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Zenzo Moyo
Welcome to our favourite column where we say it as it is, without fear or favour.
Why are players pushed out of the system in our local football while in other countries they hang their boots or retire?
Should the players be pushed out of the system because they are said to be old and or injured? I have seen in other countries where a player is injured and they are patient enough for them to heal first before a decision is made about their future on mutual agreement.
A player who comes in mind is Vincent Kompany who played for Manchester City for 10 years but the club was patient and kept him.
Clubs need to celebrate their players while they still active and prepare them. Some countries will tell you six months prior that you are not in the coach’s plans.
Professionally run clubs will ask a player about his plans concerning particular club, whether you want to coach, administration or scouting.
This is why those forced out of the system are then forced engage in a trade that they don’t even know, because they will be in need every coin to survive.
What those guys knew best was football, yet they would have been forced out and not even given time to even say goodbye. They would have left with anger. When such a person returns to football, he would be carrying alot of anger towards the players he coaches.
It is therefore important for the system to have an exit path for players. This will help them to make proper decisions. I have seen players leaving clubs and not looking back to help their former clubs because of anger. The way forward is for clubs to sit down with their players and be open and truthful about the future with the club. Judging with the number of former players coming to watch games, it’s not the number of four generations that represent players since independence. Definitely something is wrong with the system and we need to do something.
Some clubs go to the extent even of retiring jersey numbers and not waiting for the player to die.
Lastly, good luck to the Warriors who are in the Cosafa Cup which is played in South Africa. Until next week, be safe.
Online Reporter