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He said the Saints he watched were far from the team that he joined as a teenager in the late 1980s in search of fame. Then Saints had such an impressive resume with results on the field that made them one of the best teams since semi-professional soccer was born in 1963.
With two league titles, a Castle Cup, two Chibuku Trophy triumphs and others like the Jairos Jiri Fete and Nyore Nyore, to mention a few successes, Mugadza, who was from Bulawayo’s Mzilikazi suburb, was inspired to join the team of the moment. He wanted to follow great goalkeepers like Musa Muzanenhamo and Zebron Magorimbo, coincidentally from the same suburb.
His ambition was to see Zimbabwe Saints fight for glory but after years of frustration due to the team’s poor performance, he decided to move to AmaZulu. The team had all one would require to scale dizzy heights.
But once a Saints always a Chikwata.
Mugadza moved to Delma Lupepe’s AmaZulu when he had already played for junior teams and was already on the national team radar with several caps to his credit.
Mugadza was in the country to support his friend Benjani Mwaruwari’s testimonial match. He spent some time in the city before his departure back to the UK on Sunday via South Africa.
On Saturday, he was among a few who braved the chilly weather to watch a double fixture of Division One football at White City Stadium.
Chikwata played the second game of the day losing to Cosmas Zulu’s Sizani 1-0.
“My heart bleeds for Zimbabwe Saints. Where are the fans? Where is the flair and passing game the club was associated with?” asked Mugadza.
He said over the past decade he had kept in touch with what was happening at the club through the internet and was disturbed to discover that all the concerted efforts by some individuals were being put to waste.
Mugadza said Zimbabwe Saints had become a brand in Bulawayo. He said there was a need to assist the team to regain its lost status.
“It’s just not any other team. When I grew up there were four teams one would talk about. There was Caps United, Dynamos, Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints. It was every youngster’s dream to play for those four teams and it did not come as surprise that I played for Zimbabwe Saints.
“We played for the love of the game and the rich history associated with the club. We were prepared to risk our limbs for the club. Now it’s just not the brand we loved that you see on the field,” said Mugadza.
He bemoaned the failure by former players to play an active role of supporting the club.
“We cannot all be coaches. Some would have to be managers and administrators. As former players we know and understand the club’s history. We should take up administrative roles because we have a fair appreciation of what soccer entails.
“We should see a lot of former players in the club’s administration. I am not saying those who did not play should be shut out but they must come in and work with former players for the good of the club,” said Mugadza.
Saints, unless they improve their performance, are headed for Division Two.
Sponsorship has remained a big problem for the club with most of the well-to-do former players and administrators just playing the role of armhair critics. They do not want to save the club which, from the look of things, could go the Gweru United way.
Great footballers, some of the best that the fans have watched in this country like Simon Supiya, John Nyumbu, Andrew Kadengu, Ebson Sugar Muguyo, Max Tshuma, Muzanenhamo, Magorimbo, Ronald Sibanda, Itai Chieza, Douglas Maneto, Nqobizitha Maenzanise, Henry Mckop, Chita Antonio, the late William Sibanda, Joseph Machingura, Onias Musana, Obey Sova, George Ayibu, Moses Moyo and Emmanuel Sibanda all played for Saints when they were a team of choice.
Years of boardroom squabbles that started in 1991 have led to the death of the Saints brand.
Mugadza said a sense of pride must return to the club with all stakeholders working for the good of the team.
Online Reporter