Ronald Chitiyo Biography | Age, Background, Club Career, International Career, Arrests
This is the biography of Ronald Chitiyo, also known as Rooney, a Zimbabwean midfielder who currently plays for Nyasa Big Bullets FC in the Malawian Premier Division and represents the Zimbabwe national team.
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Background
Ronald Chitiyo was born on June 10, 1992, in Kuwadzana 5, Harare. He grew up in Epworth, where he was inspired by his father, Frank Chitiyo, a former player for Mhangura Football Club.
Club Career
Chitiyo began his senior career with Douglas Warriors F.C. He later joined Monomotapa United, where he finished as the second runner-up in the 2012 Soccer Star of the Year award. In 2013, he had trials with South African clubs Ajax Cape Town and Orlando Pirates but did not secure a contract.
Chitiyo then signed with Dynamos after Monomotapa’s relegation. He had a failed move to South African side Royal Eagles in 2015, leading him to extend his stay with Dynamos. He later signed a six-month contract with DeMbare.
In December 2015, Chitiyo joined Harare City Football Club on a one-year deal as a free agent. He briefly left Harare City in 2017 to join CAPS United on a two-year deal but soon moved to Tunisian club CS Sfaxien on a four-year contract. However, he returned to CAPS United in January 2018 due to contract disputes.
Chitiyo left CAPS United in May 2022 following a dispute with the club’s hierarchy and joined Simba Bhora, a ZIFA Northern Region Division One club. He helped Simba Bhora secure promotion to the Premier Soccer League in September 2022.
In January 2023, Chitiyo requested to leave Simba Bhora ahead of their maiden appearance in Zimbabwe’s top flight. In April 2024, he signed a three-year contract with Nyasa Big Bullets, the Malawian champions, after being released by Simba Bhora.
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International Career
Chitiyo has represented the Zimbabwe national team, earning fourteen caps and scoring two goals. He scored against Lesotho and Mauritius.
Arrests
In January 2018, Chitiyo was arrested for assaulting his neighbour in Epworth after a monetary dispute. He was involved in another incident in November 2019, where he and his CAPS United teammates were accused of assaulting a Premier Soccer League security officer and Chicken Inn officials. However, in December 2019, Chitiyo, along with his teammates, was found not guilty of assaulting a referee by the Premier Soccer League disciplinary committee after paying admission of guilt fines.
