Three days after advertising his service on social media, Gabriel Nyoni sealed a deal with a South African club.
Gabriel has now been signed by first division side Cape Umoya United after been released by South African top-flight from Maritzburg United.
Nyoni completed a degree in marketing in 2016 when he was playing for Highlanders in Zimbabwe, and is finding that his qualification is useful to him as a footballer.
He used what he studied to sell himself on social media and the outcome was amazing.
A video of match highlights posted by Nyoni posted a video of match highlights on Twitter which exhibits his pace and finishing skills and says, “Kindly like and retweet. Maybe I can get a job.”
Gabriel’s post attracted attention on the continent and beyond.
“Cape Umoya already had an interest in me, but the Tweet cemented the interest and made other clubs as far as Egypt wanting my signature, as well as some South African PSL teams,” Nyoni told BBC Sport Africa.
“The Tweet also gave me football contacts as far away as Europe, but the interests came after I had then already agreed on terms with Cape Umoya.
“The other clubs asked why I didn’t wait for them, but loyalty and honesty are among my top priorities, so I finished the deal with them.”
“With my degree, I understand how social media can help someone to grow. I wanted to market my brand and create awareness of what I can do.
“I have a manager but I did this as my own initiative – as a player, as a brand, you have to take yourself out there, and after playing football it will benefit you, even if you want to go into football administration.”