last year. He had since shifted to Harare City at the start of the 2019 season before terminating his contract last month to move abroad.