adminSenior Sports Reporter
UK-BASED Zimbabwe born star, Bradley Pritchard, ignited a heated debate on whether Benjani Mwaruwari should assist Zifa and the national team technical department in luring players based abroad to play for the Warriors.
Himself Pritchard, despite playing in the Barclays Premier League second tier division was once called into the Warriors squad during former coach Rahman Gumbo’s last reign with the team, but still couldn’t make the final 18.
“If Zimbabwean Soccer legend Benjani is willing to help like what he said. . .he is the best guy to talk to if you want to lure players like Brendan Galloway’s Tendayi Darikwa etc to play for Zimbabwe,” posted Pritchard on his Facebook page.
Below are some of the responses that were attracted by his Facebook post.
Joseph Manyani. . . .tru
Lacce Mushangwe. . . and he can lure u too
Tafuma Dhala Madhovi . . . . true
Brilliant Mudonhi . . . .Very true bro
Taonga Zvionwa . . . . True Pritchard
Simplisio Mahwehwe . . . . .point
Wayne Mhizha . . . .i want you to try bro think u can do it.
Sydney Kawadza. . . . Voice of Reason!
Emmanuel Zemba . . . .you can assist him too since you are near each other
Ronald Mujuru. . . . I tend to differ, why would one need Benjani to play for his country?
Knözil Mc Keche . . . . To be honest I don’t think we’re desperate for those guys and again you don’t need a person to talk to you to play for a national team. It’s different from a club because it’s not a question of money or even loyalty but it’s about the magic that comes with it which is more than loyalty or even pride. You don’t need someone to beg you to be patriotic and I don’t think the warriors will fail because these two won’t be in the team. We have about 400 professional footballers who are Zimbabweans and only 23 are needed. Peter was much more prolific so is Bruce and even Benji but no one had to ask them to play for the national team. Peter had to use his own pockets to book air tickets for some of his teammates, Benji took the team to France for a training camp -this is what it means to be patriotic. It’s not a secret that Galloway is never going to make it for the England team..as long as the Stones’ and the Smallings still exist, if Darikwa was that good, he would have made it to the Premier League by now, but instead he has just lost his place in the starting line up to Lowton. These guys think they are superior because they play in England -they will be shocked one day to find out that they will not make it in the warriors 11 because of hard working Partson Jaure and Costa Nhamoinesu who know what it means to don in the gold and green.
Danny Dee Dembetembe. . . . you are 100 percent right my guy
Nesta Mutungamiri…… u nailed it bro
Ronald Mujuru . . . . Peter was good and there was never a time he needed influence from a legend to come, play and deliver for his nation. In my opinion the guys in question are way less than Peter in terms of talent therefore if they are not committed to playing for their country for reasons best known to them…then let it be
Save Mawarire . . . . With the way I saw Tendayi Darikwa play against Arsenal, it will be very unfair for anyone to expect him to turn out for Zimbabwe. He deserves a better platform and a better, serious national team
Zibusiso Zibbs Moyo. . . . Thanks for the heads up Bradley
Nehemia Deco Mapepa . . . . we also wana c u in that team too
Young E’lt . . . . Zim is a country not a club Bradley so we need people with a heart to play for the nation so it’s up to them if they want
Albert Ncube . . . .Bradley it pains me to see national team call ups without your name. I believe u can don that jersey with pride.
Bernard Chitema . . . . good point Bradley Pritchard and this will definitely make Benjani the next ZIFA president candidate
Jomo Dyson . . . . Bradley Pritchard i think Benjani has little influence. These youngsters are put off by media. I see kids in my Development Centres . They know little about Zimbabwe in football. Also parents talk negative about Zim football. So kids wont get bothered. Remember Lewin Nyatanga chose to play for Wales. But now looks like many parents are now taking kids to championship and premiership academies i predict in 8 to 13 years time Zim football wil have many players from UK definately. I hope then image will change about Zim Football which is battered.
Collin Matiza . . . .But is there a professional (football) set-up in Zimbabwe in the first place? These UK-based youngsters will be frustrated or get frustrated once they are called-up for national duty in Zimbabwe because of the amateur set-up which is everywhere in the football structures of Zimbabwe.
Ronald Mujuru . . . . Personally, do you need someone’s influence to come and play for the Warriors Bradley Pritchard?
Online Reporter