Tendai Jirira (born 12 November 1991) is a Zimbabwean

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...

who is last known to have played as a defender for Foro SC.

Early life

Jirira was raised by his grandmother after his mother moved to England for job opportunities, which enabled her to fund his schooling in Zimbabwe. He was born in 1991 in

Marondera Marondera, originally known as Marandellas, is a capital city of Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe, located about east of Harare. History It was first known as Marandella's Kraal, corrupted from Marondera, chief of the ruling VaRozvi people who li ...

, Zimbabwe, and attended Beatrice Primary School, Prince Edward High School, and Nyazura Adventist High School.

Youth career

As a youth player, Jirira joined the Friendly Academy in Zimbabwe.

College career

Jirira did not play any senior club competitive football in Zimbabwe before moving to the United States on a football scholarship. He first "made a name for himself" after spending four years with the University of Northwestern Ohio Racers, helping them go deep in the NAIA national championship and win nineteen games during the 2016 season. He majored in business.

Club career

During Jirira's college career, he trained a lot with an American lower league side, but the club was unable to sign him at the time due to college soccer rules. He started his senior club career with American side

AFC Ann Arbor AFC Ann Arbor is an American soccer club based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with a men's team that has played in USL League Two since 2020 and a women's team that has played in USL W League since 2020. The men's team played in the National Premier So ...

. In 2019, he signed for American side

Detroit City FC Detroit City FC is an American professional association football, soccer club based in Detroit, Michigan, that competes in the USL Championship. The club played in the National Premier Soccer League from 2012 to 2019 and the National Independen ...

. He helped the club win the league and 2020 NISA Independent Cup. He also won the Black Arrow Award. He last appeared in the

2024 U.S. Open Cup The 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 109th edition of the U.S. Open Cup, the knockout domestic cup competition of American soccer. Houston Dynamo FC were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the round of 32 by Detroit City FC. L ...

with

UPSL The United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) is an American for-profit soccer league that was founded in Santa Ana in Southern California, with teams in regionalized conferences throughout the United States, and recently Canada and Mexico. The leagu ...

club Foro SC.

International career

Jirira has represented Zimbabwe at Under-14, Under-15, and Under-17 level. He was called up to the

Zimbabwe national football team The Zimbabwe national football team (nicknamed ''The Warriors'') represents Zimbabwe in men's international football and is controlled by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA), formerly known as the Football Association of Rhodesia. The tea ...

squad for the

2021 Africa Cup of Nations The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (also referred to as AFCON 2021 or CAN 2021), known as the TotalEnergies 2021 Africa Cup of Nations for sponsorship reasons, was the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the biennial international men's ass ...

qualifiers. However, he was unable to play for Zimbabwe during those qualifiers due to flight problems.

Style of play

Jirira mainly operates as a full back. He can also operate as a center back. He is known for his crossing ability and work rate.

Philanthropy

Jirira has helped donate resources to several Zimbabwean orphanages with the support of Detroit City FC supporters.

Personal life

Jirira has a sister.

References

1991 births AFC Ann Arbor players Cincinnati Dutch Lions players Detroit City FC players Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States Living people Men's association football defenders National Independent Soccer Association players University of Northwestern Ohio alumni USL League Two players United Premier Soccer League players Zimbabwe men's youth international footballers Zimbabwean expatriate men's footballers Zimbabwean expatriate sportspeople in the United States Zimbabwean men's footballers {{Zimbabwe-footy-bio-stub