SuperSport United striker hoping to emulate idol Knowledge Musona

Mangezi, still only 19, made his debut in the Tshwane derby against Betway Premiership reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns.

The teenager hopes it was the start of a long successful career in SA.

"So, Musona started and of course there's Terence [Dzvukamanja], there's Khama Billiat, there's Ndoro [Tendai], there's lots of guys but when we grew up, we always knew Musona because he was more popular,” Mangezi said.

“So, from Zim watching Musona, watching him scoring, he was my idol. So, you'll hear me saying I want to be like Musona one day or even better than him, so Musona was my idol."

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Mangezi is happy to carry the baton passed onto him, but doesn’t want to put himself under immediate pressure.

"Yeah, of course, I'm still young, I'm still learning a lot, so of course my expectations are to make Zimbabwe proud of me. To represent my country well here. A lot of Zimbabwean strikers have made it here in South Africa, it's not like its pressure but I have to enjoy playing here, do whatever I have to do. Do whatever the coaches tell me to do because I'm happy to be here so I have to maybe carry on with what they left," he added.

The striker also wants to impress the Zimbabwe national team selectors after FIFA lifted their ban to return for AFCON and FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

"That's true but before I had to do something to make them believe who I am. To make them know Nokutenda Mangezi more, I have to score goals, I have to play better so they can recognise me."