Phillip Zulu in LEEDS, England
I READ Robson Sharuko’s article about the legendary status of the four players he identified and highlighted.
Predictably, it has caused an outcry, intense debate and heated arguments in our Zimbabwean football fraternity.
The four players he identified as deserving to be called Zimbabwean football legends (Peter Ndlovu, George Shaya, Bruce Grobbelaar and Moses Chunga), and other categories in football coaching, refereeing, sports broadcasting, and the print media journalism, represent a very fair appraisal of the true legendary status of our local game.
This covers the period football became an established national sport from the early ‘60s of the colonial era. As I reflect on this raging debate, I quickly realised the depth of the subject matter – LEGENDARY STATUS and its implications on our local sports terrain.
And, how and why this discussion has brought animated opinions that border on fanatical followership of certain individuals.
The more I tried to argue for those that I fondly, fanatically, and fervently followed, the likes of Joel ‘Jubilee ‘ Shambo, Archieford ‘Chehuchi’ Chimutanda, Max ‘Shaluza’ Tshuma, Stix Mutizwa, Boy Ndlovu, Edward Katsvere, David Muchineripi, and many others who served the game with so much glitter and affection, suddenly I realised that the majority of these players fell short of finer details on the big international stages of the evolving game continentally and globally.
My heart is telling me that the great Shambo and Shacky Tauro fit into that bracket of legends.
But, again, there are some small margins and some finer details missing on their international football longevity and competitiveness that impact negatively on their achievements.
This is where they can’t match the chosen four legends – Peter, Bruce, Shaya and Chunga.
If we allow our infatuation, fanaticism, and followership of our preferred players, who we believe are the ‘Greatest Ever’, and should be among those who qualify to be described as Zimbabwean football legends, then we end up losing the plot.
If we all follow our hearts, instead of relying on real and hard facts, Chimutanda should be on the number one list because his talent, football intellect, technical ingenuity, and aura of the game.
He was second to none.
However, on the international stage, he was nowhere to be found and how can a person, let’s say in Nigeria, talk about him as a ‘Zimbabwean football legend’ when he has never heard of him.
You mention the four legends, who have been picked, and it’s likely they are known in many other countries around the world.
On the flip side of the Freddy Mkwesha argument, it is also prudent and consistent to raise the same bar to Kennedy Nagoli, who became the first player from Zimbabwe to play professionally in Brazil.
But, again, the visibility of Freddy and Kennedy at international football tournaments at the evolving stages of our national teams is less than what we witnessed during the active years of the four mentioned legends. Football is a game of opinions at every level of engagement.
As such, it brings so much intense topical discussions about the natural feelings of supporters and their preferences that hinge on either their fanaticism or objectivity of how they understand the scale of the demands of the game.
There is also the glitter and popularity of their preferred ‘stars ‘.
My basic understanding of the legendary status of any player has been shaped at every turn when I reflect on Lucas Radebe, the former Leeds United star who became the club’s first black captain.
He also captained Bafana Bafana.
Captain Rhoo is highly appreciated by the fans over here at Elland Road and the wider fan bases of the Whites.
This exposure for me, during my days as a professional academy scout, opened my eyes to see what a legend is.
Lucas Radebe represents longevity and is a symbol of excellence for both club and national team.
At Elland Road, he was the pillar in defence, and the fans loved his attention to detail when it came to fighting for the pride of Leeds United.
That explains the nickname ‘Captain Rhoo’.
The same applies to Lucas’ Bafana Bafana career where he became the first player to captain South Africa during their debut performance at the World Cup in France in 1998.
Legends are about longevity, leadership and remaining relevant in the evolving game.
This is what makes true LEGENDS.
This is what I learnt at Leeds United during the time I started working as a scout at the club during the peak period of Captain Rhoo’s career.
This exposure gives me a decent insight on the validity of what Robson Sharuko highlighted.
The other submissions that I felt compelled to raise are:
• Ali ‘Baba’ Dube.
• Mick Poole.
Ali ‘Baba’ Dube deserves legendary status as a great coach in junior grassroots football development programmes, talent identification strategies and scouting,
I still fail to understand why our national game fails to acknowledge, recognise, and appreciate the great work he did.
I shudder to think what would have happened at Highlanders if the legendary Ali ‘Baba’ Dube was not in their coaching structures, at some point.
It would have been a DISASTER.
Robson Sharuko has set this discourse right on track. But, the major details of this discussion should not be confined to a newspaper Editor who saw it fit to highlight the various categories that work hand in hand with our national game.
Or the fans who strongly argue for their favourite ‘stars’.
What is lacking in our national game is the fair articulation of the evolving game by the federation to consistently applaud, appreciate, acknowledge and recognise the real practitioners, who are continuously working towards improving our game at all levels (locally and abroad).
How many times have people questioned, raised alarm bells about why Ali ‘Baba’ Dube has been ignored by ZIFA despite his impeccable scouting and coaching which helped transform Highlanders and for the Zimbabwe Youth and Senior Warriors?
The biggest challenge is not with Robson Sharuko’s article, or the fans venting their anger in disapproval, but the BUCK STOPS AT ZIFA.
• Phillip Zulu is a FUTSAL expert and has been in the trenches of football for decades.
