John Phiri Explained

John Phiri
Birth Date:3 May 1962
Birth Place:Southern Rhodesia
Height:1.78 m
Position:Defender
Years1:1979–1982
Clubs1:Rio Tinto
Years2:1983–1986
Clubs2:State House Tornados
Years3:1987–1989
Clubs3:Dynamos
Years4:1990–1993
Clubs4:Darryn T
Years5:1993–1994
Clubs5:Sokół Pniewy
Caps5:24
Goals5:0
Years6:1994–1995
Clubs6:Warta Poznań
Caps6:4
Goals6:0
Years7:1996–1997
Clubs7:Ajax Cape Town
Nationalteam1:Zimbabwe

John "JP" Phiri (born 3 May 1962) is a Zimbabwean retired footballer.

Early life

Born on 3 May 1962,[1] John Phiri is the son of former Rhodesia striker July Phiri.

He first played with foremost local team, Rio Tinto FC Under-13s (renamed Eiffel Flats in the mid-70s).[2]

Football career

Phiri was coached at Rio Tinto by Peter Phiri (c.1938 – 23 March 2023).[3]

He also played for Mangula,[4] as well as State House Tornadoes (1983), and Darryn Textiles in Zimbabwe, before heading to Europe. He missed a chance to sign for English side Nottingham Forest, and signed for Polish side Miliarder Pniewy in 1993 instead, along with Norman Mapeza.[2]

He first played for the national team in 1982, against Malawi and after that played regularly until the 1990s. Official figures recorded 94 matches, four less than Coventry City star Peter Ndlovu, but he believes he played a lot more.[2]

His last team was the Cape Town Spurs in South Africa, from 1995 to 1997.[2]

After retirement

After retirement from football, Phiri worked at his business in Budiriro, Harare, but it struggled in the face of the economic downturn of the country around 2000, and moved into printing.[2]

In 2014 he was appointed a board member at the Zimbabwe Football Association, concentrating on development.[2]

Personal life

He has two sons.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Strack-Zimmermann . Benjamin . John Phiri (Player) . National Football Teams . 3 May 1962 . 3 May 2024.
  2. Web site: I am the most capped Warriors player: John Phiri . The Standard . 6 November 2016 . 5 January 2024.
  3. Web site: Rio Tinto legend Phiri dies . The Herald . 25 March 2023 . 5 January 2024.
  4. Web site: Spare a thought for a ghost town our football forgot . The Herald . 1 September 2018 . 5 January 2024.