Category: General

Local Football Set To Bounce Back

ZIFA president Felton Kamambo yesterday said the football mother body were today expected to start formal engagements with the Sports and Recreation Commission to push for the return of the Premier Soccer League next month as a back-up plan ahead of the resumption of international football in November. 

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CAF announced the AFCON qualifiers were scheduled to resume between November 9-17 this year.

And, this means the long awaited back-to-back clash between Zimbabwe and Algeria, is likely to take place under these difficult conditions.

The bulk of Zimbabwe’s players ply their trade in foreign leagues.

The association risk failing to raise a competitive team if the domestic league remains in limbo.

“I am sure you are aware that FIFA have said teams are not obliged to release players for the qualifiers and, so, we have to have a back-up plan for that,’’ said Kamambo.

“In case we fail to get most of our players, then the local-based players will have to step in.

“But, the problem is that they haven’t been playing football. It was not possible to start the domestic league this year because of the lockdown restrictions.

“Football was also classified among the high risk sports.

“Our wish is for the domestic teams to start training, by end of September, in anticipation of the new season.

“In fact, the date we have in mind is 14 September, so that the league begins mid-October but, again, it all depends on the advice from the stakeholders.’’

The 2020 Castle Lager Premiership failed to start in March because of the lockdown measures.

Premier Soccer League chief executive, Kenny Ndebele said clubs were desperate to start training.

Ndebele acknowledged the introduction of the curfew had pegged them back, in terms of plans they had, for a September start to the season.

But the PSL chief urged the game’s leaders come out of their shells and put in place protocols to be tabled before Government for football’s safe return.

“We were hoping that the pandemic would be under control by August but, when the Government tightened the lockdown by introducing the curfew, we also had to slow down our push for a restart.

“We have been trying to understand and assess the situation on the ground.

“But, to be honest, the whole domestic football family went on sleep mode and there was no action,’’ Ndebele said.

ZIFA have set up a medical committee to help them draw up a strategy for the safe return of the game.

The authorities are being guided by the Government and health experts in their plans.

They are also taking notes from CAF’s 27-page document titled ‘CAF Guidelines to Resume Football in Africa.’

The document emphasizes on the health of the major stakeholders who include players, officials, fans, and other partners.

“There have been some engagements going on with the Sports Communication but we are looking to begin the official communication tomorrow (today),’’ said Kamambo.

‘’We are hoping that the medical committee would be through with their document to be presented to SRC.

“We were also hoping to conduct random tests on players, for a start, and use that as a gauge to see the impact the disease might have had on the players and officials.

“We are still going to be conducting the tests, while engagements with the SRC and Government continue.

“Resources have been set aside for that from the FIFA Covid-19 relief funds.

“We had to take this decision to push for the return of football after consultations with our various affiliates.

“Indications from the regions, when we did the consultations, were that we start next year but PSL indicated they wanted to start right away.

“And, like I indicated, we need to start preparing for the AFCON.

“We hope that the coach (Zdravko Logarusic) would have returned from his home in Croatia by the time the league starts.’’

ZIFA are also hoping to make use of the FIFA international friendly dates to prepare for the Warriors’ AFCON assignments. FIFA have set the week of October 7-15 as the official dates for international matches.

Ndiraya Wants Murwira Permanently

DYNAMOS coach Tonderai Ndiraya is keen to secure Godknows Murwira on a permanent deal.

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The utility player is on a one-and-a-half year loan from champions FC Platinum.

Interestingly, his two-year contract with the Zvishavane club expires in December.

The champions haven’t made any attempt to tie him down.

And Ndiraya believes Murwira will be key to his long-term Dynamos project.

“Murwira has always been in my plans,’’ the coach said.

“His loan with us runs out this December but, as a coach, I would like to have him beyond that period.

“He is one man who can give us a lot, in terms of experience. He is a good player and I definitely want him to stay.

“We have our own vision as Dynamos and, from a coaching point of view, Murwira fits well into that vision.”

Murwira joined FC Platinum last season after an impressive term in Ngezi Platinum Stars’ colours.

He was then loaned out to Dynamos. However, he was injured towards the end of the season with the injury being aggravated during pre-season.

He has fully recovered, following surgery.

The PSL, with the help of the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe, have been encouraging players, whose contracts have expired or are about to expire, to reach a mutually beneficial agreement, with clubs, for the good of the game.

FIFA have since underscored the need for a win-win scenario, in such cases, since the coronavirus epidemic disrupted the game.

FUZ are currently handling several cases in which players want to move out of clubs since some of the teams haven’t been paying them since March.

The 2020 domestic season remain suspended and there are no indications when it’s likely to begin.

Kadewere Still Hurt By Dembare Snub

ZIMBABWE international striker, Tino Kadewere says being rejected by Dynamos Football Club in 2014 was a huge personal blow for him because playing for the Glamour Boys was a lifelong dream.

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The lanky forward was offered to DeMbare by football manager Gibson Mahachi but the then Glamour Boys technical team felt the Prince Edward schoolboy wasn’t good enough after a trial stint.

Kadewere,18 then, was accompanied to the Dembare trials by his Prince Edward school teammate, Thomas Chideu, who also wanted to impress through trials.

A break into the biggest Zimbabwean club, Dynamos, remains a fantasy for many young footballers in Zimbabwe.

The Olympique Lyon forward has now spoken about the hurt he felt when his boyhood club rejected him.

“I was very sad because it was my dream team in Zimbabwe but, then, I did not give up,’’ he said.

“I kept on working hard and praying to God for the best.

“My brother Prosper kept telling me to keep a cool head and continue working hard.

Prosper Kadewere also spoke of his sibling’s Dembare rejection.

“After that trial, Tino was rejected. He was devastated. I personally had to drive to Zimphos to collect him and he was quiet the whole journey.

“Those that had qualified were asked to remain for lunch. I had to talk to him and leave him home,” said Prosper who also doubles the player’s local manager.

Tino also spoke about his family and upbringing.

“My (late) father and my brothers inspired me the most.

“Growing up, I used to tell myself that I want to be better than them, people used to tell me my brother Prince was a star so I had to surpass that.

“I am not surprised (by what he has achieved so far), to be honest, because my whole family used to tell me that one day I will be one of the best players to come out of Zimbabwe.’’

DeMbare legend Moses Chunga, who has a good eye for exciting football talent, has already picked Tino as a star for the future.

Unfortunately, during 2014, Chunga had no influence at the Glamour Boys to force them to take Kadewere on board.

 

Highlanders Fans Chip In With Help For Dembare9 Victims’ Families

In a touching show of camaraderie Highlanders Football Club supporters chipped in with cash and resources at yesterday’s function to commemorate the fourth annivessary of the road accident that claimed the lives of nine DeMbare fans.

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On the 11th of June 2016, the club lost nine of their fans in a road accident in Battlefields as they travelled to watch their team in a league encounter against Chapungu at Ascot in 2016.

And as Dynamos fans handed over food hampers to families of the deceased and survivors at the club offices at the National Sports Stradium, Highlanders fans in Harare represented by Tawanda Mudzengi were on hand to deliver their cash and resources to the bereaved families.

Dynamos vice-chairman Moses Shumba was naturally elated at the gesture by the Bosso fans.

“To have Highlanders supporters rallying behind this initiative is a great sign that our football is growing.

“We should only be enemies for 90 minutes and beyond that, we embrace each other as brothers and sisters. I salute you Highlanders fans.”

For the first time since the initiative came into place three years ago, survivors of the crash also received food hampers.

DeMbare Look Beyond Covid-19

DYNAMOS chairman Isaiah Mupurutsa says they have since started working on life after Covid-19.

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The local Premiership was suspended over two months ago with a framework for the way forward currently being worked on.

Mupfurutsa said the focus now is on preparing their life after the lockdown or whenever time they are allowed to resume football.

He viewed the life after Covid-19 lockdown as a loss in waiting as he said more costs wait for the club.

“Sooner or later we will be going back to our normal lives. The before and after coronavirus life won’t be the same. We will have more bills to take care of upon resuming training.”

“It’s a loss in waiting. We will need money for the protective clothing, sanitisers, face masks and disinfectants among other things,” said Mupfurutsa.

The chairman vowed to have all the protective clothing for the club.

“There will be a lot we didn’t plan for that will be required and we will make sure we provide all the prevention clothes. We won’t compromise on health and we are already planning for that life.”

“It won’t be easy but we will fight. We will put it on our priority list. Their health is our number one priority,” he added.

Mupfurutsa, who has been preaching the gospel of commercialising the club, said the programme is on the right track.

They recently launched a platform for selling replica jersey and said they are pursuing a licence that will help them have distributing agents.

“We are on the right track in terms of commercialising. We are starting with the replicas. We will have our nominated agents not the norm of seeing everyone and anyone selling our replicas.

“We want fans to buy the replicas as a way of helping or contributing to the team. We are at the final stages of registering our business and that will guard us from anyone who will sell our jerseys without our permission. With a license we will be able to apply the law.”

TYMON MVULA PAYS TRIBUTE TO JUNIORS’ COACH

DYNAMOS FC prospective number one goalkeeper for the forthcoming season Taimon Mvula, has paid tribute to his junior coach Zibonele Ncube.

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Mvula who joined DeMbare from Hwange FC at the beginning of the year, remembers the slap he got from his coach after straying while courting a girl’s favour.

“We were travelling to play in Hwange when I admired a passing girl and I followed her. Ncube and the team manager found me absent.

“When they asked where I was, my teammates said I had followed a girl. When I came back jogging, the coach asked me where I was and, as I was about to tell a lie, he slapped me in public,” said Mvula.

The goalkeeper said after being slapped in public, he tried to leave but Ncube insisted that he (Mvula) would be in goal despite being in an angry mood.

The team lost 5-3.

“After the match Ncube came to me and said he wanted me to go far in my football career.

“I met him when I was with Hwange and he reminded me of the incident and his words. He said he was moulding me into a great player,” said the Victoria Falls born star who attended Chinotimba Primary School and Mosi Oa Tunya Secondary School.

Mvula started at Victoria Falls junior club Super Eagles before graduating to the Division Two senior side.

He later graduated to Division One side Victoria Falls United who released him to Hwange Juniors.

He later was promoted to deputise, Timothy Sibanda, the son of legendary Wankie FC, Chibuku Shumba and Rhodesia goalkeeper Posani.

“The person who inspired me in football is Wellington Majazi, the former Intundla goalkeeper,” said the 27-year-old goal minder who is at the prime of his career.

Mvula who regards Ncube as one of the best coaches he has worked with, said he had left Hwange in pursuit of new challenges.

“As a Victoria Falls lad, Hwange was not my final destination,” declared Mvula who played junior football with former Bosso striker Nhlanhla Ndlovu, Sipho Ndlovu of Chicken Inn and FC Platinum’s Gift Mbweti.

Mvula is among the 2020 season’s acquisition expected to turn around the fortunes of the country’s most successful club Dynamos.

He is touted as a national team prospect.

Dembare Want Authority Over Club Merchandise

DYNAMOS Football Club, who are undergoing a professional revolution, are putting in place stringent logistical requirements that will see them tapping all revenue streams into the club coffers..

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Club Chairman Isaiah Mupfurutsa confirmed that they are in the process of finalising some copyright issues which will give them absolute authority to own all club merchandise.

The Harare giants have since set up a stand-alone commercial division that will oversee and try to exploit all available income-generating channels, including the sale of merchandise.

The Glamour Boys, the country’s most-supported football club, haven’t been cashing in on their fan base as some enterprising people have, instead, filled that gap over the years.

By their admission, DeMbare have lost millions of dollars in potential revenue from the sale of merchandise over the years.

They have only been getting income from sponsorship, and gate takings, which is usually consumed by other costs, including stadium hire, as well as mandatory payments to ZIFA, PSL and other service providers.

But, the former champions who, of late, have been desperate to transform the way they run their club, seem to have awoken from their lengthy slumber.

“We have realised we have been losing a lot in potential revenue as we have not explored this avenue,” said Mupfurutsa.

“We have a bulging fan base yet we haven’t converted that loyalty into big business.

“What a business needs is loyalty first, and we have that but, we have lacked ways of harnessing all that into revenue.

“We have a five-year plan that runs between now and 2025 in which we are planning to transform the team into a mega-project.

“We are working on establishing a commercial division which will be responsible for driving our business. We are starting by establishing a good team with a sound junior policy and ensure we produce results, which is the prime factor that brings supporters to the club.

“We will, in the near future, partner big shops to sell our merchandise. We are setting up sound distribution channels to ensure that everyone, who needs a Dynamos piece, gets it.’’

He said vendors who sell counterfeit products with the team’s logos have been a threat to their enterprise over the years.

“Of course, those (vendors) have posed a huge threat, but we cannot entirely blame them as we have not been doing what we are supposed to do as a club,’’ he said.

“We have not been providing what our fans want and those vendors have merely moved in to fill that gap which we have created as a team.

“We have now opened our eyes and decided to establish ourselves in the business world. We know our fans are loyal and they will come in and support us.

Mupfurutsa said in the long run, the club will also partner other companies, and also ensure they have mobile shops, to cater for those who want to buy their merchandise at stadiums.

Dembare Take Leading Role In Club Licensing Requirements

DYNAMOS were yesterday morning conducting a virtual executive conference as they are leaving no stone unturned in their bid to professionalise their operations.

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The Premiership football giants have silently been addressing their flaws to comply with Club Licensing requirements.

Virtually all Premiership teams had huge Club Licensing gaps last season and with ZIFA urging them to play their part in addressing that, DeMbare seem to have taken a leading role.

Club executive chairman, Isaiah Mupfurutsa, said Dynamos were doing everything to make sure they were in compliance with Club Licensing requirements by the time the 2020 season kicks off.

The delayed term has been provisionally scheduled to commence in August/September.

“As a club, we have been trying to play our role to conform with Club Licensing issues.

“It is always right to do the right thing. That is what we are aiming,” Mupfurutsa said. “Look, we set down as a team and decided to look at it that way. You can never be a professional team if you do not want to behave professionally.

“This is one area we have been looking at. We have the potential to become a magnificent club if we do our things in a professional way. So Club Licensing is one way to address professionalism.”

Club Licensing requires teams to have a professional set up with vibrant junior structures in place as well as proper administrative organisation, legal and financial frameworks.

The Glamour Boys have already set a feeder side, the Under-19 team which play in the Division Two.

They have activated their systems to include fully-fledged junior structures and they have already recruited qualified coaches for the initiative.

“For years, we have been running the senior team only but, the problem has always been the same. We have had to go out of our way to replace those who would have left the club as we didn’t have proper structures in our development programme.

“Now, we have moved to address that. Club Licensing is helpful. It isn’t a punishment but a proper way of professionalising the running of the teams.

“Instead of us always looking to buy players, we will be the ones selling players and the business will be lucrative.

“Gone are the days when football was for fun, now it is a mega business and we ought to reflect that in how we operate,” Mupfurutsa said.

Unlike in the past when Dynamos were notorious for dumping players in time of need especially when they suffer injuries, Dynamos have shown to be a changed lot as they went out of their way to make sure captain Partson Jaure got treated after he was involved in an accident back in March.

Jaure is recovering at home and he is expected to be fully fit when the season is finally allowed to kick-off.

“We have put in place proper administrative structures with clearly defined roles for each member.

“The financial aspect comes with good corporate governance which is what we are thriving to do.

“We will continue addressing all the other aspects of Club Licensing to fully comply and professionalise our operations as a club,” Mupfurutsa added.

Murwira Discharged From Hospital After Successful Operation

Versatile utility player Godknows Murwira underwent a successful operation of his troublesome knee at a local hospital and was discharged yesterday.

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The developments will certainly cheer the Dynamos family as the club went out of its way to fund the whole process

Murwira, who injured his knee late last year before the injury worsened during pre-season, went under the knife on Friday and will now need between six to eight weeks to fully recover.

The 26-year-old on-loan Murwira had been ruled out for the first half of the 2020 Premiership season.

However, the beginning of the competition was shelved due to the coronavirus and chances are now high the midfielder will be fit by the time the league kicks off.

ZIFA have set August/September as tentative kick-off dates.

With Murwira now on the path to recovery, the Harare giants’ camp was in high spirits yesterday.

“We are glad to announce that our player Godknows Murwira has been released from hospital after undergoing a successful knee operation,” Dynamos spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said yesterday

“The doctors are saying it will take at least six weeks for him to recover and we are hoping for the best.”

The Dynamos Executive led by banker Isaiah Mupfurutsa have brought a wholesome professional touch to the Harare giants, previously notorious for neglecting injured players.

A few days ago, Mupfurutsa had promised that they had booked Murwira for a knee operation at a local hospital.

True to their word, the process has been done.

Only recently, the club took full responsiblity for captain Partson Jaure’s medical expenses after he was injured in a road accident in March.

Dembare Best Of Them All

THEY might have been trapped in mediocrity in the past half-a-dozen years, in which they have even battled relegation but, over the course of the domestic Premiership, they remain the dominant football beast around.

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It was the same case in the pre-Independence era, when Dynamos were crowned champions five times in 1963, 1965, 1970, 1976 and 1978.

The closest the opposition came to competing against them were Bulawayo Rovers, with two league titles in 1962 and 1964, Bulawayo Sables in 1968 and 1969, and Salisbury Sables in 1972 and 1974.

The others were just one-off winners of the league championship during that period.

St Paul’s Musami won in 1966, Tornadoes in 1967, Arcadia United in 1971, Metal Box in 1973, Chibuku in 1975, Zimbabwe Saints in 1977 and CAPS United in 1979.

The dominance reached another level in the first decade after Independence as the Glamour Boys won the first four league titles before taking their number of championships, during that period alone, to seven in 10 years.

Only Black Rhinos, who won twice in 1984 and 1987, having to pluck some of the best players from both DeMbare and CAPS United to provide the foundation of their challenge, and Zimbabwe Saints, who won once in 1988, prevented a clean sweep.

The opposition offered a better challenge in the ‘90s, especially after Highlanders came of age and found a way to win their first league title in 1990, with Bosso taking home three championships that decade.

They won in 1990, 1993 and 1998/1999.

Black Aces, with one championship in 1992, and CAPS United, with another league title in 1996 — their first since Independence — took the other honours but, once again, the decade belonged to the dominant beast.

DeMbare won four league championships in 1991, 1994, 1995 and 1997.

However, the new decade came with huge challenges for the Glamour Boys who were forced, for the first time in their history, to watch from a distance as others feasted on the honour that comes with being champions.

A resurgent Bosso won the first three league championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002 before being pipped in the 2003 marathon by Amazulu in a tight contest decided by just a point.

CAPS United, under Charles Mhlauri’s version of total football, won back-to-back league titles in 2004, in record-breaking fashion, and 2005, when they beat the challenge of a self-destructing Masvingo United on the final day of the season.

Bosso were back in business in 2006, their fourth league title during that decade, before DeMbare, under the guidance of David Mandigora, found a way back into the light by ending a barren 10-year-wait for glory.

Edward Sadomba was one of the stars of that campaign.

It remained the only league championship the Glamour Boys won in the first decade of the new millennium.

They finished second in 2008, when outsiders Monomotapa won their only championship, and second again in 2009, when outsiders Gunners won their only league title.

The last decade started with DeMbare again finishing second, to Motor Action, in 2010 before Callisto Pasuwa changed the script for them as they transformed themselves into champions in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Three of those titles were won by superior goal difference, twice getting the better of Bosso simply because they had managed to balance the goals they scored, and those they conceded, better than their bitter rivals.

All those four league titles were confirmed on the final day of the season and the final two championships were won, with a little helping hand in the drama of that Super Sunday, from CAPS United who destroyed the dreams of Harare City and ZPC Kariba in successive years.

While DeMbare haven’t won the league championship for six years, and the battles in the era of the domestic Premiership, which got underway in 1993, have been closer than in the old Super League, the Glamour Boys still remain the dominant football beast around.

It’s a measure of their pedigree that, in an era when they went 10 years without winning the league championship between 1997 and 2007, they still have the best return, in terms of titles won, since the dawn of the domestic Premiership.

The Glamour Boys have won eight league championships, during this era, in 1994, 1995, 1997, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 and that give them top spot.

Bosso have won six league championships, during this era, in 1993, 1998/1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2006, and are in second spot.

CAPS United have won four league championships, during this period, in 1996, 2004, 2005 and 2016.

All the Green Machine championship-winning sides have featured Lloyd Chitembwe, either as a player in 1996, 2004 and 2005, or as a coach in 2016.

DeMbare’s best run, in terms of points, was when they finished with 71 points in 1998/1999 but, they didn’t win the league then, as they finished second behind Highlanders, just a point behind the eventual winners.

The only other time the Glamour Boys breached the 70-point mark was in 2017 but, again, they failed to win the league as they finished two points behind FC Platinum.

Mhlauri’s CAPS United set the benchmark, when it comes to points in winning the league championship, by taking their tally to 79 en-route to being champions in 2004.

They won 25 of their 30 games, again another record, drew four and lost just one, against Bosso at the National Sports Stadium in a seven-goal thriller.

Nothing puts the Green Machine’s incredible adventure that season than the fact that Highlanders could only pick 78 points, in winning the league, in the 38-game season at the turn of the millennium.

With a further 24 points to play with, from the extra eight games, Bosso could only take their tally to 78, a point less than what CAPS United amassed, in 30 games, in 2004.

But, the bragging rights remain with the old beast, DeMbare, who have accumulated 1439 points in the era of the Premiership, Bosso are in second place with 1380 points and CAPS United are in third place with 1316 points.

Even after being deducted six points for using Tendai Mwarura and Edmore Mufema in two separate seasons, the Glamour Boys still rule the roost.