Weekly game time matters more than training-ground promise…
By Advent Shoko
Zimbabwean full back CJ Nyakuhwa has secured a loan move to Nuneaton FC in what is shaping up to be a smart, career-defining step for one of the country’s most promising England-based prospects. Courtney-Joshua “CJ” Nyakuhwa joins the Midlands outfit with one clear objective: consistent senior football at a stage where minutes matter more than reputation.
The move, confirmed in a club statement seen by ZiGoats, sees Nyakuhwa join Nuneaton on dual registration from Tamworth FC, where he signed his first professional contract in October 2025 and has already tasted first-team involvement.
“We are pleased to confirm that Courtney-Joshua Nyakuhwa has joined the club. The Zimbabwean full back and winger has played for Notts County U21s & U18s, Mansfield Town U16s, and Clifton All Whites. ‘CJ’ joins on dual registration with Tamworth FC where he is part of the academy and has been involved with the first team,” Nuneaton said.
From a development standpoint, the timing is deliberate. At 20, Nyakuhwa is at a critical phase where weekly competitive football outweighs the comfort of training-ground potential. Nuneaton offers a demanding environment where his pace, one-versus-one defending, attacking drive, and positional flexibility will be tested under real match pressure.
Speaking after completing the move, Nyakuhwa told ZiGoats that the loan is structured to benefit all parties while keeping him firmly in Tamworth’s plans.
“It’s a short-term loan, so Tamworth’s first team can call me back at any time,” he said.
Nyakuhwa believes the switch comes at exactly the right moment in his career, stressing that learning and exposure are the main priorities.
“It’s definitely a good move at this point in my career. I’m still young and I’ve got a lot to learn. I’ve been told, and I believe, that I can play at a higher level, but this move is mainly about getting more senior first-team experience.”
His journey has not been straightforward. After progressing through respected youth systems at Mansfield Town and Notts County, Nyakuhwa experienced the setback of being released, a moment that ends many careers. Instead, he regrouped, stayed disciplined, and earned a professional deal at Tamworth FC, a resilience that has not gone unnoticed in scouting circles.
That mindset is central to his plans at Nuneaton. Nyakuhwa said:
“The goal is to go to Nuneaton, make noise on the pitch, then come back to the Tamworth first team and make even more noise. On the international side, making the Zimbabwe Under-23 Olympic qualifiers squad is a big target for me.”
Tactically, Nyakuhwa fits the modern fullback profile. Comfortable on either flank, he can push high as a winger, tuck into midfield, or sit deep and defend aggressively. For Nuneaton FC, this represents a low-risk, high-upside addition. For Tamworth FC, it is a calculated loan designed to accelerate growth.
For Zimbabwean football, it is another diaspora-based talent steadily building a senior résumé at a time when the national game needs fullbacks comfortable with tempo, structure, and intensity.
For now, the message is simple: CJ is playing, learning, and progressing, exactly where a rising Zimbabwean full back needs to be.
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