Darlington Murasiranwa Explained

Darlington Murasiranwa
Fullname:Darlington Ngonidzashe Murasiranwa
Birth Date:February 7, 2001
Birth Place:Zimbabwe
Height:1.83 m
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Valour FC
Youthclubs1:Cape Town Barca Juniors
Youthyears2:2014–2016
Youthclubs2:FC Edmonton
Youthyears3:2016–2018
Youthclubs3:Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Youthyears4:2018–2019
Youthclubs4:FC Edmonton
Collegeyears1:2019–2020
College1:Guelph Gryphons
Collegecaps1:3
Collegegoals1:0
Years1:2021–2022
Clubs1:FC Edmonton
Caps1:13
Goals1:0
Years2:2023
Clubs2:FC London
Caps2:16
Goals2:0
Years3:2023–
Clubs3:Valour FC
Caps3:4
Goals3:0
Club-Update:May 10, 2024

Darlington Ngonidzashe Murasiranwa (born February 7, 2001) is a Zimbabwean footballer who plays for Valour FC in the Canadian Premier League.

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] 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.[2] [3] In Edmonton, he joined the FC Edmonton academy. He joined the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy at U16 level,[4] before returning to the FC Edmonton academy.

University career

In 2019, he began attending the University of Guelph, playing for the men's soccer team.[5] He kept clean sheets in his first two starts.[6] Ahead of the 2021 season, he announced he was transferring to MacEwan University where he would play for the MacEwan Griffins.[7] 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.[8] He made his debut for Edmonton on August 15 in a Canadian Championship match against Cavalry FC.[9] 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.[10] In February 2022, Edmonton announced that Murasiranwa would be returning to the team for the 2022 season.[11] Following the 2022 season, Murasiranza trained with English non-league side Shepshed Dynamo.[12]

After FC Edmonton folded following the 2022 season,[13] he joined FC London in League1 Ontario in March 2023.[14] Over the course of the season, he made sixteen appearances for the club.[15]

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.[16] [17]

International career

Murasiranwa has participated in camps at the U15 and U17 level for Canada.[18]

Career statistics

ClubLeagueSeasonLeaguePlayoffsNational CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FC Edmonton2021Canadian Premier League501060
2022800080
Total130001000140
FC London2023[19] League1 Ontario160160
Valour FC2023Canadian Premier League200020
2024201030
Total4000100050
Career Total330002000350

External links

Notes and References

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