adminESTEEMED followers of the game of football, thank you for finding time for interaction. There surely is something that FC Platinum goalkeeper and 2016 Castle Lager soccer of the year finalist, Petros Mhari is doing, but should be not or something he is not doing, but should be!Or how have his exploits this season failed to impress national team selectors?
Over the entire just-ended season, Mhari has been one of the most consistent performers and just another main man for the Zvishavane outfit, a vital cog in the miners’ machinery if you will.
While some shall argue that the spike-haired ‘keeper benefited from a watertight defence – on his way to conceding the least number of goals while also helping his team to the joint least losses in the league – well-marshaled by Bift Bello and Elvis Moyo, Mhari certainly also played a part organising that defence and kudos to him.
But if a golden glove winner in the local league, with the most clean sheets in the period under review gets continuously overlooked for national duty it becomes a major talking point.
Going by meritocracy, Mhari was the best shot-stopper in the land by a country mile and how he failed to get drafted into the national team setup remains quite puzzling. The FC Platinum Number One made a steady progress over the season and his exertions between the sticks warranted some recognition from the Warriors selectors.
Just to lend credence to the truism that “you cannot keep a good team down” the panel of this year’s soccer star of the year selectors comprising club head coaches, their team captains and selected journalists settled for Mhari, as the most outstanding goalkeeper of the entire lot and do we still doubt his pedigree even after that endorsement? Was that not enough to stamp his seal of approval?
We have to give credit where it is due, and fortunately the panel recognised and acknowledged the huge role he played as he starred in his team’s cause with virtually no blemish.
At the very least, he deserves a chance for a Warriors call-up and also get the rule run over him, even as a fringe player, since he has done enough to earn and justify his inclusion.
Perhaps this then boils down to the persuasion and conviction of the style of play the national team coach prefers and probably Mhari does not tick the boxes of the technical qualities which Calisto Pasuwa demands of his keepers. But then there is no such thing as perfection and, granted, Mhari may still be a little rough around the edges, but can he not get polished him into a gem?
Again, do we not put off Mhari by not rewarding him for the stellar season he has enjoyed in 2016; for representing one’s own country is a height of achievement?
Also, do we not run the risk of having the current two Warriors goalies growing complacent and resting on their laurels in the false comfort that they are nailed-on first choices or starters in the team?
When former national team goalie Tapuwa Kapini torched a discussion about the merits of Mhari warranting a place in the Warriors, he, perhaps inadvertently, touched off a storm when we got to attack his person, even as he was entitled to his opinion, and missed the gist of his discourse.
While Sunderland goalie Jordan Pickford might have worked with Gareth Southgate at the England Under-21 level, yes, for the Sunderland goalkeeper to have received a call-up to the senior side speaks volumes of his potential; ability even. And that Tottenham Spurs are earmarking him for next season to compete with club captain and France first choice ‘keeper Hugo Loris is further testimony of how good the young star is, who has been one of the shining lights at the Stadium of Light for the struggling Black Cats.
As Mhari, overwhelmingly voted 2016’s best goalkeeper and among the finest XI of this season, continues to grope in the dark mist enveloping his continued exclusion from the draft Warriors, he should simply continue working hard and praying that one fine day the Heavens smile on and open up for him.
And Yours Truly’s sincere hope is that he does not get to hopelessly hope against hope.
It’s Game On, Play On!
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