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pronounced, in all spheres of our lives on this planet, than in the world’s most beautiful game, known simply as football.
Fifa, for all its fault lines and allegations of corruption, real or imagined, which have battered the organisation, remains a shining beacon of democracy.
We can fault the system as easily corruptible, which helps people like Jack Warner to rise and assume such positions of authority in Fifa and people like Amos Adamu to win Caf elections and get executive posts on the Fifa board, but the bottom line remains that there is democracy in world football.
Now and again, elections are held for any executive posts, be it at district, provincial, regional, national, continental and Fifa level and every association, which is a member of the world football governing body, has to consistently hold elections for its leadership.
You can’t stage a military coup to become a leader of a national Football Association and still get recognition by Fifa and neither can you be parachuted to the presidency of any FA, on the back of a wave of popular protests by disgruntled fans and stakeholders like what is happening in the Arab spring.
So, even for all the drama that went on in the countdown and during the Fifa Congress in Zurich this month, Sepp Blatter had to go through an election, even when he remained the only candidate standing, after his challenger Mohamad Bin Hammam was swept away by the politics of the game.
The member associations had to vote, to endorse Blatter as their leader, and give him the authority to run Fifa, and such is the democracy in the game, no matter how ugly, the English FA were allowed to use their voice, and their choice, to ask for a postponement of the vote because they felt there were a lot of irregularities.
The issue had to go to a vote and, amid the English humiliation, the world’s football leaders decided to go for the elections and Blatter emerged from the dirty wrestling contest, even though with questionable credentials, as the leader of Fifa.
Cuthbert Dube had to win the vote, for the Zifa presidency, for him to become the leader of Zimbabwean football and, for all their challenges, the people at 53 Livingstone Avenue have always respected the need to go to elections when the time comes to choose leaders.
This week, following the publication of the first half commentary from Admire Taderera and Alois Bunjira, when they covered the Zimbabwe/Mali 2012 Nations Cup qualifier at Rufaro earlier this month, I decided to be democratic and asked the readers of this column, the way forward.
Last Saturday, I had promised that I would publish the second half commentary today, to close the chapter and make the people judge for themselves whether those who have been inundating me with complaints, that Admire and Alois were too negative in their commentary, were justified to make those calls.
I had already made my conclusion, after going through the commentary again and again, that Admire and Alois were certainly not negative but clearly firm and I said I found their coverage to be quite professional.
But I am just one of the thousands, if not millions, of voices in our game and others have to be heard, for the sake of democracy, and I felt it was only fair that the issue be tabled in an open court and we get as much feedback, from the readership, as possible.
However, in the past week, I have been inundated by text messages and emails from readers, who were not talking about either the negativity or positive touch of the commentary but were unhappy that we could spend another week on the same subject.
Some of them felt betrayed, by their columnist, saying that I had chosen to shift from the usual stuff that I write about and venture into an area that clearly didn’t attract them or, in the event that it did, disappointed them given the tone used by the two commentators that day.
Others were even severe, saying that should I run the second half of that commentary, they would never read my blog again.
Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinions and I’m not the kind of guy who could be held to ransom, in the event that I feel strongly on a certain issue, by a group of readers who threaten that should I write about this and that, then they will wave goodbye to reading this blog.
During this lengthy journey, in which we have broken all records of longevity for a newspaper blog in this country in the past decade or so, marching together as writer and reader, we have lost a number of readers and gained a good number of others.
But, essentially in a democracy, you need to listen to the constituency that you serve and that is why, even when I felt very strongly that I should run the second half commentary by Admire and Alois today, as promised last Saturday, I needed to open the floor to other views.
So, I went for an on-line survey, asking whether we should run the second half commentary or not, and the response, I must say, was an overwhelmingly NO VOTE!
Interestingly, as I went through the feedback, including some which came from such high offices like the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart, I was certainly touched by the impact that I make on the readership of this blog every Saturday.
When you realise that someone waits for an entire week, just to read your blog and there is a certain addiction to it, you know that you have to be responsible and the least that you can do is to brush aside the concerns of such a readership.
So, in the true spirit of democracy, we found a way forward.
The Commentary And The Feedback
DAVID COLTART (Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture) – I certainly would like to read what you have to say – isn’t that what freedom of speech is all about?
JAMES LENNON – I think people are failing to understand the point behind your publication of Admire’s commentary. It’s best you publish the second half and then school everyone on why you did that because that’s the only way we learn. To Admire, I say stop being negative to our players, they are youngsters being moulded into a team, your comparison with Barcelona is very wrong as they have been together for over five years from the Spanish National Team to the Nou Camp as a unit training, and as a team, uninterrupted. The way we retained possession was excellent and you should have known better that they were doing that perfectly well. As for Alois, he is just a critic who is even confused by what he says. Remember he once declared himself the man to coach the Warriors, then the man to lead Zifa? Please support the Warriors for the good of the nation. South Africans support their players even when we all know they are not as talented as they want us to believe.
JERE CHIKAMBURE – Pane zvinhu zvakawanda zvekunyora nezvazvo zvisiri kupa vaAdmire Taderera chiedza chavasingakodzere. Chatakaona svondo rapera ndechekuti vaTaderera vaida kuzviedza ivo murairidzi wechikwata chevavhimi vedu, asi basa ravo raive rekurondedzera mafambiro aiita mutambo munhandare. Chitauko chekutanga chenyaya yenyu chaiva mupepanhau resvondo rapera handina kumbochiverenga nekuti kutambisa nguva. Zvinodova nani kana mukanyora pamusoro pekuti sei muchifunga kuti mutambo wakatambwa nechikwata cheCAPS United necheDynamos wainyanya kusvota kudarika mitambo yese yamakaona pazvikwata izvi. Kubhadhara dhora kuti tiverenge Admire Taderera kunorwadza.
WILLIAM MPASU – I believe it’s worth finishing off the second half of the commentary. We could be the minority but remember many out there buy the newspaper (The Herald) for your column and yet many others wait for those who buy to be through so they can have their chance to read it. So, boring to many of us as it was, it’s being eagerly awaited by thousands.
GEORGE DAMSON – I read only two columns in The Herald – The Other Side (Nathaniel Manheru) and your column. I was shocked to find out that you devoted the column to that Taderera stuff. I won’t buy The Herald this Saturday if you write that second half thing.
MALVERN MUTEMASANGO – The Herald was boring, I didn’t even finish reading it. Admire doesn’t even know players and sometimes he’s too predictable and, no disrespect, but he puts you to sleep. No, thanks, the first half was boring enough for me. I think the best ever football commentator we have is Charles Mabika, that man knows his football pretty well!
MUTUVHA FARAI – Thanks in advance for not bringing that second half akoma. I know you Rob and I know what you can do. Last Saturday, it was more like not you. You would rather repeat your article titled, “No Charlie, This Is Not Football,” and I am sure many would love to read it again and again. For your own information, this is the article that made me fall in love with your work. Thanks for allowing us to share our views and I am now looking forward to Saturday’s paper. Thanks, thanks, thanks.
LAZZIE HACHA – It should come out for the benefit of those who missed it.
ZACHARIA MATETA – The second half is not necessary. I buy The Saturday Herald mainly because of your article and this last Saturday I was shocked to see that the whole column was about that commentary.
PANGANAI ROBERT KASENZA – I missed the first half Robbo, where can I get it? Bring us everything to do with that match, even the previous matches. Long live the Warriors.
MARSHY PATS – We don’t want the second half, spare us please.
CLEOPAS TAGUMA NEUSO – Bring it on Rob.
NYASHA TEMBO CHITIMA – Not word for word, just a brief summary, leave space for Joke Of The Week.
LLOYD MOYO – The second half is not necessary, I think the point yakabuda pa first half.
KUDAKWASHE MUGARI – There are so many stories to write. Rob siyana nekuitira Admire public relations. Admire was negative that day. In fact he is not a commentator.
PATRICK PATSO CHUMA – No need for that, tipei zvinyowani.
EVANS GUTSA – Why bringing it up, he commented ‘98 Fifa World Cup final in France with Murutampunzi. I think that’s better than the Zim/Mali game.
MASIMBA MADAMOMBE – No sir.
STANSLOUS M CHITSIKE – No need for second half, I guess there are better stories that have come lately like the boring derby, Fifa vice-president’s resignation, Mhofu’s Leopards getting promoted. No offence on
Admire but matakadyakare haanyaredze mwana.
ALFRED MUTENDERA – Even the first half wasn’t necessary. Forget the second half. Admire is a very good commentator. He is the best TV commentator. No wonder why he has been to major international/global events. Just did not like the idea of having vocal commentary on paper. Tikakuregerera, next time uchatiunzira Generations or Scandal, word for word, muHerald.
VENA CHIVANGE – Don’t even give us that because the first one wasn’t necessary. It came as a huge shocker and disappointment for us lovers of Sharuko on Saturday. How could you do that?
ITAYI TIRIVANHU – I must have been among the first people to send you an e-mail regarding this commentary thing. It’s boring shamwari like reading court transcripts. Washaya nyaya here? Write about the Harare Derby, I know you will captivate us with your analysis kwete nyaya dzatsuro nagudo idzo. Siyana nadzo, they don’t sell.
TAFADZWANASHE MUPARIWA – We don’t need the second half. Please, spare us the torture. Asi wabatwa ne writers’ cramp here?
TATENDA ELVIS MAKANDA – If you still feel you didn’t do justice to the match, go on Rob, asingade anongoregedza kuverenga. PaSupersport tiri kungoramba tichiratidzwa that football lecture yakadzidziswa Sir Alex naPep wani and, worse, it’s the same commentary. Go for it Chief.
TAKU MAZHURA – Please, spare us. I enjoy reading that column of yours every Saturday and the last one, I should say the truth, I couldn’t take it. Give us something else this Saturday, just something.
VICTOR JARAVAZA – I don’t think it’s necessary anymore. Rather let’s look ahead to the Young Warriors’ upcoming match and discuss what Zifa need to do right to see the team through.
ERNEST IMBAYARWO – What’s the use of giving us that second commentary? The main debate is our next game strategy for the coach, team adjustment, changes etc.
REGINALD BETERA – Robbo, we don’t need that commentary please. It wasn’t a commentary, he was actually analaysing the match. Taderera ngaaende anoita zvake zva Jarzin Man.
CHIKANDA ERIC KUDAKWASHE – No!
NOEL GWESE GWESE – It’s better for you to give us both sides of the story between PSL and ZBC.
ITAYI MUNYORO – It’s better utipe second half ye Barcelona ne Man U.
JEWEL MASHIUMBA – No Robby, trying to justify Taderera’s fairness or lack of it does not remove the bias he had that day to the extent of blaming Mapemba for the goal we conceded. All he saw was Musona, Musona and Musona.
LOVEMORE MAKOMBE – There is no need for that second half commentary. Where did you get all that man? It was boring. Why can’t you write about the rejuvenation of FC Platinum by Rahman Gumbo. You know the gaffer has been away for some time and he won a lot and it looks he is also going to win the league again this season. We need to know him and his achievements. You can also tell us what you think about Chunga at CAPS United and the hot issue yaMadzibaba Lloyd and also nyaya iya yema founder members yausingadi kutaura nezvayo. Give us your analysis as a shrewd sports journalist.
PERFECT MAKUMBE – There is no need for the second half Rob, Admire was firm and to the point, he was calling a spade a spade, he is the only TV commentator in the country followed by Lovemore Banda, the rest are radio commentators.
PATRICK BHUNU – It’s not necessary Robbo because even if you reproduce it that will not change the fact that Admire was a bit over elaborate in his criticism of the Warriors.
The Derby That Didn’t Explode
So, generally we agree that the 67th edition of the Harare Derby did not scale the expected heights at the National Sports Stadium last Sunday, leaving quite a lot of neutrals who had come expecting a good football show, really disappointed by the mediocrity on show that afternoon.
We generally agree that it was probably the worst Harare Derby in living memory and those of us who have spent the past week wondering when we last saw the two giants fighting in such a lifeless encounter, have found ourselves running into brickwalls.
But, for all the flatness of the two teams’ performance on Sunday, what is refreshing is that the Derby Magic still lives on and, with better gate controls and changes in the way we all want to go to the stadium at 2.30 pm, we could have had a sellout 60 000 crowd at the National Sports Stadium.
For a league, which still loses all the players who show a meaningful touch, a good pace, a composure at the back and a sense of creativity in midfield, to the moneybags of Super Diski, it is a triumph that we still have matches that attract 30 000 fans.
For all the magic of the English Premiership and the show that it brings, there is still a strong attachment between the locals and their domestic clubs and, in the capital, nowhere is that very pronounced than on the day when Dynamos and CAPS United clash.
I’m not different.
I love my Manchester United, and I seem to love them even more in the post-Barcelona, post-Wembley era, and I also love my local team.
On Tuesday, I wrote about the poor quality of that game and found it interesting that Murape Murape (Dynamos) and Washington Pakamisa (CAPS United) appeared to be the only players who, having grown up in the systems of the two clubs, appeared ready to seize the initiative and impose themselves on the game.
The rest, it appeared to me, were guilty of going into a shell, trying by all means necessary not to make mistakes and committing themselves, and the result was a very flat performance, which did not justify the hype that had preceded the game, and which was a mockery to the grand occasion.
I said it was incredible, amid this morass of mediocrity, that one team managed to fashion out a goal and, even as Dynamos celebrated wildly that day after that late, late winner, I still had the presence of mind to realise that it would be diabolical to let Tawanda Muparati’s goal mask this sick imitation of the Harare Derby.
I questioned referee Pascal Zata’s shocking performance, in which he made a lot of dubious calls, including the comical booking of Martin Vengesayi in the first half for a dive he didn’t commit, an error whose grave consequences were later seen when the forward was booked, for a foolish challenge when living on borrowed time in the second half, leading to his expulsion.
Of course, we have to give credit to Dynamos for having the character to win that game, despite playing the last 22 minutes a man short, and in such big games, usually it’s the result that matters and, looking at the way the DeMbare fans reacted after the match, you can tell that the goal, to them, was enough to erase whatever frustrations they might have endured from their team’s lifeless show that day.
It’s likely that all Dynamos fans will tell you that they will prefer a lifeless performance, which ends with a win, when playing against CAPS United than a great performance, which ends up in a loss for their team.
The reverse is also true for the Green Machine fans.
But my comments about the Harare Derby, and its flatness, appeared to torch a storm and I have picked comments posted directly on The Herald’s website from Tuesday related to what I termed the “Worst Derby Ever.”
Contributors to The Herald’s website are asked to choose their username and there are quite a funny number of such usernames and here we go:
MORE IMAGES – I will also add Gift “Ghetto” Mpariwa, Garikai “Geisha” Zuze, Alois Godzi, Simon Chuma, the list is endless. Makare tainakigwa isu. Taibuda munhandare tichitarisira the next game.
JAMES – People like Robson Sharuko are the ones killing our soccer in Zimbabwe. Kura mhani Sharuko. We always see questionable refereeing in soccer all over the world but it is in Zimbabwe only where people like Sharuko have the audacity of questioning referee’s decisions. Leave that to us supporters. Iwe journalist ita basa rako reku reporter objectively. Kepekepe bhora!
DIGOZ – Raguru rakapinda nyoka.
RULA – The worst ever performance I have witnessed from both sides. Absolute rubbish.
WEZHIRA – Ummm ana Sharuko, tibvirei kumhepo apa. Kwaenda mhepo ndiko kwamunoenda. We don’t trust your articles.
TAROPAFADZWA MASUNDA – A win is a win, all hail DeMbare, keep it up. We need to win two more games, even in this same format, and we are back in the title contention. Go DeMbare Go, we the DeMbare supporters are behind you and you will never work alone.
G. TICHATONGA – Just when I thought you had finally re-discovered your writing skills, as you rose to the summit to conclude your story, you then brought in this golden past anti-climax. Please Robson, read BBC Sport or some such-like Press.
CHIEF – The most important thing that we should consider is – what is causing most of the people to come at 2pm? If we get the answer to that then we will find the way to solve that problem. I think CAPS United should be fined for opening two gates out of 20.
JIMALO – There is no problem in coming at 2pm, the problem is mismanagement of gate controls. Tickets should be sold three days before the game and mobile houses should be put outside the stadium to sell tickets. That’s how games are controlled the world over and we should also open all the gates. I hope Dynamos learns from this because what happened on Sunday was bad. I saw hundreds of people jumping into the stadium for free and the was no security to control lines (queues).
BLESSED – Tell us Roby, (because) when reporting you must remove club affiliation. Takaona madhaka ebhora period. It was not a derby and I believe the FA would have fined Man City and Man U had they played like that. Good reporting Robbo, people hate the truth.
SHEDZA – The coaches, Chunga and this DeMbare (gaffer), are sabotaging derbies so that no other derby can surpass theirs.
BLA FATSO – Your reporting of late leaves a lot to be desired. Credit must be given to 10-man Dynamos for a spirited performance. Results matter most. You are jealous about the victory. Report objectively. Dai iri CAPS yakahwina tai dai tirikuverenga zvekuti mutambo wakanakidza. Improve your reporting and make those celebrating feel the right mood. Long live DeMbare
BHORA SE BHORA – Indeed, it was shoddy performance from both sides but again I feel there were contributory factors that can not be overlooked. I personally think the synthetic turf at Rufaro is killing our soccer and I strongly advocate for its discontinued use. The players looked lost on the natural grass as the pace of the ball is different from that at Rufaro. And again the air on the pitch is naturally different and it made the players appear to have difficulties in breathing. Also, the artificial turf contributes a high percentage of injuries to the players and there were a lot of injuries in the build-up to the match.
The players were not as yet fit as was evidenced by the way they avoided contact with opposing players. They were just rushed to play as their names were as equally important as was the match itself. Again the groundsmen at the NSS must do us a favour by maintaining the pitch to international standards. For starters, the pitch looked bumpy, secondly, the lines were crooked and faint as if they were drawn by someone with a blindfold. I was sitting on Bay 17 facing the goal at the Mabelreign end and lines at that penalty box were suspicious.
BA TANATSWA – Sharuko doesn’t report like a supporter. I know he supports CAPS (really, Ba Tanatswa?), but when reporting anotaura zvakaitika. If you hate Sharuko, you don’t know soccer. Let me tell Wezhira kuti you are right, kwaenda mhepo ndo kunoenda Sharuko, which is good as a reporter.
Letter From Dixon Chuma
The media is awash with stories screaming WORST DERBY EVER! A derby is what it is – a derby! And, by its nature, it is bound to be tension-filled.
Given two options, entertainment or points, I would go for the points, and that is what we, maDeMbare, got.
About 99% of the derbies worldwide lack entertainment but are very high on drama and incidents. Look at the four-part El Classico in Spain.
Jose Mourinho deployed Pepe to try and park the bus.
Can you tell me if someone will risk their life, scaling a fence, to watch DeMbare playing Kiglon, Black Mambas or Zimbabwe Saints?
That’s the Derby for you guys, scaling security fences, going in for free, bumper crowd, red card, a last-gasp goal, you name it. That’s the Derby for me.
So whether you call it the worst, medium or greatest Derby, it won’t change anything. The Derby is what it is – as Derby and it’s even worse when you have a tension-filled one like a game between CAPS United and Dynamos.
What is important is the result. Period!
Is This The Golden Generation?
So much has been written and said about the Young Warriors’ Class of 2011 and a lot of fans, officials and analysts seem to believe that we have just stumbled upon a special group of players with the capacity to
take our national game to yet another level.
They are an exciting group, I have to say, and every time that you have a bunch of Zimbabwean players, good enough to beat Zambia in their backyard, there is always a deeper meaning to that and it speaks volumes about their substance.
So much was being said about the Botswana Under-23 team but the Young Zebras were lucky to leave Rufaro without a double-figure hammering when they lost 1-4 to these Young Warriors.
Matthew Rusike hasn’t been the leading light in the team’s attack, a position dominated by Simba Sithole, but already the Jomo Cosmos man has won a trial stint at English Premiership side Bolton Wanderers, which is further confirmation of the quality in the team.
Sithole didn’t need trials at Mamelodi Sundowns as his 10 goals in 10 league matches for CSPS United, and four goals for the Young Warriors this year, were enough to give him a ticket to Super Diski, in his first full season in the domestic Premiership since he left school.
Trevor Mutero has been honing his skills at English side Reading, and is wanted elsewhere in that country, Archford Gutu is certain to move away from Zimbabwe soon, a lot of great things are being said and written about Abbas Amidu, Qadr Amini is set to join Orlando Pirates and Lincoln Zvasiya was signed by FC Platinum.
But the big story comes when you consider those who are not available for the mission in South Africa today, when the Zimbabwe Under-23 take on their South African counterparts in the first of a two-part Battle of Limpopo series, for the ticket to the All-Africa Games.
Denver Mukamba might have lost part of the magic he displayed at the beginning of the year, and is suspended for this game, but he remains young enough to be trusted to regain his touch and, I can tell you, he is too good a player to be ignored simply because he has lost form.
Form is temporary, so they say, but class is permanent.
Then you have Khama Billiat, who charmed many hearts with a composed show full of promise, when he made his Warriors’ home bow at Rufaro against Mali and was robbed of a dream goal, to cap a good performance, by a blunder by the match officials.
Knowledge Musona needs very little introduction and, if he can be the spearhead of the Warriors’ attack, at his age, and dominate South African football the way he has done in the past year, then we can only sit and wait knowing tomorrow could bring good tidings.
Ovidy Karuru turned on a man-of-the-match performance for the Warriors against Mali, and is still young enough to play for the Young Warriors.
Young Warriors’ team manager Wellington Mpandare believes this crop of Young Warriors, when it is in full-strength with Karuru, Billiat and Musona available, will be good enough to produce a team for Zimbabwe to qualify for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil.
Well, I think we need to learn to qualify for the Nations Cup first, and make it a habit, before we start dreaming about the World Cup.
What can’t be disputed is that we have an exciting crop right now but, whether they can be as close or better than the Dream Team, which came within 90 minutes of qualifying for the 1994 World Cup finals, will be determined by Father Time.
Do the guys who are in South Africa have a chance today, even when they are clearly weakened by the absent stars?
Oh, yes, I think they have shown in Botswana and Zambia that they can play well away from home and they can compete today although I feel this will a bigger test than what they have faced so far in their campaign.
Cuthbert Dube Is Zifa And Zifa Is Cuthbert Dube
Just in case there were any doubts that Cuthbert Dube is the be-all-and-end-all of this Zifa board, then those concerns were quashed this week when he single-handedly ensured that the Young Warriors got their outstanding bonuses and paid for their flight to South Africa, all from his own pockets.
So much has been said and written about him being a dictator but it’s interesting, isn’t it, that this only comes up when other board members want to be part of the decision-making in situations like the appointment of a national team coach.
Why is it that we don’t see them when, as happened this week, the Young Warriors needed their allowances and bonuses and, crucially, money to pay for the air tickets to fly to South Africa?
Am I right to believe that, probably without Dube, this Zifa board would have long collapsed with teams failing to fulfill international fixtures?
Just food for thought.
Joke Of The Week
Lady walks into a pharmacy and says: “I would like to buy some cyanide.”
The pharmacist responds: “Why in the world do you need cyanide?”
The lady replies: “I need it to kill my husband.”
The pharmacist is shocked and answers: “Lord, have mercy. I can’t give you cyanide to kill your husband. That’s against the law. I will lose my licence and they will throw both of us in jail. All kinds of bad things will happen. Absolutely NO! You cannot have any cyanide.”
The lady reaches into her purse and pulls out a picture of her husband, in bed, with the pharmacist’s wife.
The pharmacist looks at the picture and replies: “Well, now that’s different. You didn’t tell me you had a prescription.”
So Chelski have gone for Jose Mourinho II. We are ready. Come on United!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chicharitoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
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