Adelaide United Football Club is excited to announce that rapid wing-back, Panashe Madanha, has re-signed until the 2025/26 Isuzu Ute A-League season.
Madanha has risen locally from United’s Youth system after dominant performances in the RAA SA NPL over several years, culminating in his major role in United’s first Championship earlier this month.
At 18, he made his A-League debut as a late substitute at home to Newcastle Jets on 27 December last year, followed by his first, assured start a week later against Perth Glory in a 2-0 win also at Coopers Stadium.
It was the first time a Zimbabwe-born player had featured in the competition, and he now has 12 A-League, and one Australia Cup appearance to his name.
After moving to Australia at the age of four, Madanha started at Adelaide Olympic and FK Beograd as a junior, before quickly moving into the Football SA NTC Program at Under 13 level, and then swiftly into United’s Youth.
The 19-year-old, heralded as the quickest player in United’s squad, is now aiming to cement his place in the team and take his game to the next level.
“I’m really excited to have committed the Club in which I’ve grown up around and played so much of my football,” Madanha said.
“I have supported Adelaide United since moving to SA so it’s a dream come true to be able to represent in the famous red, and it would be an honour to help bring more success to the Club.
“I’ve learnt so much already under Carl (Veart), Airton (Andrioli) and the coaches and can’t wait to continue this progress into next season and beyond, and hopefully that will come in the form of more first team starts and maybe some goals.
“But I’m happy to contribute in any position that is needed for the team.”
Head Coach, Carl Veart highlighted the importance of Madanha’s signature.
“Panashe is a player I’ve known for a while now coming through the youth ranks, and he brings so much quality and energy into everything that he does,” he said.
“He is a strong boy with a lot of pace at the same time, so he can be really damaging going forward and he’s getting better defensively in that right-back position all the time.
“That wasn’t his natural spot and we’ve worked with him for a while now to get to this point and he has showed already he can do it in the A-League.
“But really he can play anywhere, and we’re looking forward to what can be a breakthrough season for him.”
