Just outside the Guldfågeln Arena, the home of Swedish top-flight league side Kalmar FF, a female fan screams and jumps on Zimbabwean midfielder Archford Gutu with ecstasy after meeting her hero.
She quickly bares out her left breast and pleads for Gutu to sign an autograph on the fleshy boob and all this happens in the presence of her boyfriend who could afford to smile in approval.
A stunned Gutu hesitates at first, but eventually succumbs to the young lady’s persistence and pens his signature, much to the delight of the woman and her partner.
This sums up how Gutu has asserted his worth at Kalmar FF and boldly engraved his name in the hearts of the clubs’ fans.
Arriving in the Swedish south-eastern city of Kalmar in January this year coming straight from Africa for his maiden season in a European league, the former Dynamos linkman has integrated well at his adopted home.
“Kalmar is a small city where everyone supports the club and the fans warmly welcomed me. It is difficult to compare Kalmar FF supporters to those of Dynamos, but if I am left with no choice I would be forced to say the fans in Sweden are a little bit more passionate,” said Gutu.
“Some fans even have the club’s logo or our autographs tattooed on some parts of their bodies. When I walk in the street I am easily recognised and always overwhelmed by how the fans react when they see me.”
But the former Shooting Stars player maintains he will never sink into the bright lights of Kalmar or allow fame to creep into his head.
“I am the same old Archie. Even if I make millions of dollars, I will remain the same person. I just try to live normally,” said Gutu.
During the interview with Standardsport, the player’s manager Calvin Nyazema was present and concurred with Gutu.
“He is a good boy, very humble and down to earth. Even now that he is a football star, I can easily send him to go and pick up my kids at school. He is very ambitious and always wants to be at the top,” said Nyazema.
Since their first encounter in 2005, Nyazema has been a father figure to Gutu who is an orphan.