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condemn FA Cup winners Wigan to the Championship with a 4-1 victory.
Tomorrow, Kazembe will bein the north-east of England to watch the Gunners’ final league game against Newcastle United, a game they need to win to guarantee themselves a place in the Champions League next season.
Kazembe is in England for an exhibition on security, which is his industry, but has found space to squeeze in some time for his Gunners.
But for all the joy that he enjoyed watching them destroy Wigan at the Emirates, and the thrill he expects to get when they secure their Champions League place at St James Park tomorrow, Kazembe says he will feel sad to miss the Harare Derby at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow.
Yesterday, the Harare businessman, who was the DeMbare secretary-general when they completed their League and Cup Double last year before leaving the club to concentrate on his business, told The Herald it’s never easy to miss the Derby.
“It’s disappointing because there is no SuperSport connection here which would have given me a chance to watch it because it’s never easy to miss such a big game, especially when you have been so involved in one of the teams like me,” said Kazembe.
Kazembe said his tour of the Emirates was an eye-opener and a reminder of how clubs like Dynamos and CAPS United remain trapped in poverty when they have the capacity to turn themselves into multi-million dollar organisations.
He said it was sad that the two giants continue to lose players to teams in the South African Premiership, which in turn has weakened them and also taken the glow out of the Harare Derby because all the big stars are now in Mzansi.
CAPS United have, over the last three years, lost Nyasha Mushekwi, Method Mwanjali, Tafadzwa Rusike, Gilbert Mapemba, Oscar Machapa and Lionel Mtizwa to South African clubs.
Dynamos have lost Washington Arubi, Takesure Chinyama, Rodreck Mutuma, Simba Sithole, Cuthbert Malajila and Denver Mukamba to the Super Diski clubs.
Kazembe said it was disappointing that a club like DeMbare was now powerless and could lose their best players to modest clubs like University of Pretoria and Bidvest Wits.
“It’s sad to imagine that a big team like Dynamos can lose a player to a bottom of the league club in SA,” said Kazembe.
“There is need for professionalism. People running our clubs should be professional.
“They should run clubs as if they were running a business. They must use a business model.
“They should come up with clear objectives, in other words, where they want their clubs to be in the next three or five years both in terms of success on the field of play and success commercially.
“They should analyse the gap between where they are now and where they want to be. They should then come up with strategies to fill up the gap.
There is need for patience, focus and, most importantly, discipline.
“They may also learn from other successful foreign clubs.”
Kazembe said there were strategies that could be implemented that could bring a financial boom to the clubs.
“This will in turn bring stability and excitement to the league and Zimbabwean football at large. This will lure sponsors,” said Kazembe.
“The league will, therefore, be more attractive to our stars both in terms of excitement and its financial rewards.
“Dynamos, CAPS and Highlanders can easily be the biggest clubs in Southern Africa.
“There is need for change.”
But Kazembe has been there before and was part of the DeMbare leadership, so were these things not implemented?
“There is too much politics at the expense of professionalism in our football,” said Kazembe.
“Some people are not appointed on merit.
“They are not in their positions because of the value they will add to the teams, or football at large, but because of who they are and who they are connected to.
“By the way, talking of politics in football, there is politics everywhere. Even in the English FA, Fifa and at our workplaces, there is politics. Politics will always be there.
“What is key is to balance politics with the sought objectives. Football must win at the end of the day.”
Kazembe has been charmed by the professionalism that he has seen in English football.
“To be perfectly honest these guys are organised.
“I left Finsbury Park 15 minutes before kick-off time, jumped on to a train and by kick-off I was in my seat in the stadium,” he said about his trip to the Emirates.
“Thousands of people get into the stadium within a few minutes. It also takes a few minutes to leave the stadium. It’s so amazing.
“No pressure, nothing, the key is pre-paid tickets and electronic access control on the gates.
“The atmosphere is electric. Supporters are, indeed, the 12th player. You hear boos here and there but they always cheer their team, especially when the chips are down.
“They have different songs or war-cries to motivate the team throughout the match. Match days are big business.
“On every bay they have an outlet for food and drinks for sale. They even sell alcohol but it’s not allowed into the sitting bays. People eat and drink.
“They also have an Arsenal shop outside the stadium. It’s also very busy before the match as no one wants to get into the stadium without regalia. They also sell the match day programme for three pounds.
“With 60 000 supporters in the stadium, if only 30 000 buy the programme that’s easily 90 000 pounds which is about US$150 000. Almost everyone buys the programme notes.
“I think they make far much more money from other things than gate takings.”
Okay, Ray, all good, so who will win the Harare derby?
“This derby is difficult to predict. History doesn’t count in these matches. CAPS started well this season, despite a few losses here and there. I think they are stronger than last year.
“Dynamos started slowly but they seem to have found the winning formula.
“What I know is these teams rise to the occasion in these Derbies. Anything can happen but obviously I would be happy if Dynamos wins.”
Online Reporter