‘We can’t mourn forever’

Ezra Tshisa Sibanda
THERE are few sporting contests that carry quite the same passion in Zimbabwe as a DeMbare versus Bosso clash. Their meetings regularly captivate millions of fans, not only in Zimbabwe, but across borders and Zimbabwe’s Classico has developed into the nation’s hotly-anticipated Derby.

There is so much talk about what happened in DeMbare’s 3-2 controversial win over Bosso on Sunday, the main talking point being the disallowed goal.

The assistant referee, Bongani Gadzikwa, got it completely wrong; he was definitely not at the races, sleeping on duty while the referee Norman Matemera also had a bad game, as usual.

But how long shall we mourn?

Referees in Zimbabwe have been a disaster and they seem not to understand the rule book or are simply incompetent.

Just a few weeks ago one of these Zimbabwean referees was sent packing from the COSAFA Cup for gross incompetence.

What is exactly wrong with our game in Zimbabwe?

The system is rotten, the body running football in the country is in disarray and everything in this beautiful game is marred with chaos, corruption and infighting.

Coming to the Battle of Zimbabwe, what happened in the game is not anything new.

When the two teams meet in Harare, referees appear to favour Dynamos and in Bulawayo DeMbare fans feel referees favour Highlanders.

There are always questionable decisions in this fixture, but to make noise about this particular incident, as if it’s something new or it’s the end of the world, is definitely out of order.

Bosso have benefited from poor officiating as well; we robbed How Mine with a dubious penalty to earn a draw a few weeks ago when we were totally outclassed.

Against Harare City, it was the same story.

Murape Murape scored a genuine goal last season at Barbourfields in a Premiership game and it was unfairly disallowed.

Against FC Platinum, Bosso scored a genuine goal and it was disallowed as well.

So, these things happen every time and everywhere in the world, but shouldn’t be the reason why we shouldn’t move on.

If there were no television cameras to show us the replays of the disallowed goal, we wouldn’t be knowing if it was, indeed, a genuine goal or offside.

Had the SuperSport cameras been at the How Mine game, people would have seen that it was not a penalty as well and Bosso should have lost that game.

We just need to be true to ourselves and be fair in our everyday lives.

The disallowed goal which people are making noise about would only have given us a draw not a win and we need to stop making noise and focus on the next important game against Triangle.

Anyone who knows the history of these two teams will tell you that more serious incidents, on and off the field, have always been on the menu in this fixture.

Go back to the ‘90s. I remember very well that three Highlanders goals were disallowed in a Cup Final at the National Sports Stadium ,but Bosso still prevailed and won the Cup because the team was full of winners.

There was also one incident when Madinda Ndlovu scored a thunderous goal from the centre, but the referee, Wilfred Mukuna, disallowed the goal saying Highlanders’ Bigboy Ndlovu was in an offside position despite not interfering with play.

We had Amin Soma fighting with Henry “Beefy” Chari and police beating him in one of the games, but Bosso continued to play and Highlanders won that match.

Bosso had their marshal Bhibhiza beaten up by riot police in front of millions of people watching live on television in one of the games and Highlanders still won that match.

Who will forget Makwinji Soma Phiri slapping Bosso official Liqhwa Gama at a packed Barbourfields and did that cause the match to be abandoned?

Of course, not!

There are so many incidents which l can list here, but the Bosso of yesteryear was resilient; they were not crybabies and we won matches against all odds in Harare in front of DeMbare fans.

You simple need to ask the Highlanders Class of 1986 to 90, then 1990 to 94 and again 1998 to 2002 and not forgetting the Boys of 2006.

What has changed at Highlanders?

The answer is simple — it’s the inept executive which has failed the club.

The Highlanders we used to know is no more. We have developed an element of being crybabies, we have let negativity cloud our thinking to believe in conspiracy theories. There is no longer that spirit and culture of fighting and winning against all odds.

Assistant referee Bongani Gadzikwa might be suspended or banned, but results won’t change and so why should we waste time mourning?

A good administration would have picked players up, motivated them more because they played well in the second half than to see all these complaints flying in the Press. Pick the players up, tell them it’s hard luck, create collective ambition and tell them the objective is to win the league; if that can be done this year then the better.

The Dynamos game is gone and let’s just wait for them, in two or three weeks time, to try and beat them; that’s what we must hear if we had knowledgeable leaders.

Psyche up the players, tell them to achieve more in this game. You first have to have a dream, and then you must act on that dream.

The best are those who truly enjoy what they are doing and display a tremendous amount of work ethic. They continue to persevere in spite of setbacks and never lose sight of their ultimate goal.

In every sport there comes a moment when a spell of bitter weeping seems like a fair recess from whatever tough work would be going on.

It’s only the steeliest among us who can fight the urge to turn negative into positive who will redouble their efforts.

Call it grace under pressure. Call it grit, call it excellence.

Those who truly have the spirit of champions are never wholly happy with losses, draws or an easy win.

Half the satisfaction stems from knowing that it was the time and the effort you invested that led to your high achievement, and that was the Highlanders of yesteryear.

As a club, as in our lives, we will encounter many challenges, and tomorrow we face one together.

How we accept the challenge and attack to deal with it head on is what makes us conquer and not this mourning and complaining every time.

It’s about resilience, which makes the difference because we don’t control everything in our lives. All of us get knocked down at some point, but it’s resilience that keeps us going.

The best footballers and the best leaders are known by the way they deal with triumph when the odds are heavily stacked against them.

Any game against Dynamos is very special; players don’t need to be motivated, everyone wants to play in that game because this is the match that the fans love to watch and want their team to win. The Bosso coach should instil a fighting spirit in the players and the guys who wear that black-and-white jersey must be ready to always give their best in every game because that is what wins league championships. That is what wins trophies.

Mafu, tell them that the defeat to DeMbare, cruel as it was, should help turn some of them into men, real warriors that the fans can now bank on to fight for this team and deliver silverware. Urge your players to harness the pain of the last defeat and have it inspire them to ensure that they end the season as champions and our main rivals Dynamos don’t get a fifth straight title.

Let’s show our mental and physical strength in the aftermath of last Sunday’s defeat by bouncing back in spectacular fashion this weekend against Triangle. Tell your executive to shut up and lock themselves in their offices and stop causing restlessness in the team mourning about a game that is now history.

Mafu, his players and this executive must be completely dedicated to your chosen profession. You must also be prepared to work hard and be willing to accept constructive criticism. Without 100 percent dedication, you won’t be able to do this. To be a successful coach you should be always be prepared. You must be a man of integrity.

Never break your word.

Don’t have two sets of standards.

Remember you don’t handle players, you handle pets. You deal with players.

Stand up for your players.

Show them you care on and off the field. It’s very important.