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Zenzo Moyo
YESTER year strikers were finding it not easy compared to the current ones. Back in the day there used to be a tight marker and a sweeper in defence, but strikers could still reach double figures of goals scored.
Fast track forward. Today strikers are marked one on one most of the times and the game plan revolves on the striker. There are a few or no hat tricks to talk about. It actually comes as a surprise if one scores a hat trick.
Yester year strikers would convert half chances to full chances and strive to surpass their previous tally of goals. Imagine strikers like Adam Ndlovu, Gift Mpariwa, Agent Sawu, Maronga Nyangela, Tauya Murehwa and Never Chiku, among others, they would finish the season with 40 or more goals if they were marked one on one like strikers of today.
I have realised that present strikers are lazy. They only want easy targets like set pieces from corners, penalties and free kicks. They don’t take responsibility and leadership to carry the team on their shoulders. If they can be taught how to make runs, on and off the ball, that would make them produce better results. Principles of the game for a striker are to move, receive and executive with precision and composure, that is why movement on and off the ball is key as well.
To conclude, fans come to the stadia to see goals. Once strikers start to find the back of the nets, stadiums will fill up and there will be more revenue for clubs. Let’s not have defending strikers! Good luck for the coming season to all strikers.
Until next week, stay blessed. I will be telling it as it is without fear or favour.
Bongani Ndlovu