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Lovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
“SAINTS made me what I am. It’s sad things have gone this way.”
These were the remarks of goalkeeping legend Muzondiwa Mugadza when he met this writer yesterday afternoon.
Earlier on, another club legend Ebson Sugar Muguyo had also lamented the demise of former football giant, Chikwata.
United Kingdom-based Mugadza said it was a sorry state of affairs for Zimbabwe Saints to disappear from the football radar.
Zimbabwe Saints were kicked out of the Zifa Southern Region two weeks ago after they failed to pay their dues. There have been concerted efforts though in the last fortnight to raise funds to clear the arrears.
Clearing the arrears and paying this year’s affiliation fees is however not the solution to challenges facing the club. There is a need to come up with a long-term solution that guarantees viability of the club.
Coaches and players are owed money so whatever rescue package people come up with, it should take into account the welfare of players and coaches.
“Saints made me what I am. It’s sad things have gone this way. We all have an obligation to save a legacy spanning for several decades. The club is one of the biggest to emerge from the country and has produced many national and international stars,” said Mugadza who is on holiday.
He is one to concede the game’s cruelty having been snubbed by soccer writers in 2003 when he led AmaZulu to their only league title conceding just 13 goals the whole season. Frustrated by that, he quit the game as three goalkeepers were voted among the 11 Soccer Stars of the Year finalists ahead of him. He then joined the great trek to the UK.
“To say let us see the club die and then resuscitate it from the ashes is wrong. It should be saved and it’s the responsibility of all of us who love the game. I have no doubt there are people waiting on the wings eager to pump money into the club.
“But for some reason there is that wait and see attitude which is not good for the club. We have to all work together and see to it that Saints is back on track,” said “Lazy Muzo” as he was affectionately known.
He said as former players in the diaspora, they were keen to help the club but this was only possible when all the club’ shortcomings were addressed.
In another development, Mugadza disclosed that former players and legends based in the UK had raised $250 towards medical bills for former Hwange and Monomotapa star Eddie Chitato.
“We have an organisation of former players that assists the needy in our society. We were touched by his plight and decided to contribute towards payment of his medical bills and this is not the first time that we have helped,” he said.
derick.khumalo