Darlington Murasiranwa

Darlington Murasiranwa
Darlington Murasiranwa is running and preparing to kick a ball
Murasiranwa in 2022 with FC Edmonton
Personal information
Full name Darlington Ngonidzashe Murasiranwa
Date of birth (2001-02-07) February 7, 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Zimbabwe
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Valour FC
Number 1
Youth career
Cape Town Barca Juniors
2014–2016 FC Edmonton
2016–2018 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2018–2019 FC Edmonton
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 Guelph Gryphons 3 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 FC Edmonton 13 (0)
2023 FC London 16 (0)
2023– Valour FC 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 20, 2024

Darlington Ngonidzashe Murasiranwa (born February 7, 2001) is a Zimbabwean professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Canadian Premier League club Valour.

Early life

Murasiranwa was born in Zimbabwe, later moving to South Africa where he began playing football in Cape Town with Barca Juniors at age 9.[1][2] When he was 13, he moved to Edmonton, Canada, re-uniting with his parents (including meeting his father for the first time), who had moved to North America, when Darlington was an infant in search of a better life for the family due to the economic hardships in their homeland, leaving him with his grandparents.[3][4] In Edmonton, he joined the FC Edmonton academy.[3] He joined the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy at U16 level,[5] before returning to the FC Edmonton academy.[2]

University career

In 2019, he began attending the University of Guelph, playing for the men's soccer team.[6] He kept clean sheets in his first two starts.[7] Ahead of the 2021 season, he announced he was transferring to MacEwan University where he would play for the MacEwan Griffins.[8] However, he ultimately turned pro instead a couple of months later.

Club career

Murasiranwa signed with Canadian Premier League side FC Edmonton on February 5, 2021.[9] He made his debut for Edmonton on August 15 in a Canadian Championship match against Cavalry FC.[10] He made six appearances in his first season, keeping a clean sheet in the 1–0 victory in the final game of the season against Forge FC.[11] In February 2022, Edmonton announced that Murasiranwa would be returning to the team for the 2022 season.[12] Following the 2022 season, Murasiranza trained with English non-league side Shepshed Dynamo.[13]

After FC Edmonton folded following the 2022 season,[14] he joined FC London in League1 Ontario in March 2023.[15] Over the course of the season, he made sixteen appearances for the club.[16]

In August 2023, after the League1 Ontario season, he returned to the Canadian Premier League, signing a contract with Valour FC for the remainder of the season, with a club option for 2024.[17][18]

International career

Murasiranwa has participated in camps at the U15 and U17 level for Canada.[1]

Career statistics

As of October 20, 2024[19]
Club League Season League Playoffs National Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
FC Edmonton 2021 Canadian Premier League 5 0 — 1 0 — 6 0
2022 8 0 — 0 0 — 8 0
Total 13 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 14 0
FC London 2023[20] League1 Ontario 16 0 — — — 16 0
Valour FC 2023 Canadian Premier League 2 0 — 0 0 — 2 0
2024 3 0 — 1 0 — 4 0
Total 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 0
Career Total 34 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 36 0

References

  1. ^ a b "Darlington Murasiranwa Canada profile". Canadian Soccer Association.
  2. ^ a b Jacques, John (February 5, 2021). "Eddies Bring In Academy Goalkeeper Darlington Murasiranwa". Northern Tribune.
  3. ^ a b Hastings, Marty (October 2, 2018). "Zimbabwean family endures strife, separation, death on long way home to Kamloops". Kamloops This Week.
  4. ^ Tait, Ed (March 8, 2024). "Darlington Murasiranwa:"As I see it, there's beauty in struggle sometimes. I see the lessons I learned from it."". Valour FC.
  5. ^ McColl, Michael (September 3, 2016). "Vancouver Whitecaps U16s remodelled roster brings "a lot of questions, but a lot of excitement"". Away from the Numbers.
  6. ^ "2019 Season Preview: Men's Soccer". Guelph Gryphons. August 30, 2019.
  7. ^ "MSCR: Gryphon's Depth Powers Them Past Golden Hawks". Guelph Gryphons. September 27, 2019.
  8. ^ Hagen, Jefferson (December 4, 2020). "After previous recruit lands pro opportunity, Griffins add promising goalkeeper Murasiranwa". MacEwan Griffins.
  9. ^ "FC Edmonton signs youth academy product Darlington Murasiranwa". Canadian Premier League. February 5, 2021.
  10. ^ Jacques, John (August 15, 2021). "Canadian Championship Opens With Al Classico Win For Cavalry". Northern Tribune.
  11. ^ "FC Edmonton re-signs T-Boy Fayia, Darlington Murasiranwa". Canadian Premier League. February 9, 2022.
  12. ^ "FC Edmonton Announces Return of T-Boy Fayia & Darlington Murasiranwa". FC Edmonton. February 9, 2022.
  13. ^ Rhodes, Benedict (February 10, 2023). "'Never forget where you're from': Darlington Murasiranwa gives back to Zimbabwe community that raised him". Canadian Premier League.
  14. ^ Jacques, John (May 10, 2024). "Big Moment For Murasiranwa, Who's Next Man Up For Valour". Northern Tribune.
  15. ^ Jacques, John (March 16, 2023). "FC London Adds Eddies Goalkeeper Darlington Murasiranwa". Northern Tribune.
  16. ^ "Murasiranwa makes Canadian Premier League return with Valour FC". New Zimbabwe. November 11, 2023.
  17. ^ "Valour FC sign Canadian goalkeeper Darlington Murasiranwa". Valour FC. August 17, 2023.
  18. ^ Jacques, John (August 17, 2023). "Former Eddies Goalkeeper Darlington Murasiranwa Makes CPL Return". Northern Tribune.
  19. ^ Darlington Murasiranwa at Soccerway
  20. ^ "Darlington Murasiranwa 2023 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.