In a letter that’s part apology, part pep talk, and all heart, veteran footballer Denver Mukamba has opened up to his “Beloved Fans & Soccer Lovers” about his recent transformation and no, it’s not just about scoring goals.

After a “very hectic” battle against relegation, Mukamba credits his team Dynamos’ flawless six-match winning streak to hard work and a little thing called sobriety. The midfielder took a “sabbatical” for some serious soul-searching and emerged ready to trade “ward behavior” for a substance-free lifestyle.

“I’m quite alert to the fact that my past antics may have let you down,” Mukamba confessed, asking fans to forgive his previous slip-ups with the humility of a man who’s learned that “chara chimwe hachitswanyei inda” or, in football terms, teamwork really does crush the competition.

Mukamba didn’t hold back on gratitude, thanking an eclectic squad of supporters, from Zimbabwe’s First Lady Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa for tackling the “scourge of drugs,” to an impressive lineup of local figures credited with “revolutionarising Zimbabwean soccer.” Apparently, better player perks like nice houses and fat paychecks are now part of the game plan.

Wrapping up, Mukamba gave a shout-out to Mr. Ngoblie Maqwizi and his team for “transforming this beautiful game,” pledging to keep living clean and hoping his fans keep cheering him on  because apparently, it takes more than just fancy footwork to win hearts these days.

Who knew personal growth could be the real game changer?