‘Thank You and Goodbye’

Eric Rosen
NO feeling beats the feeling of winning and losing is a jawbreaker. Worse still is the feeling that has befallen the Bulls camp, that of being relegated.
Fourteen years in the Premiership.
We leave the Premiership as FOURTH on the list of 2013 teams with the longest streak, a host of trophies and accolades and our heads held up high.

Our most momentous occasion was lifting the 2010 PSL Championship and living up to our nickname — the Mighty Bulls.
We are the 2011 BancABC Sup8r Cup Winners and lifted the Jubilee Independence Cup in 2005.

Other accolades include runners-up medals in the following competitions — the 2012 Independence Cup, 2011 and 2012 NetOne Charity Shield, 2011 Mbada Diamonds Cup, 2000 BP Super Cup and bronze in the 2003 Woza Bhora Cup.

All these are just the icing on our memorable journey.
Trophies cannot be attained without the right arsenal, that is, the players and technical staff.
Motor Action FC has churned out some of the best footballers in the modern era (of the domestic Premiership). Two of our players, Clemence Matawu and Charles Sibanda, were crowned Soccer Stars of Year in 2006 and 2010. Allen Gahadzikwa was runner-up in the Soccer Star of the Year awards in 2011.

Our goal-scoring prowess was easily identifiable with Edmore Mufema top-scoring during the 2005 league race.
Prominent names in football — Quincy Antipas, Tinashe Nengomasha, Bhekimpilo Ncube, Allan Johnson and Musa Mguni — passed through the Mighty Bulls’ kraal.

The best of coaches, including Rahman Gumbo, Keegan Mumba, Joey Antipas, David George and Prince Matore, also played their part in our venture.

Even in our year of demise, the Mighty Bulls still managed to showcase the potential that exists in Zimbabwean football.
Six young men adorned the red, black and yellow kit and made football enthusiasts look up with pride.
Their future, and that of Zimbabwe football, is very bright.

The 2013 season highlighted to us the need for clubs to have junior academies. Without them there leaves a gap between schools and professional clubs. The lack of junior structures is probably one of our biggest mistakes and regrets at Motor Action FC.
Our kraal was certainly smaller and below potential without these structures.

Junior structures, if set up, brings to the fore the question of funding.
That is the sole reason why Motor Action FC never established an academy. It is also the reason for our struggles and ultimately our relegation.

We cannot speak for our peers but we are sure that some felt the economic pinch, if not its full punch, just as we did.
Sponsorship is almost non-existent in Zimbabwe football despite the marketing potential that exists.
It is only the “big” clubs that have some form of sponsorship.

The blame cannot be squarely put on brands and companies for not coming into football wholesomely.
Companies and brands are certainly facing the same challenges the nation as a whole is also facing. Thus, Motor Action applauds those companies and brands that have made Zimbabwe football all the more colourful.

Current PSL sponsors, that is, Delta Beverages through their Castle Lager brand, Mbada Diamonds, BancABC, NetOne and SuperSport have braved the economic environment for the benefit of football clubs and the football fraternity as a whole.
However, there is opportunity for other companies and brands to come on board the football marketing train.

This opportunity can be enhanced through tax incentives.
Tax incentives can be given through rebates to companies that sponsor sport as is the case in Lesotho, Botswana, South Africa and Nigeria among other countries.

As such, companies will be lured to sponsor or rather invest in sport.
Football, together with the whole sporting fraternity, will therefore benefit. I, therefore, make a call to the relevant authorities in the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture to forward this call to their fellow colleagues in the Ministry of Finance.

With sponsorship and welcome broadcasts via Supersport, surely the officiating which Motor Action FC feel did a disservice would improve.
Many a time the officiating left a lot to be desired. Our football can only improve when this all important aspect is not a factor in determining the results on-the-field of play.

What use is professional football if all it can give is just entertainment?
As such Motor Action FC has been a good citizen to the community it served.

For two years a schools tournament was organised in Mutare which was our proud home for a while.
The Mighty Bulls also made several donations to children’s homes in Mhondoro while playing in the 2011 CAF Champions League and the 2012 Confederations Cup are proud testimonies of one representing one’s country.

This is over and above our preseason initiatives in Zambia, Mozambique and South Africa.
It leaves me to say thank you to all those in football.

Those who love football like I do, Zifa, fellow PSL members, PSL sponsors (past and present), Motor Action members, players, the technical staff, the media and most importantly the fans. My beautiful Liz, who has been my rock through thick and thin and has become the Bulls’ number one supporter, deserves more thanks than I can give.

Please come through to our final home match against CAPS United FC today as we bid farewell to the PSL.
Once a Bull, Always a Bull.

Eric Rosen is the owner of Motor Action Football Club.