Elton Chikona Biography | Background, Club Career, International Career, Age Cheating Scandals, Awards
This is the biography of Elton Chikona, a Zimbabwean footballer, who currently plays as a centre forward for Dynamos Football Club in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League. Throughout his career, Chikona has faced controversies regarding age cheating allegations.
Background
Elton Chikona’s mother is Veronica Nyamoto. He grew up in Dzivarasekwa.
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Club Career
Chikona is a Dynamos development graduate who was promoted to the senior team during the 2023 season. He made his senior debut in a match against Bulawayo Chiefs, which ended in a 3-2 defeat for his team at the National Sports Stadium. However, Chikona quickly made an impact by scoring in a 3-0 victory over ZPC Kariba and adding another goal against Chicken Inn at Barbourfields Stadium.
Despite playing a limited role in the opening half of the season, Chikona went on to complete the 2023 season with five goals and three assists from his 13 appearances in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League. He finished as Dynamos’ top goal scorer of the season.
In September 2023, Chikona travelled to Spain for trials with La Liga side Getafe and the second-tier team Espanyol.
Additionally, in July 2023, he was on the brink of joining a top-flight league team in Finland, but the deal fell through as his handlers deemed it unsuitable for his development.
International Career
Chikona was part of the national U-17 team that was disqualified from the 2020 Cosafa U-17 tournament.
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Age Cheating Controversies
Chikona’s career has been marred by age-related controversies.
In June 2022, Chikona was disqualified from the Marvelous Nakamba tournament due to issues regarding his age. Subsequently, in March 2024, reports suggested that Chikona could be de-registered and stripped of the Castle Lager Premiership Rookie of the Year award if found guilty of double identity allegations.
In March 2024, Chikona, along with Leon Daka, was released from the Zimbabwe Under-20 men’s national team training camp due to disciplinary issues. Both players failed the age eligibility tests, preventing them from joining the rest of the squad in travelling to Malawi for the Four-Nations tournament, which commenced on 20 March 2024.
Awards
- 2023 Castle Lager Premiership Rookie of the Year Award
References
- Disciplinary issues cost Dynamos, Herentals duo places in Young Warriors camp
- Dynamos Star Elton Chikona Could Be Deregistered And Stripped Of PSL Award For Age Cheating
