adminSenior Sports Reporter
FORMER Under-17 national team and Premiership title winning Monomotapa FC technical department member, Rodwell Dhlakama, says Mutare will continue to have its teams promoted and demoted in a short space of time if they do not see the need to get coaches and players with Premiership football experience.
A bonafide Manicaland product, who did his primary education at Rebai Primary School deep in the thickets of Chikore Mission in Chipinge District and later at Baring Primary in Florida, Mutare before enrolling at Dangamvura High School for his secondary education, Dhlakama, poured his heart out in a wide-ranging interview from Swaziland where he is yet to secure a job after failing to agree on terms with Swazi outfit, Black Mambas recently.
He told this newspaper that local (Mutare) players and coaches were good, but where there was need to get experienced staff from elsewhere, let it be.
He believes that there is lack of unity of purpose among key stakeholders in football in Mutare with consistent personality clashes prevailing at the expense of the development of the game in the region.
Dhlakama’s sentiments come hard on the heels of the demotion of Buffaloes FC and Dongo Sawmills FC from the domestic top-flight league.
Buffaloes’ four-year stint in the top-flight league came to a screeching halt at the end of the 2015 season, while Dongo Sawmills only spent one season in the Premiership.
As if that was enough, newly promoted Mutare City Rovers’ preseason preparations seem to be nothing more than a farce, without any acquisition worth writing home since regrouping early last week.
Ephraim Masakure has been appointed assistant coach in a new technical set up that also includes Mighty Warriors and former Buffaloes goalkeepers’ coach, Peter Masibera.
While Masibera’s appointment has not been questioned, Masakure’s inclusion has shocked many as stakeholders query the former Buffaloes coach’s pedigree at this level of the game, let alone the time he had spent out of touch with domestic football dynamics.
“It is important to have players and coaches from Sakubva and Dangamvura who can easily identify with the community. You can never expect to win the hearts of people in Mutare if their own brothers or children are not part of the team. This is why teams like Motor Action or Monomotapa failed to win the hearts and minds of people in Sakubva when they tried using Sakubva Stadium as their home ground.
“However, it is equally important to get the right man for the right job. It should not just always be about being a player or coach from Mutare. For example, teams from that side need coaches with real experience in Premiership football. There is no substitute for experience in any sphere of life and soccer is no exception.“The executive committee members, coaches and players who got that team promoted into PSL did a good job, but if they have the team at heart any of them should be ready to be reassigned elsewhere or relieved of their duties if the club finds someone better to do that particular job.
“Where we have a better player or coach other than the one we have in Mutare let us lure them. At the end of the day we want results.
“It should be about the success of the club and not individuals at the end of the day,” said the former CPMZ, Zupco and Mutare United player who rubbed shoulders with the likes of Willard Kurwaisimba, Spencer Ngove, the late Allan Mutasa and Lazurus Muhoni among many others during his playing days.
The former Kiglon, Shooting Stars and Swaziland outfit, Manzini Sundowns gaffer is of the opinion that dismal performances have kept soccer fans away from Sakubva Stadium.
“It is a fact that the crowd increases at Sakubva Stadium if the team performs better. The people of Mutare shun mediocrity and that is why you will never find them at Sakubva each time the team performs badly.
“How does the team perform better? Get the right people for the right positions. If they manage to do that they will be able to bring back the crowds to Sakubva. “By winning their matches fairly and in style, the team can win back the crowds. I know from experience that even soccer fans from nearby places will cross the border from Mozambique to watch soccer matches at Sakubva.“They (City Rovers) need to learn from Dongo Sawmills and Buffaloes’ downfall. Where did they get it wrong? They should not make the same mistakes. They also need to learn from successful clubs like Chicken Inn. What is that Chicken Inn got right that brought all that success? In answers to those questions lies the methodology of City Rovers’ success.
“Good eggs make good omelette. You cannot expect miracles from mediocre players and coaches,” said Dhlakama.
Dhlakama who handled players such as Warriors’ top man, Knowledge Musona, Eric Chipeta, Qard Amini, Mathew Rusike, winger, Khama Billiat, Chan bound reigning goalkeeper of the season, Elvis Chipezeze and Devon Chafa at some stage in their careers, pointed out a few players who he thinks can easily fit in City Rovers’ line up.
“Yes, there are number of players from Mutare who can still fit in the Rovers line-up. They can get Farai Mugumwa from Tenax. He is a good player who has become much more comfortable playing at Sakubva than anywhere else.
“There is also a fine defence link at Tenax. Get some from Buffaloes that include Farai Banda, Roy Mwenga as well as Phillip and Kelvin Thembani. Blend those players with a few experienced players from elsewhere as well as the best among those that featured for Rovers in Division One, they can make a strong team. “There is no doubt, teams will be much stronger this season and City Rovers must brace for a tough time in the Premiership. It is no child’s play if they entertain hopes of lasting longer,” said Dhlakama.
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