Tendayi Darikwa

[Lowensda]

http://www.bbc.co.uk...otball/21015816

 

 

The sizeable press box at Chesterfield's modern new ground is rarely full on matchdays so the club often seat visiting scouts in there.

 

For the last five fixtures someone from Everton has filled at least one seat in it, there to monitor the progress of Tendayi Darikwa.

 

The Toffees are just one of several Premier League clubs linked with the 21-year-old, whose rich vein of form has seen him named Football League Young Player of the Month for December.

 

Dossier on Darikwa

• Born in Nottingham in December 1991
  
• Joined Chesterfield on a scholarship aged 16 having left school
  
• Signed his first professional deal in 2010
  
• Midfielder had spell on loan at Barrow in 2010
  
• Regular in the side this season
  
• Signed new three-year deal in October
  
• Linked with several Premier League clubs
  

Darikwa joined the club as a right-back after leaving school at 16 and made his Football League debut last February at Notts County, a ground just down the road from where he still lives with his mother in West Bridgford.

 

In late September Tommy Wright, now assistant to Paul Cook but back then running the first team following the departure of John Sheridan, pushed him into an attacking position for the trip to Northampton. It was Darikwa's first league start.

"There was nothing particularly tactical about the decision," Wright told BBC Sport. "We had a few injuries and I knew he would work hard.

 

"Since then he has flourished. What has happened to him over the last six months is massive. It has got to the point where you can see other teams worrying about how to stop him."

 

Cook took over as manager in late October and shortly afterwards gave Darikwa a new three-year deal.

 

"I don't think he is very good," deadpanned the affable Cook when asked what he thought of Darikwa. "I think everyone should leave him alone. I think he is going backwards at the minute."

 

But in truth he readily acknowledges that in a short space of time Darikwa, who usually plays on the right side of an attacking trio behind a lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation, has become one of his key players.

 

 

Darikwa made his league debut last February at Notts County

 

 

"He is already a very good footballer and he is going to have a very good career," said Cook.

 

"We all want young lads to be in the team but they must be good enough - and he certainly is."

 

Darikwa, who had short-lived spells at both Nottingham Forest and Notts County as a junior, was playing football for Ruddington Colts in Nottingham when he was spotted by Chesterfield and joined them on a two-year scholarship.

 

He had always wanted to be involved in football and applied to go on a coaching course at South Nottingham College before Chesterfield expressed an interest in signing him.

 

"The biggest thing about Tendayi has always been his desire and his attitude in training," added Wright, who had nothing but generous words for a young man he clearly rates very highly.

 

"He is very level headed and a pleasure to work with, I wish there were a lot more like him."

 

Cook reckons that joining a professional club at a relatively late age may have worked in Darikwa's favour, arguing "it can leave you with that bit more hunger desire and scope for improvement".

 

Wright added: "At Premier League level players do get everything early but Tendayi has had to fight for everything, probably in life as well as in football. We now use him as an example to other kids, tell them to look at how he trains."

 

What they say about Darikwa

• Chesterfield boss Paul Cook: "Winning the young player award is great for Tendayi - and a great credit for everyone connected with his career."
  
• Chesterfield assistant boss Tommy Wright: "He is the type of player top-flight clubs look at. They might think he is doing something wrong but then they see his desire to win the ball back and his work rate, and I think that is what a lot of modern coaches are looking for."
  
• Football League head of youth development David Wetherall: "Tendayi looks to be a real talent and he has shown this with a number of fantastic performances this season. He has certainly caught my eye this season."
  

In conversation Darikwa certainly sounds level headed, with a temperament that should serve him well if he does fulfil his ambitions of playing in the Premier League. He is softly-spoken and unassuming but there is clearly a huge desire to succeed.

 

Asked about rumours of interest from top-flight clubs, he said: "You've got to remember I've only played just over 20 league games.

 

"I have got to be disciplined with my lifestyle and know my boundaries. My social life is quiet."

 

From the moment Cook arrived he was impressed with Darikwa's fitness and attitude - and reckons that his game awareness and tactical understanding is quickly developing.

 

Wright talks about Darikwa's ability to come off the line and find space, as well as a physicality that belies his modest frame. Darikwa himself said: "I think I'm exciting to watch, quite direct, but my final ball could be improved and I need to work on my ball retention."

 

The Spireites were relegated from League One last season and are currently 11th in League Two, six points off an automatic promotion place. Their season hangs in the balance but with the transfer window open for another two weeks, holding on to a key player like Darikwa could be a problem.

 

Yet Cook, whose lengthy playing career as a midfielder included spells at Wigan, Wolves, Burnley and Accrington, is realistic about the prospect of losing one of his main assets.

 

"If someone said to me tomorrow that we are selling Tendayi, I would be delighted for him and the club would go on, that is the nature of football," he added.

 

"If we are selling players then it means we must be doing something right - and generally you get a few quid so it is a win-win situation."

 

And does Cook think he can keep hold of Darikwa?

 

"He is a lad we know clubs are looking at, will someone take him soon? That is out of my hands. But certainly as a young player, there will not be many better around the country."

 

BBC Sport will be taking a closer look at stories from outside the Premier League before every weekend league programme in our Football League Friday features.

Edited January 18, 2013 by tenaciousj

[tzp7zy]

Its a credit to our scouting system that we've watched him 5 times already, seeing as he's only played 20 times. Lets be honest, how many of us knew he was a prospect?

Fair play to the lad, looks like he has a great attitude and I hope he does well. And I'd like to hope he does well with us.

[Peter H]

Never heard of him but trust the scouts. Might br a real find!

[Matt]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10377377/Manchester-United-manager-David-Moyes-ready-to-rival-Everton-for-Chesterfields-1m-rated-Tendayi-Darikwa.html

[Cornish Steve]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10377377/Manchester-United-manager-David-Moyes-ready-to-rival-Everton-for-Chesterfields-1m-rated-Tendayi-Darikwa.html

 

Manchester United are desperate for quality midfielders, could easily pay 30m for a top-notch player, and the manager is personally attending a League 2 game to watch a player worth about a million? What is wrong with this picture! Other than bidding to solely to push up his price, I say let them have him. We need someone who's progressed a little more than League 2.

[badaids]

 

Manchester United are desperate for quality midfielders, could easily pay 30m for a top-notch player, and the manager is personally attending a League 2 game to watch a player worth about a million? What is wrong with this picture! Other than bidding to solely to push up his price, I say let them have him. We need someone who's progressed a little more than League 2.

 

Moyes needs to bring in a young and talented 'Barkley type' player to bring in for 2 or 3 games and then drop him to the reserves when he makes an error.

[msloan78]

I'll bet the United fans are drooling at the prospect of signing this lad instead of the carthorses they were linked with in the summer!

[Avinalaff]

 

Manchester United are desperate for quality midfielders, could easily pay 30m for a top-notch player, and the manager is personally attending a League 2 game to watch a player worth about a million? What is wrong with this picture! Other than bidding to solely to push up his price, I say let them have him. We need someone who's progressed a little more than League 2.

 

 

What difference does it matter what club the lad plays for? If he is good then he's good. Even the big clubs need to scout the smaller names. Some of the leagues top players were plucked from lower league clubs.

[Cornish Steve]

 

 

What difference does it matter what club the lad plays for? If he is good then he's good. Even the big clubs need to scout the smaller names. Some of the leagues top players were plucked from lower league clubs.

 

Lower leagues is one thing, but League 2? There's a world of difference playing in League 2 than in the Championship, for example. OK, sometimes a jewel may be found lingering in the very low leagues (Seamus Coleman, for one, and Carl Jenkinson at Arsenal being another), but it's very unusual.

[Matt]

 

Lower leagues is one thing, but League 2? There's a world of difference playing in League 2 than in the Championship, for example. OK, sometimes a jewel may be found lingering in the very low leagues (Seamus Coleman, for one, and Carl Jenkinson at Arsenal being another), but it's very unusual.

how do you know unless you look? It might not be happening that much because teams arent looking there enough.

[Hafnia]

in all honesty Moyes is now at a club that wont allow him to pick lower league gems in the way he did with Coleman, Cahill, and to an extent lescott and Jags. that is where he exceeds in the market. it's a bit like when del boy got all that money and was tempted to buy a load of usual stuff to sell on a market - that level of hustle ain't needed anymore.

 

he is expected to buy marketable names, big players. at the very least he is expected to buy the best players from mid table clubs and even then those spoilt bastard fans turn their noses up. unless he is gonna get a few of them and loan them out to championship clubs....but it's just not the same.

[Quinn31]

in all honesty Moyes is now at a club that wont allow him to pick lower league gems in the way he did with Coleman, Cahill, and to an extent lescott and Jags. that is where he exceeds in the market. it's a bit like when del boy got all that money and was tempted to buy a load of usual stuff to sell on a market - that level of hustle ain't needed anymore.

 

he is expected to buy marketable names, big players. at the very least he is expected to buy the best players from mid table clubs and even then those spoilt bastard fans turn their noses up. unless he is gonna get a few of them and loan them out to championship clubs....but it's just not the same.

I don't know if that's entirely correct. I mean, United have bought youngsters from abroad, they also bought Nick Powell from Crewe a few years been when they were a League 2 side. Yes, though, he will definitely be expected to also bring in some big names, but it doesn't mean he won't search the lower English leagues for players. But yes, United "fans" expect top names as well, and they are spoilt bastards most certainly.

[Guest]

Hart at Shrewsbury? It does happen I guess