Master of all seasons
He is a footballers’ footballer. A coaches’ player. Not one for the fans. Not one for the press.
He is among those players with a rare temperament and efficiency. He is the sort of a player appreciated best by his absence and not his presence. When on the pitch, he is too technical for an ordinary football eye.
Every functional team needs a Heston Munthali upfront. It needs a centre forward who seems useless with the ball but dangerous without it owing to their ability to, like ghosts at dawn, appear from nowhere on the blind side to do the damage.
His instincts in the box are second to none in the Super League. His staying power is a model for aspiring professionals.
He was, a few years ago, Escom United’s undoubted leading scorer. But with the arrival of young players Victor Nyirenda, Peter Wadabwa and Chiukepo Msowoya, Heston was dragged to the periphery.
Loaned to Escom Hydro a few years ago, Heston used his time with the lower leaguers to emerge as Presidential Cup top scorer with nine goals. Escom were chewing the humble pie.
Embarrassed, Escom were forced to recall him, only to dump him again last season even though he was the Electricians’ top scorer for the 2011/12 season. Now Escom are demanding his return in the event that Bullets do not pay his transfer fees.
In a Presidential Cup semi-final meeting between Bullets and Escom United last month at the Kamuzu Stadium, Heston took time to give his former employers a bitter taste of their own medicine.
Escom played and played. They dominated and dominated. Yet lurking forgotten in the box, Heston stretched his weaker left leg, mishit the ball while landing, only for it to agonizingly roll into the net.
When Escom sent him to ‘Guantanamo Bay’ in 2008, it was not that he had stopped delivering the goods but such is the naivety of our football coaches that they can sometimes discard veteran players using [old] age as the only variable.
That Heston never rushed to the media, that he kept his cool and frustrations to himself explains what a positive influence Escom lost and what Bullets have gained.
It might be a short term gain but it is so huge the empire of Bullets is back on its feet. Again Bullets fans talk more about Gabadinho Mhango but football people know better the man who is walking the youngster to perfection, Heston.
A man of sober habits, his national team career record stands at 10 games, five starts and three goals. He has won any domestic silverware save for the TNM Super League and claimed the Golden Boot Award twice.
Not bad for a forward who at his peak had to compete for honours with the likes of Bob and Albert Mpinganjira, Andrew Chikhosi, Aggrey Kanyenda, Muzipasi Mwangonde, Ganizani Malunga, Steve Bakali, Jones Nkhwazi, Esau Kanyenda and Dan Chitsulo. And most of his competitors are long gone.
The 29-year-old’s club career started at Conforzi FC in Thyolo, MDC United, ASP 2000 of Mauritius then Denmark, Escom and now Bullets.
Some 13 year after making his Super League debut it is so amazing that he has not lost his shape, his zeal and his desire to succeed.
He remains ever green. He keeps free from injuries. Cheating injuries is an art that needs a typical striker’s intelligence.
Heston has that football brain. One can only hope the young generation of strikers will learn from the ever green master of all seasons.
