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Eddie Chikamhi-Senior Sports Reporter
YADAH STARS owner, Prophet Walter Magaya, says while he is excited with the return of domestic football, he remains concerned with the state of the Warriors.
The senior national football team is struggling in its 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
The local Premiership bounces back next Wednesday after a three-month break, with a number of Chibuku Super Cup matches lined up for midweek.
Yadah Stars were the surprise packages in Group One, which is based in Harare.
They find themselves in second place, just behind runaway leaders Dynamos at the halfway stage of the campaign.
They resume their campaign against the Glamour Boys, buoyed by the huge financial injection into their coffers from their share of the US$5,3m deal with Sakunda Holdings, at the National Sports Stadium, on Wednesday.
A stunning win over CAPS United, in the first round, provided the high point of Yadah Stars campaign.
“I think I have said it again, and again, that the success of the Warriors, which is the success of my country, means more to me than the success of my club,’’ said Magaya.
“Yadah is ministry project and you can’t compare them with the Warriors, who are a national project, representing everyone who calls himself or herself a Zimbabwean.
“My whole involvement in football, ultimately, has to benefit the Warriors and when the national team is not doing well, as is currently the case, I lose a big part of that which inspires me to remain part of the game.
“We can win the tournament, that will be good, but that means nothing when the Warriors are not doing well in their international assignments.
“We have to find a way of bringing back our national team to the level which we all want, which makes us proud and, hopefully, the changes which have been made, in the coaching department, will take us there.
“We have been also trying to find out how best we can help the national team again, as we used to do in the past, and we are considering offering them camping facilities, at our complex, in our small way of giving them a helping hand.’’
Yadah coach, Genesis Mangombe was skeptical about his team regaining the momentum they had picked, before the campaign was halted.
“At least, we are relieved football is back. I cannot complain much about the fitness because we had given our players individual training programmes, which they have been following, during the lockdown.
“So, this week we have been working on the tactical aspects of the game and the combinations. But, to be honest, the lockdown affected our momentum,’’ he said.
The Glamour Boys were unbeaten in their first six games and have 14 points, from six games.
Coach Tonderai Ndiraya believes the coming in of Sakunda Holdings will be the game-changer which will reignite the beast within his men.
“It has come just at the right time, when we are preparing for the resumption of the Chibuku Super Cup, and also the league. The motivation is enough for us to do better,’’ he said.
“We have capable players and, with this kind of motivation, we know for sure that we will be able to be very competitive.’’
DeMbare played a friendly match against Simba Bhora, yesterday and of the Shamva Division One side’s function, in Harare last night, where they unveiled their kit sponsorship deal.
The Glamour Boys laboured to a 1-0 win.
Morale has also returned to all-time high in the Highlanders camp.
Bosso are second in Group 2, behind leaders Chicken Inn, and they are looking to turn the tables, after receiving a similar sponsorship boost, like the one poured into the Dynamos coffers.
The Bulawayo giants had lost almost two weeks of training, because of unrest in their camp, as players boycotted the sessions in an attempt to push for the payment of overdue salaries and bonuses.
However, their coach Mandla Mpofu, is still confident they will be ready for their first game, against Bulawayo City, next Thursday.
“I’m impressed with how the players are responding to our training methods. We started late and we have been doing cardio training at Ascot Racecourse, since last Wednesday.’’
CAPS United have not enjoyed the same pampering from Sakunda Holdings and the club were forced to release a public statement, to dismiss reports, they turned down overtures from the energy giants.
The Green Machine will have to do without two of their best players from the first round, Ishmael Wadi and Blessing Sarupinda, who have found new clubs in South Africa.
Their coach, Darlington Dodo, had given the rest of the team individual training programmes to follow, during the lockdown.
“The lockdown period was too long, so, at the end of the day, the work rate changed and some players could no longer perform the way they did, when lockdown came into effect.
“The players are still motivated, we were communicating, sharing information, during the lockdown, keeping each other motivated,” he said.
Fixtures
Wednesday September 29:
Herentals v ZPC Kariba 11am, Dynamos v Yadah 3pm (National Sports Stadium), Cranborne v Manica 11am, Black Rhinos v Tenax 3pm (Sakubva), Triangle v Ngezi 11am, FC Platinum v WhaWha 3pm (Mandava), Chicken Inn v Bulawayo City 1pm (Barbourfields)
Thursday September 30:
Harare City v CAPS United 3pm (National Sport Stadium), Highlanders v Bulawayo Chiefs 3pm (Barbourfields)
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