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Raymond Jaravaza/Mbongeni Ncube
THE countrya��s oldest club, Highlanders FC celebrates 90 years of existence, and the cluba��s technical director Comas a�?Tsanoa�� Zulu has decided to mark his own 50th anniversary in the game by not speaking to members of the press whom he accuses of a�?unfair treatmenta��.
As if that is not enough the former Highlanders striker has also gagged coach Erol Akbay from speaking to the media unless ita��s in his presence at the cluba��s weekly press conference held on Thursdays.
Efforts to interview Akbay for updates on player injuries, enquires on preparations of the team ahead of matches and any other information the media might require from the coach will not be entertained, at least according to Zulu.
a�?If you want to speak with the coach you will have to talk to him at the press conference on Thursday. That is final.
As for interviewing me I will not be speaking to the media until next year when I celebrate 50 years in football,a�? said Zulu.
It appears the rift between the media and Zulu emanate from an incident that occurred in one of the cluba��s weekly press conferences when Zulu did not take kindly to being asked why the technical team fielded anchorman Simon Munawa in every match when it was clear the player was failing to perform in that role.
Zulu responded by telling journalists that he has been in football for over 40 years and will not tolerate being quizzed on technical decisions that are made by the Bosso coaches.
Just last week Zulu shocked sports writers by a�?instructinga�� them before a press conference that he would not entertain questions related to the technical aspects of the game.
a�?We (the coaches) meet the bosses for a review meeting on Mondays after every weekend game so please do not ask us questions that have to do with the technical aspect of the game. We will not be subjected to two review meetings, one from you (media) and another from the bosses,a�? thundered Zulu.
Reporters responded by not fielding questions directed to Zulu.
However, the head coach Akbay did not have qualms responding to questions, even revealing how his tactics outmaneuvered a physical Ngezi Platinum, which Bosso beat 4-1 in Mhondoro.
Who exactly is Cosmas a�?Tsanoa�� Zulu?
Zulu started playing football in 1968 for an Amateur Football Association club Combined Midlands and before long he joined Mashonaland Uniteda��s sister club that was called Bush Bucks in 1970.
In 1976 he played for Eastlands before switching to Archer Olympics the following year.
At Independence in 1980 he joined Highlanders but there has always been confusion on how he ended his career at the Bulawayo giants before going into coaching.
A search in the archives reveals one interesting incident.
According to the Chronicle of Thursday 13 August 1981, Zulu was banned for a number of matches after he refused to restart the game in the centre circle when Bosso conceded a second goal in a Heroes Cup match.
He had come in as a substitute in the match which Highlanders ultimately lost 5-1.
Referee Frank Valdermarca responded by showing Zulu a red card for dissent and he was banned for a number of matches.
Interim chairman of Zifa at that time, Nelson Chirwa, said afterwards that players must learn to accept the refereea��s decision without question and to play to the whistle.
a�?We will discipline players who bring the game into disrepute,a�? said Chirwa.
That match was the last game of his average career.
Online Reporter