Vusumuzi Dube
Mandla Moyo, Sports Correspondent
THOSE that are passionate about world’s most beautiful game are accustomed to watching the creme de la creme of the sport, fighting it out to prove who among them is superior.
This has in turn put a blanket over the works of others including the subalterns of the game who have been relegated to playing social football here in Zimbabwe and beyond. However, as one scholar once observed, “even subalterns have a story to tell.”
In effort to make them tell their story, Bulawayo Social Soccer League (BSSL) has come up with a platform for lower level players of the game who play social football every week under its watchful eye.
What is more interesting about the subalterns story is that at a time when goals are hard to come by on the side of town an avalanche of such are scored every weekend when teams clash. These goals can be a dozen or more in one game, leaving those watching in a frenzy of excitement because that’s what makes football exciting.
At the same time, the fact that when some of their heroes quit the game at the highest level they join them, and it takes the excitement to another level while adding more depth to the script. According to the BSSL Chairman, Ntandoyenkosi Sibindi, the league has addressed post-playing days for players while also maintaining a social atmosphere.
“BSSL has addressed the post playing days gap and keeps the players in the game in a social atmosphere fitting for the retired folks. The community is leveraging from the experience of former topflight players and have a chance to watch them play and play with them again,” said Sibindi.
Among those are Douglas Mloyi, Mthulisi Maposa, Chipo Tsodzo among others. This morning the story of the subalterns comes alive in all community grounds across the City starting at 1100hrs.
Today’s Match Day 31 Fixtures
Group A
Brotherhood vs Zulu Chiefs : 1100hrs (Desert); Magwegwe Bullets vs Makwee : 1100hrs ( Magwegwe High); 70 Combination vs Funda : 1100hrs (Mambo); Tigers vs Man U : 1100hrs ( Mazayi); FC Pirates vs Glenkara :1100hrs (Rugby); Stars vs Patapata : 1100hrs (Iminyela); Vulavale vs Iminyela : 1100hrs (Magwegwe West); Fireworks vs Mthala : 1100hrs (Luveve High); Creamtata vs Old Timers: 1100hrs (Lob Youth Centre); Edgars vs Cowdray Masters : 1100hrs (Somhlolo)
Group B
Pelandaba vs West Comm :1100hrs (Induba Pry School); N.J.C vs 94 Strivers: 1300hrs (Mazayi);
Hyde Park vs Emganwini Legends : 1100hrs( Hyde Park Shops); Pioneer vs Santos : 1300hrs( Bango); Ndola vs Happy Valley : 1300hrs (Iminyela); Khami vs Delta : 1100hrs (Khami); Sekusile vs Congo :1100hrs (Nkulumane); Nketa vs Mabuthweni : 1100hrs (Nketa); B.C.T vs Gwabalanda : 1100hrs Luveve (Opposite Stadium); Robert Sinyoka vs Osiphatheleni: 1100hrs (Robert Sinyoka)
Group C
Finance vs Wolves : 1100hrs (T.M Cowdray Park ); Bangane vs Mex Mawaya : 1100hrs (Nkulumane 11 Choppies); Celtics vs Real Shwelele : 1100hrs (Food 4 Less); Skippers vs Shwelele: 1100 hrs (Bango); Mayihlome vs Real Magwegwe : 1100hrs( Inyathi Youth Centre); Zobha vs Matshobane: 1100hrs (Sizinda); Nkulumane vs Zonke: 1100hrs (Phekiwe); Bombers vs Njube Crackers : 1100hrs (Entumbane); Wembley vs Siyabangena : 1100hrs (Lobengula High); Luveve vs Lobels : 1100hrs( Chigumira)
Online Reporter