Cosmas Zulu calls for pension reform in sport

EMINENT football personality Cosmas Zulu has called on present-day administrators to introduce pension schemes or provident funds for players to safeguard their welfare after retirement.

He said the issue should not be addressed in isolation within football, but rather through a broader framework that encompasses professionals across various sporting disciplines.

“It is an important matter needing urgent attention. My challenge is to new club and association administrators to break the chain that has seen players suffer when they retire. We must introduce pension schemes as a matter of urgency to help the next generation of retired players and coaches,” said Zulu.

The veteran, whose colourful football journey began at 1615 hours one July afternoon in 1967 as a second-half substitute for Bulawayo Amateur Football Association side Combined Midlands, said he speaks with authority on the subject after 59 years in local football, where the issue has long been deferred.

“It has been a subject for another day for ages, football and sport needs that. Players invest almost 20 years of their most active lives engaged in club sport and when they walk away, there is nothing to take care of them and society turns its back on the men and women who drew them to stadia and entertained them. We have made a lot of noise on the subject, it is about time we were heard for the benefit of our sporting grandchildren,” said Zulu, who is unattached.

Zulu said both society and the football fraternity share responsibility for failing to advance the issue, as well as for not adequately guiding young players on financial discipline and life after football.

“Some of the blame as coaches we have to own it. We train the boys to play football and be better footballers, nobody pays attention to a lot of off the field matters like investment, drug and substance abuse and reckless sexual activity that young sportspersons face as a challenge. The present generation of coaches and administrators are faced with the challenge to correct past mistakes. Let us see our stars and sons retire to some investment or project that can sustain families,” said Zulu, who is widely regarded as well qualified to comment on the issue, having coached since 1983 and won more than 55 pieces of silverware.

Zulu played for Combined Midlands, Bush Bucks, Eastlands, Zimbabwe Saints and briefly for Highlanders before a ban from the game saw him transition into coaching as an assistant to Bobby Clark in 1983.

Working alongside the Scottish coach, Zulu was part of the development of several players, including Netsai Moyo and Willard Khumalo, who were promoted to the first team, while others from the junior ranks went on to make a mark in Zimbabwean football. One of them, Mercedes Sibanda, was crowned Zimbabwe Footballer of the Year in 1987.

He noted that not all players can transition into coaching or administrative roles due to limited opportunities, stressing the importance of preparing athletes for life beyond their playing careers. Zulu also expressed gratitude to Highlanders for facilitating his professional development through overseas training.

Zulu was sent to the United Kingdom and upon his return contributed to shaping Zimbabwean football through coaching stints with clubs such as Railstars, Zimbabwe Saints and Ngezi Platinum.