Exclusive interview: Wolves' Marshall Munetsi on his footballing journey, charity and taking his Premier League chance

Born and bred in Zimbabwe's capital Harare, Munetsi stood out in local academy sides as a teenager but it was not until he was 18-years-old that he began a serious career in football when he moved across the border to South Africa.

He started out at smaller clubs before joining Orlando Pirates, who he left to eventually make the switch to Europe with French side Reims.

The marauding midfielder that Wolves now know after swooping for his signature in the winter transfer window always felt he was destined for the Premier League.

Originally from Ali Sundowns Academy in the Harare suburb of Mabvuku, Munetsi's mentor Desmund Ali was - and still is - a Wolves fan.

Ali had a profound impact on Munetsi's early life and is described by the player as one of his heroes, alongside his parents and former player Friday Phiri.

"Everything we heard in Zimbabwe was about Liverpool with Bruce Grobbelaar, Sheffield United with Peter Ndlovu or Portsmouth with Benjani - or Manchester United," Munetsi told the Express & Star in his first in-depth exclusive interview.

"But he was a Wolves supporter and when I signed here he was the first person to be so excited.

"He sent me messages after my first goal too.

"At that time (in Zimbabwe) we had a lot of players in Europe, with Benjani and Peter Ndlovu in the Premier League, and we were trying to emulate what they were doing.

"The foundations were really good and it was easier for me to be scouted because we had junior tournaments, we had the U17 AFCON qualifiers, so it was easier for us to get the exposure.

"I ended up going to South Africa at a young age and it gave me an opportunity.

"It's the best league in Africa. The environment, the culture, the system is really good for young players.

"I was always tall and bigger than most of the other kids and quite aggressive.

"I grew up playing two age groups above because of my height and body and it helped me to grow faster because I was playing with guys that were older than me."

From those humble beginnings to the biggest stage in domestic football, Munetsi has reason to be enjoying life.

In the early days of his spell in South Africa, Munetsi was earning just over £200 a month - around £50 a week, now he is earning tens of thousands of pounds a week in the Premier League.

Yet the player remains grounded and rooted in his religious beliefs and upbringing that make him the man he is today.

Sat in a quiet meeting room at Wolves' Compton training ground, Munetsi is a big physical presence with a gentle demeanour and an infectious smile. Considering where he has come from, he has every reason to be cheerful.

"When you chase dreams and you don't chase money, money ends up coming to you," he added.

"For me it was all about the dream that I had, it was all about reaching a certain destination.

"Even when I was offered my first contract I was never looking at the money, I was never focused on that, it was always about working hard and reaching the Premier League. Everything else was just extra.

"God always blesses you at the right time and it's exactly what happened to me.

"When I was living in Reims so many people said that first thing in the morning I brought a bright smile.

"God gave me a gift that I have to show to people. To be able to show that even if we're in the midst of difficulties, God is always there for us."

His endeavours off the pitch are equally as important to him, too.

Through the Marshall Munetsi Foundation the player - who donates 10 per cent of his salary to the cause - is able to help underprivileged children realise their potential through sport and art.

He is also among a select number of players that are on FIFPRO's Global Player Council, where one of his goals is to stop fake agents taking advantage of aspiring African footballers.

"I want to make a difference, life at the end of the day is much more than sport and much more than football," Munetsi said.

"Helping those in need is also very important to me so I will keep on doing it as long as I can.

"Even if you are able to change 10 people's lives it would worth it for me.

"I still do my part in Africa and in the world in general, we have so many things to change and improve.

"It's something that I'm passionate about and I was fortunate to be part of that board to be able to contribute in certain areas that I can.

"The football image has always been about spending money and scandals, so for me it was also a way to show we can be different.

"We can play at the highest level but also be humble and a normal human being.

"There are so many things we are still behind in Africa and us as footballers have a huge platform and huge voice to change certain things.

"We might not be able to change everything but those small parts would eventually make a difference in the coming years."

Munetsi has a natural nurturing instinct and describes himself as a 'big brother' to compatriot Tawanda Chirewa, who is on loan at Huddersfield, and his move to Wolves' feels like a full circle moment.

The 28-year-old speaks seven languages and is now learning Portuguese - which will certainly make him feel at home in the Wolves dressing room.

He was also watching Wolves' games before he knew about the club's interest in signing him, as he wanted to see how former Reims team-mate Emmanuel Agbadou was getting on with his new club.

Munetsi made a £15million move just weeks later, arriving in a passionate one-club city.

"It's been really good for me," he added.

"Obviously I had Emmanuel here already and all the staff, the players have really made me feel welcomed and anything that I needed they were always willing to give a helping hand.

"It's been exciting, I've always wanted to be in the Premier League and also I think I came to the right club where the players, the environment is really like a family so you get to connect very fast.

"It's been really good for me and obviously I hope we just continue from here.

"It's even more special because we have a certain percentage of Zimbabweans that are living here and in Birmingham.

"It feels more like at home because you get to meet people from your own country.

"It's really been good, I always appreciate it when you play for the city, you play for the people and you also get to connect with them and understand the culture and the roots of the club and where it started from. For me it's really something special.

"We (Chirewa) do talk a lot, I'm sort of like the bigger brother.

"Before I came here we've always been in touch, and with his family too, for anything he needed.

"I'm always there to help him and guide him because he trusts that I give him good advice on certain things.

"It's good that I'm here and we were talking about it when I came, he was excited that we were going to be together but unfortunately he had to go on loan. We'll see what the future holds."

Munetsi made an instant impact at Wolves, playing as a false nine, a number eight and a number 10 in his first seven appearances.

After missing a number of big chances, his first goal finally came as the equaliser in Wolves' 1-1 draw with Everton, making him just the third Zimbabwean to score in the Premier League after Ndlovu and Benjani, and the first for 14 years.

"Scoring was something that gave me so much of a relief because I've really worked hard and I want to repay the club, the fans and people that have invested in me being here," Munetsi said.

"It's something that is historical for our country but obviously I hope that we can have more Zimbabwean players.

"On social media the only thing I see are people from Zimbabwe and the rest of the world that are so excited.

"That's what football has to be, it has to make people happy, unite people and give us that joy. In defeat or winning, we have to enjoy the game."

Munetsi is certainly enjoying his time at Wolves and, based on his performances so far, there is much more to come.

Wolves are close to securing Premier League safety and the midfielder is concentrating on the present, while appreciating the journey he has taken to get here today.

He added: "The road was long but I think it was a road that I needed to take to be able to appreciate and to learn different things, different cultures, different systems.

"Being in South Africa, in France and now being here in the best league in the world, it gives you so much experience and so much exposure and then you end up appreciating the journey and appreciating the destination.

"When I retire I'll be able to enjoy those achievements but each and every day has it's own challenges.

"I've scored but now it's all about how we get a good result again in the next game.

"The life of a sportsman or a footballer moves so fast, you tend to enjoy the achievements later on in your career when you finish.

"For me now it's about first helping the team to go as far as possible from the relegation zone and after that maybe I can look back and look at being the third Zimbabwean to score in this league."