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THIS time last week, Zimbabwe football was celebrating a milestone victory, as the Warriors moved closer to qualifying for a place at the 2017 Nations Cup finals after a comprehensive 4-0 whipping of Swaziland at the National Sports Stadium.
But a week is a long time in football.
Yesterday, the game was searching its soul after a dramatic fallout between ZIFA benefactor Wicknell Chivayo and some sections of the country’s media triggered a chain of events, including the businessman’s withdrawal of his Warriors’ sponsorship package, and a raging social media battle.
Chivayo also took aim at the journalist who penned the article, which suggested that Warriors’ coach Callisto Pasuwa had not been paid for two months, with representatives of the football writers, in the Northern Region, reacting angrily to that attack.
The businessman said his relationship with football has even come at a cost, which he was prepared to bear, but the events of the weekend had led him to think otherwise.
“I’m doing this out of the goodness of my heart to support the nation. How many of you have ever seen what 10 thousand dollars looks like in real life now imagine 600 thousand dollars in these tough times,” he said on his Facebook account.
“If anything sponsoring soccer has in fact caused me more headaches than joy . . . THE TAX MAN came chasing after me and did a fictitious nonsensical lifestyle audit and demanded 1,4 million dollars.
“I’m not afraid because God looks after me at all times. I’ve made it very clear before that I can never ever intimidated for supporting national programmes. I’m a citizen of this country and I’m equally protected by the Constitution so the law will take its course.”
The Sunday Mail Sports Editor, Makomborero Mutimukulu, said they stood by their story.
“Yes, I have heard about the reaction to our story on the back page of yesterday’s edition of The Sunday Mail. The question I have been getting is: ‘How do you feel now that Sir Wicknell has ‘terminated’ his Warriors sponsorship?” he posted on his Facebook page.
“And here is the answer to those who have asked as well as those that will ask. Even if Chivayo was to hang himself soon after reading that story we will be standing by it just like we are doing now.”
And there was a flurry of activity on social media as fans took turns to discuss the events and here are some of their views:
Timo Ngwame
“Sunday Mail, I believe you . . . this Chivayo guy was feeling the heat on his pocket, your story was or is a blessing in disguise to him, he was bound to terminate his sponsoring of Warriors. Don’t feel intimidated at all you did a great job by covering the story, at least, the public now know the truth. Where on earth has you seen an individual sponsoring a team without any return?”
James Muyenganwa Sithole
“Many things in Zim have failed to succeed because of our overzealous journalists. It takes a wise man to notice that many coaches have been sacked because of the so-called journalists, even in politics they have the courage to take things out of proportion write them in their own view and never mind the damage. I thought this year would be a year of smiles but I tell you wait for June, we will all cry because the focus has been already shifted. But I wish to extend my thoughts to Mr Wicknell that please do not believe what this journo wrote about Pasuwa until you talk to Pasuwa himself.”
Patrick Tapiwa Mashawa
“I feel Chivayo’s anger is understandable, it is unprofessional and unethical for employees to air their grievances through the press without exhausting all internal channels. It is something that our sportsmen and women need to learn, they must desist from playing to the public gallery.
“At the end of the day, the public only express sympathy and some hurl abuse at Chivayo but, when all is said and done, the same supporters don’t even contribute a penny for the coach’s salary.
“A few years back, Econet withdrew its sponsorship of the PSL and the league went for three or so years without sponsorship. Even those who had caused Econet to pull out could not even give sponsorship for just one season. It is easier said than done.
“In DRC they have Governor Moise Katumbi and see how their teams are performing. But here we have people who question Chivayo’s motives in sponsoring the Warriors. In the past we have seen many Warriors training camps disrupted by player boycotts yet in the past two games none of that happened, thanks to Chivayo.”
Munhamo Henry
“He has found a way out. That story in the media is a blessing in disguise. Muhomwe hamusisina chiro basi. The Warriors have always been there, they are there and will always be there. NO ONE IS BIGGER THAN THE GAME OF FOOTBALL. Ngaagare nemari yake. The national team is a nation’s responsibility and not an individual’s.”
Mashaya Shelton
“As a father it’s difficult to carry a smile every day when you know the family is starving. The question is why hasn’t he received his dues? If he had been paid the story would have not been written.”
Sucovasi Enkosie
“The journos are okay because their duty is to inform the nation, no one must stoop too low just to please an individual. Philip Chiyangwa must stand to his promises he made during campaign.”
Givemore Memory Madzudzo
“In certain issues, the media should exercise restraint. This attitude of acting as if we are the world when we are simply a small part of it will take us nowhere. This political-like verbal bravado from Mutimukulu is uncalled for. Wicknell has his character but his money is the same with those who claim to be good, it’s needed at this point in time. Wicknell is not a pastor zvekuti we can stand here and accuse him of his behaviour, he is but controlled by youthful zeal, yet he does have what we don’t have yet required for our progress”
Lloyd Nyambodza
“Who is supposed to pay Pasuwa — ZIFA or Chivayo? If it’s ZIFA then blame ZIFA. AS far as I know ZIFA is the employer.”
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