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KNOWLEDGE MUSONA
There is no doubt that the Warriors striker was the one of the major news makers for the year after hitting a jackpot by moving to Germany from South Africa, after a good show in South Africa where he provided us with something to write week in week out.
The former Kaizer Chiefs striker sealed a multi-million rand move to Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim in what could be the beginning of a journey into a long-held dream of competing with Europe’s best at the highest stage. He became the first Zimbabwean player to earn a move straight into German top division — surpassing the achievements of colleagues of yesteryear — who plied their trades with different sides but in the lower rungs of the premier division.
The former Aces Youth Academy star was signed for R16 million, approximately $2,3 million. The Warriors striker had hoped to try his luck with Europe’s elite only next year following two years of storming football in the colours of South African glamour club — Kaizer Chiefs.
But his rise in stock and successful trials at the Bundesliga side meant a quick break into one of Europe’s most gruelling leagues.
HENRIETTA RUSHWAYA
It is extremely difficult to talk about Zimbabwean football without mentioning the former Zifa CEO. She might have moved on doing other businesses in the capital but her name still features prominently in football politics, particularly the much talked about Asiagate scandal. She has been accused of being one of the master minds of the deal that saw the national team travel to Asian countries between 2007 and 2009 to play in money games that were funded by gamblers, fronted by Singapore national Raj Perumal.
Although Rushwaya has denied any wrongdoing, the report compiled by the Ndumiso Gumede-led Zifa committee lists her among the high profile beneficiaries in the scam, among the likes of football agent Kudzi Shaba and former Zifa employee Jonathan Musavengana. The report mentioned about 90 players, including coaches such as Sunday Chidzambwa, Nelson Matongorere, Luke Masomere, Joel Antipas and administrators Methembe Ndlovu, Solomon Mugavazi, Kenny Marange, former Zifa boss Wellington Nyatanga and Godfrey Japajapa.
FC PLATINUM
The premier league debutants shook the league and raised the bar when they stormed into the big league.The Zvishavane based side signed about 20 players, the cream of the Premiership. They went on to offer arguably the highest salaries and allowances for players and coaches in the league such that they became a destination of choice.
They were favourites to win the title from the onset and were unlucky to lose it by a goal difference to Dynamos on the last day of the season and when everyone was still having a hangover of the exciting photo-finish, they went on to sign more than 15 players and left out 11 stars from their 2011 playing squad out of the list sent to Caf for the Champions league tournament. Hate them or love them, they were one of the major newsmakers and promise to continue to hog the limelight as we enter 2012.
BENJAMIN MOYO
The likeable coach died on Good Friday when he mysteriously drowned in a swimming pool in a hotel in Shurugwi where his team, FC Platinum, were camped ahead of a derby against Shabanie. His death shocked the whole football fraternity and the FC Platinum story in their very first year in the premiership would never be complete without the mention of Benjie, who had come back home from the UK to land a coaching job at FC Platinum. May his soul rest in peace. He was replaced by veteran Rahman Gumbo who was lured by the rich club from Botswana, where he was been based in recent years.
COSMAS NYONI
The former Fifa panel referee hogged the limelight in recent weeks when he jumped to the centre of allegations of match- fixing in the Zifa Central Region. He went on to point a finger at Zifa board members, Gift Banda and Patrick Hokonya, who were subsequently suspended, following the suspension of Nyoni and other referees, including acting Zimbabwe Referees Association boss, Samukeliso Silengane. Nyoni is still to dominate the back pages as his trial resumes in court where he is facing charges of criminal defamation filed by Banda, after he implicated him in the match-fixing saga.
SEPP BLATTER
The visit to Harare in July by the Fifa president was headline news across the globe. He met President Mugabe before meeting Zifa officials, something which was a big score to Zifa president, Cuthbert Dube. Blatter arrived in Harare on a private jet, inspected training facilities and the Zifa Village that urgently needs funding and pledged $1m over four years for football schemes in the country. Another $500,000 will be provided to support training under Fifa’s worldwide Goal Project.
CALLISTO PASUWA
He took over Dynamos in the second half of the season from Lloyd Mutasa and sensationally won a double, league and Mbada Diamonds Cup. But his demands for a new contract hit a snag after he reportedly demanded a signing on fee of $10 000 and a $4000 salary, when Dynamos were prepared to pay a salary of $3 000. The snag, however, appears to have gone down under after the intervention of Moses Chunga, as the chairman of a newly formed coaches association and Pasuwa is likely to be given a three-year contract as head coach of the Glamour Boys. Nonetheless, the mini-saga provided much news value during the off-season and Christmas period, when there is virtually nothing to fill up the sports pages.
OBERT MPOFU
The minister entered new ground when he chipped in to bail out Highlanders in April when they were close to losing their team bus and other movable property through an auction over money owed to former coach Mohamed Fathi. Minister Mpofu gave the club $21 000, and recently, donated kits to the club.
CUTHBERT DUBE
The Zifa president was at the centre of the whole football fiasco, which was dominated by scandals which resulted in five board members being suspended. However, he will be largely remembered for sacrificing personal finances to bail out the association as he has reportedly poured over $500 000 into Zifa, since his election into office in March last year. At one point, he used his house as surety to secure a bank loan for the Warriors to fulfill an international assignment.
FARAI JERE
The CAPS United vice-president torched a storm when he said he had quit the club , after seven years in the administrative trenches at the Green Machine, saying he had not received any returns from his investment of close to $800 000 to date. However, normalcy returned to Caps United when he struck a new deal with president Twine Phiri, which saw him raise his ownership stake of the club from 20 percent to 40 percent, with Phiri retaining the majority shareholding of 60 percent.
PETER NDLOVU
The former Highlanders and national team striker returned to the Premiership after close to two decades of football in England and South Africa. But the return of the Flying Elephant was not to be as he only lasted half the season, after contractual problems cropped up with employers Twalumba Holdings who had loaned him to Black Mambas. What was supposed to be great year to say good bye to local fans , however, fizzled into thin air, although his Bulawayo fans warmed up to his return when he featured for Black Mambas at Barbourfields in the first half of the season.
SUCCESS STORIES
Apart from the most popular sport there were other news makers across the sporting disciplines like Brendon Taylor and Brian Vitori, who were a shoulder above the rest when Zimbabwe returned to Test Cricket. Kirsty Coventry continued to hog the limelight across the globe and was rightfully chosen Zimbabwe Sports person of the year. Long distance runner Stephen Muzhingi also made news across the region when he retained the Comrades marathon title in South Africa and in the US, athlete Ngoni Makusha continued to dominate. There were also success stories in golf, when Brandon de Jong finished in top 11 in golf world cup. The rugby squad, Sables, also dominated the continent in 2011.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR
“Football is more than kicking a ball. I do not come to Africa to impose European football, I respect particularities and culture. Africa has more talent than Brazil but Africa’s talent is not yet developed,” Fifa boss Sepp Blatter said at a news conference in Harare.
We wish to thank the followers of this column and wish all our readers a prosperous 2011. For views and comments email [email protected]
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