| Panashe Madanha | |
| Full Name: | Panashe Madanha |
| Birth Date: | 5 August 2004 |
| Birth Place: | Harare, Zimbabwe[1] |
| Position: | Winger, Full-back |
| Currentclub: | Adelaide United |
| Clubnumber: | 36 |
| Youthyears1: | –2014 |
| Youthclubs1: | Adelaide Olympic |
| Youthyears2: | 2015–2016 |
| Youthclubs2: | FK Beograd |
| Youthyears3: | 2017–2019 |
| Youthclubs3: | SA NTC |
| Youthyears4: | 2020–2021 |
| Youthclubs4: | Adelaide United |
| Years1: | 2021– |
| Caps1: | 32 |
| Goals1: | 8 |
| Clubs1: | Adelaide United NPL |
| Years2: | 2022– |
| Caps2: | 18 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Clubs2: | Adelaide United |
| Nationalyears1: | 2023– |
| Nationalteam1: | Australia U20 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 4 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 3 May 2024 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 11 March 2023 |
Panashe Madanha (born 5 August 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Adelaide United. Born in Zimbabwe, he represents Australia at youth level. He is the first Zimbabwe-born player to feature in the A-League.[2]
Panashe Madanha was born on 5 August 2004 in Harare, Zimbabwe.[3] At the age of four, his family relocated to Adelaide, Australia, following a job opportunity for his father and subsequent employment for his mother as a nurse.[3] [4] Growing up in Adelaide, Madanha enjoyed playing football during the winter months and cricket during the Australian summer and actively participated in athletics.[3] He started playing football at the age of seven, eventually signing for Adelaide United's youth side.[3] Encouraged by his parents, Madanha studied Human Movement and Physiotherapy.[3]
Madanha signed his first professional contract on 5 July 2022, a two-year scholarship deal, following his form with Adelaide United Youth at NPL level after scoring 6 goals in 17 appearances.[5] He soon made his professional debut in an Australia Cup Round of 32 match against Newcastle Jets on 30 July 2022.[6] In the league season, on 27 December, Madanha made his A-League Men debut, coming off the bench in the 89th minute, in United's second match-up against Newcastle.[7] His debut made him the first Zimbabwe-born player to feature in the A-League.[3]
Madanha made his first league start, after making an extra substitute appearance following his debut, in a 2–0 win over Perth Glory on 2 January 2023.[8] His strong performance as a temporary replacement for defender Javi López, received praise by manager Carl Veart.[9] In the subsequent match and in his second starting appearance, Madanha scored an own goal in United's 4–0 lost to Central Coast Mariners,[10] followed by his third starting appearance against Melbourne Victory as a right-back for United.[11] Madanha extended his contract with Adelaide on 5 October 2023, prior to the 2023–24 A-League season, re-signing until the end of the 2025–26 season.[12]
Born in Zimbabwe and having spent a significant portion of his childhood in Australia, Madanha holds eligibility to represent either Zimbabwe or Australia on the international stage.[13]
In February 2023, Madanha received his first international call-up after being selected to represent the Australia U20 squad for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup. He would join alongside other South Australian youngsters, such as Bernardo Oliveira, Jonny Yull, and Raphael Borges Rodrigues.[14]
On the field, Madanha frequently uses his solid frame and impressive pace, which consistently troubles opposing defenders.[3] As a pacy winger, he utilises his physical attributes to his advantage, creating difficulties for the opposition's backline and posing a constant threat with his speed and power.[5]
Under Carl Veart's system, Madanha was deployed as a right-back instead of his natural position as a winger.[15] Despite this, he was able to showcase his ability to contribute positively in different areas of the pitch whilst adding to his energetic and forward-minded runs to further contribute to his team's success, making him a very versatile player to Adelaide United's gameplay.[3] [9] [16]