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Sir 18area.coms —
ONCE in a while life throws into one’s way those awkward moments. Warriors coach Kallisto Pasuwa had to deal with one “earth please swallow me” moment at the Soccer Stars of the Year dinner in Harare recently.
I don’t know why it happened but it did. It’s either the people who drafted program are a naughty lot or fate just wanted Pasuwa – as lanky as he is – to have one more awkward moment before the year ends.
How on earth could Pasuwa be asked to hand over the Goalkeeper of the Year award to a man that the Warriors gaffer – by way of action – does not recognise as the best in the land?
For ghostly reasons, yours truly was not invited to the banquet and my moles at the Premier Soccer League claim that is the price I have to pay for hitting them regularly.
Oh well, they keep their Soccer Stars dinner and I keep my column! However, the beauty of social media ensured that I missed little as pictures of the event have been awash. I saw Farai Jere wearing a blue suit and a stripped white tie at an event that was supposed to be a “strictly” black tie affair.
I have also seen shots of some fans who attended the event courtesy of their stunning gate crashing skills. But the telling image for yours truly was that of Pasuwa handing over the Goalkeeper of the Year award to FC Platinum skipper Petros Mhari.
Why the Warriors coach of all people? Look, Pasuwa has continually overlooked Mhari and must have felt awkward confirming the goalie as having been better than his favoured trio of Tatenda Mukuruva, Donovan Bernard and Nelson Chadya.
I would give everything I have, which is not much by the way, to hear what Pasuwa had to say to Mhari on that podium.
“This trophy is your Afcon boy. Enjoy it because you won’t be making the trip to Gabon,” the malicious side of yours truly can imagine Pasuwa saying.
On the few occasions that he has been pressed on Mhari, the Warriors gaffer has spoken of how he trusts the goalies he calls up as well as the need for continuity. On the other hand, the FC Platinum captain has been diplomatic; all he says is that his time will come.
And none between them talks of the meeting in former DeMbare secretary general Ray Kazembe’s office towards the end of 2012. Pasuwa, then a Dynamos coach, was hunting for George Chigova’s replacement and had earmarked Mhari, hence the meeting at Kazembe’s full-of-cameras office.
DeMbare, true to form, are said to have tabled an offer devoid of the signing on fees. Mhari, who was eager to move away from Hwange, reportedly enquired about when he would get the signing on fees but got no satisfactory answer. Instead, he is said to have been offered a Toyota corolla, ex-Japanese obviously!
As negotiations stalled, Pasuwa briefly left the room and left Mhari in the company of Kazembe. What the pair discussed in Pasuwa’s absence is a mystery but Mhari departed promising the then DeMbare coach to return 24 hours later after consulting his family.
But on the morrow, the goalie signed for FC Platinum and left Pasuwa feeling betrayed. Yours truly doesn’t want to speculate but something in me says that incident defines the relationship that exists between Pasuwa and Mhari to this day.
Meanwhile, Moses “Bambo” Chunga is out of a job with Harare City having told him, in no uncertain terms, that he cannot be bigger than the club. I warned Chunga, didn’t I?
How can someone demand that a club that is ready to offer him a contract fire 17 people – including assistant coach Mkhupali Masuku, several senior players and even security personnel – before he has inked a new deal?
What is this? The spirit of poverty, lack of education, arrogance or a dangerous concoction of all these and more?
Sir exits the scene!
Sir is social media commentator and writes this satirical column in his personal capacity. Feedback [email protected]
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