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Charles Mhlauri
IT is a sad day for the game when we lose such a legendary coach like Barry Daka who had such a wealth of knowledge and experience.
My thoughts are with Mayfield (his son) and the Daka family.
Barry has died at a time when he still had a lot to offer to the game.
I am pained.
Our football over the years did not fully utilise Barry despite his massive and well-documented achievements as a player, mentor, coach and father.
The country could have benefited more if only we could absorb him in a meaningful role within the structures of the game.
He was very passionate about football in general and junior development in particular.
I knew him more when he was coaching Highlanders.
He is one guy that would stop by to give me ideas on my soccer projects, especially the Phinda Mzala FC that he would watch and invite me to meet him later.
He is one guy that lived for the game.
He remained humble despite his iconic status in the game. I , however, feel he never got the credit he deserved.
He always did the work; others got the credit.
His main attributes were his strength to co-exist and lead all generations, yet he refused to age with time, he was up-to-date with the modern-day slang.
He coached some of the best, difficult, talented players with ease.
Where some coaches would want to throw the first punch, Barry would default into his fatherly figure and make the player understand and get the best out of the team.
He was talented, could speak any language and loved old-school jazz.
He was a fountain of wisdom and paid attention to detail.
My last interaction with him was in March 2019 when I briefly came back home at Raylton Sports Club when he was attending a practice game between Bulawayo City and TelOne.
Need I mention that I was not surprised to find him in the company of Ali “Baba’’ Dube and Ernest Sibanda.
That afternoon we went to watch a PSL friendly at BF (Barbourfields).
Entry into BF was not smooth as the marshals did not make it easy; it was only the intervention of Ali Baba and Ernest Sibanda that saved the day.
The fun part of it was that when all this fiasco was happening, Barry remained calm. That was Barry for you.
It pains me more to learn that he passed on without getting the full recognition he deserves.
Here is a man who achieved all but flew away on some happy day with little or nothing from the game.
The game remains poorer.
It is high time our football goes back to the drawing board and gives our soccer people the respect they deserve.
Our game will move more forward when we see more of the guys like Barry Daka in our technical committees.
It does not help to scream the loudest after the fact.
He was also very ‘prophetic’ and visionary, and on November 6 2016, this is what he said in The Chronicle:
“Those that are knowledgeable about what has been happening in the game are passing on by day without passing on a lot about the history.
“We need to appreciate the route the game has taken to the present day. There were successes more on the development of talent at grassroots level with mines, companies and local authorities very much involved,” said Daka.
He said yesteryear greats who may be coaches, players and administrators have a role in shaping the future of the game.
“Someone who played the game and ventures into coaching at times is better listened to because he can demonstrate and mere mention of his past may stimulate better interest,” said Daka who played for Hwange, Highlanders and Olympics.
He said it was not too late for the “legend” concept to be branded and this could help former players get something to do within the sport.
“My disappointment comes from the fact that the football family appears to have forgotten the role played in the game by former players. Once they retire they become a forgotten lot. Something can certainly be done to look at their welfare and they can be tapped into for the development of the game as coaches and administrators. They played the game, they have the passion for it,” said Daka.
Uvaye sharp topi, thank you for the time and wisdom.
Charles Mhlauri if a former Warriors coach and currently the director of CM international Soccer Academy in the United States.
Online Reporter