Former Highlanders defender Noel Kaseke is in his sixth season playing in Cyprus’ top football league. With just five games remaining before the end of the current season, Omonoia Nicosia need just two wins to be confirmed champions – which comes with a ticket into next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Capped three times by Zimbabwe, the midfielder shares his life story in The Truth About: Noel Kaseke:

Marital Status & Children: Married to Blessing and have two sons Kartecho (Greek for God’s strength) and Karsten (Greek for blessing).

You went to Marist Brothers College and Founders High School where you were deployed in all manner of positions. At Highlanders, you seemed to be more comfortable at right back. What’s your preferred position?

At Highlanders I played at right back most of the times but I was also used at centre-back and central midfield. In Europe the coaches are using me as a defensive midfielder because they feel I am most suited for that position.

Is there any particular individual, more than any other, whom you can credit for helping you to where you are today?

I can’t really finger an individual, but there are a lot of people who have helped me along the way. I can readily think of the Highlanders coaches Ali Baba Dube, Benjamin Moyo and Rahman Gumbo.

Not a lot of Zimbabweans are familiar with the Cypriot league. How does it measure compared to other leagues in Europe?

The performances of our last two representatives in the Champions League have really given a boost to our league. Anorthosis drew with Inter Milan, beat Werder Bremen, Olympiakos and Panathinaikos. Apoel were also good, they beat Partisan Belgrade, drew with Atletico Madrid and eliminated FC Copenhagen but narrowly lost 1-0 to Chelsea after playing very well. Our league is on the up, the standard is ever improving.

Omonia is the second Cypriot team you have played for after three years with Paralimni until 2007. Success has been elusive but you appear to be on the verge of clinching the league. How do you rate your chances?

Very high. Our next game is a home tie against Anorthosis who are second on the table, four points behind us. That’s an important game for us, we win that and we need just one more win to be confirmed champions. The whole place is buzzing, I’m sure we can do it.

You live with your wife and two sons in Cyprus. Is it a good place to bring up children do you think?

Yes. The Greek community really emphasise on the family aspect and they are very friendly people. There is a good social life and you can have get-togethers over braai with neighbours. That’s all you need really.

What other activity do you enjoy apart from playing football?

Yes I look up their results every weekend. In fact I donated two kits to them in recent years, but I must say I am very disappointed with the way things have been going. I hope they are better this season, but I feel for the fans because at the moment there are very few positives.

I was very playful, but I must say I was not alone in this. The editor of New Zimbabwe.com Mduduzi Mathuthu was in the same class as me, we sat on the same desk everyday and he was equally disruptive (chuckles).

I would have moved from Zimbabwe much more early with the aim of breaking into some of the top European leagues.

If you could be invisible for a day, what would you get up to?

Yes. I haven’t seen one, but I very much believe we are being watched from somewhere.

Spanish Guitar by Toni Braxton. It’s the day I so much realised that the woman I am with is going to be with me until I die.

If a singer or group was to perform at your party, who would get the call?

Buffalo Soldier (Zimbabwean dancehall singer) and DJ Waxxy (Nigerian artist).

Is there someone you would like to meet before you die?