adminSikhumbuzo Moyo
FOLLOWING the resumption of the second and final round of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season yesterday afternoon at Luveve Stadium, focus is on the title race and relegation battle. At the moment both ends of the log have no clear-cut candidates as at the bottom there is the likes of Black Rhinos, Motor Action, Tripple B all gasping for air while the top has Highlanders, Chicken Inn, Dynamos and Harare City. It all looks set to be a nail-biting finale.
As has been the norm in the past, the second half is also in a way used as a barometer to rubber-stamp players who would have performed well and indeed seal their fate at the prestigious Soccer Stars of the Year calendar, come end of the year.
These 11 players should have illuminated our football scene with their exceptional skills. It is however not only talent that will propel them to that calendar but behaviour as well. While not dwelling much onto the other criteria, I will base my argument on the six yellow cards factor that disqualifies any player who would have picked up six yellow cards in a season.
Personally I think football being a contact sport (now coupled with some poor decisions from some of our referees) it is highly unlikely that a player, especially defenders, could go the entire season without accumulating six cards.
Yes the cards are meant to deter players from rough play and instil some discipline but are we really not persecuting players especially defenders whose job and probably rule of engagement is to avert danger.
Football is a sport and within that process of averting danger, one has to exercise professionalism and sportsmanship but we are talking about a contact sport here. This is not tennis, golf or volleyball for goodness sake. Let me not be misunderstood as one advocating rough tackles. I am saying it is not fair to punish a good player just because he got six yellow cards in 30 matches.
It is fair to stick to three red cards because a red card is more of a serious crime, especially if it’s a straight red. We had a perfect example last year when an overzealous referee rushed to flash a yellow card on an innocent player who already had a yellow card and that saw one Aaron Katebe getting his marching orders and that card cost him a place among the country’s best eleven. Highlanders best player last season, Eric Mudzingwa, missed out on a chance to be among the country’s best after he accumulated six yellow cards, most of them from overzealous referees and his coach Kelvin Kaindu was clearly a disappointed man as he also felt “Tsiba” would not only have made it into the top 11 but stood a chance of being among the top three as well. The Zambian also called for a review of the six yellow card criteria.
Goalkeepers who are rarely cautioned, are also in the same bracket with infield players when it comes to the six card criteria. There have been calls to reduce the number to three for goalkeepers or a single red card.
We threw the question to experts, coaches and former players and this is what they had to say on the issue of six yellow cards, especially for defenders:
Cosmas Zulu (former national team, Highlanders and AmaZulu coach): “I definitely support the criteria of disqualifying players from the selection as long as they have six cards. It will teach the player a lesson not to repeat the same thing the following season. For a player to get as much cards it means he will be reckless in his tackles and a liability to the team so yes the criteria should stand.
Dumisani “Savimbi” Nyoni (former Highlanders player and father to Vusa Nyoni): Goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, strikers and substitutes are all players who are in the same field of play in case of any infringement committed by any of the above players which warrants a card.
Gift Lunga Jnr (Former Highlanders player and now juniors coach who was always a victim of cards during his career): I personally think it’s a very unfair criteria to the defenders because defenders are always at risk of getting more cards than any other infield player. The way a defender tackles always makes him susceptible to contact with forward players. As for goalkeepers, it’s only when they are on a one on one situation with opponents that they can get a card.
Brian Jah Njobvu (Former Hwange hardman and now assistant coach): It’s not fair to disqualify an outstanding player on the basis of yellow cards accumulated. For me missing games due to suspension is enough punishment unless they are advocating for saints to play football.
Ordinary soccer fans also raised their views.
Langa Ndebele: It’s not fair because defending is the difficult part of the game, you have to stop attacking players as well as defend your goal line protecting the goalkeeper so you are vulnerable to committing a lot of fouls and be cautioned.
Bekithemba Ntshangasi: I am not happy with this six yellow cards issue because defending is the most difficult job.
Takawira Dururu: It’s meant to instil discipline. There is also that law which disqualifies a player from playing a match after accumulating three yellow cards or a red card.
Online Reporter