adminMoffat Mungazi Spot-On
BARELY four months after announcing the union, the relationship between Zimbabwe’s football governing body and its benefactor Wicknell Chivayo came to a boiling point following the latter’s livid outburst over what he felt was ingratitude from the people who were benefitting from his benevolence.
Chivayo’s immediate announcement that he would henceforth not extend any more support to the national teams in terms of material or financial resources following this week’s The Sunday Mail story, which reported that Warriors coach Kallisto Pasuwa had not received his salary for the past two months, triggered mixed reactions from football fans following the youthful businessman’s abrasive reaction. Chivayo was infuriated that the story somewhat insinuated that he had failed to honour his pledge of paying the coach’s monthly salary of $7 000 as spelt out in the contract the gaffer signed with Zifa.
As Chivayo raved and ranted, calling his offenders names, it left some wondering whether he is a genuine friend of the game of football in general and the Warriors in particular, given the egoistic behaviour he exhibited.
While acknowledging that Pasuwa, Warriors captain Willard Katsande and striker Nyasha Mushekwi visited his office to thank him for the Samsung smart phones and cash the team received from him, it is unfair for Chivayo to make claims of thanklessness against almost everyone.
As the media play their “watchdog of/for society” duty and report on such issues as those affecting our national football team and its coaches, it does not simply pander to an individual’s egocentric whims or parrot what best suits that person’s self-seeking agenda. It would not be far-fetched to suggest that Chivayo is being two-faced to remonstrate bitterly about that The Sunday Mail story and yet delightfully immerse himself in those that highlight his donations to the association and the players.
Just as the socialite businessman exposed that “it must be noted Zifa has no bank account” for public consumption, so was it of public interest for the nation to know what is affecting it’s national football team and coaches.
Issues affecting the Warriors are not only of public, but national interest as well and reporting on them is surely not a crime or professional and ethical delinquency. Chivayo’s attack on both the reporter and newspaper was, therefore, unfortunate and uncalled for.
Putting the matter in proper perspective, yes, virtually all Zimbabweans are thankful and appreciate what he has done for our national team – even as he blows his own trumpet and go to town about it – doling out money and presents should not be used as a shield to ward off constructive criticism.
While we, as true friends of the game acknowledge and value the helping hand Chivayo is lending in the noble quest to develop our national game, many, nonetheless, find him offside for name-calling: to describe others as “broke idiots” and their perceived ingratitude as “rubbish” is purely stretching it a bit far.
Surely, there are better ways of airing your grievances than that, Sir Wicknell!
As once suggested in some sections of the local media, Chivayo must keep his purse open and mouth shut.
And gratitude, be a virtue as it may, should not be demanded from those at the mercy of your patronage, Sir Wicknell.
While the “foolish and overzealous reporter needs psychiatric attention”, Chivayo also certainly requires a public relations practitioner to handle and manage his publicity affairs so as to save his face, public image and reputation.
The long and short of it all is that his diatribe exposed him in several ways.
Is it not an indictment on Zifa for Chivayo to go on record as saying “to ensure that players get their money you have to be extremely circumspect and discreet otherwise the money will be intercepted and forfeited”?
Was his tirade not pent-up sentiment that he had bottled inside him that has suddenly found an outlet for venting after conceding that “sponsoring soccer has in fact caused me more headaches than joy…”?
After all is said and done, there is no such thing as “bad publicity” and the man is in the news right now as well as social media as football followers discuss this development.
So, take it easy and calm down, Sir Wicknell!
Spare a thought for Pasuwa
Warriors coach Pasuwa, for all he has endured during his troubled reign since the days of the Cuthbert Dube era, deserves better. The tactician guided the Young Warriors to Africa Games qualification last year and also presided over the senior men’s passage to Chan early this year. His charges are topping the 2017 Afcon Group L standing and are well poised to secure a ticket to Gabon and his efforts surely deserve recognition.
This is the man who went for nearly a year in the job without a contract as the negotiations rambled on and were long-drawn-out.
Again, barely days after finally being offered the contract, he found himself on the receiving end again as he was fired but quickly reinstated.
The same gratitude that Chivayo is so loudly crying out for should also be accorded to Pasuwa for his efforts and doing his best under difficult circumstances.
And now, asking for dues entitled to them is simply acting in one’s best interests and Pasuwa should not be crucified for that.
Clearly, there was a sticky point there, tantamount to a breach of contract by Pusuwa’s employers at Zifa, and Chivayo should be taking his partners (Zifa) to task over the matter and not reproaching the coach, the reporter or the newspaper.
If Zifa bungle their operations, it may be inevitable that Chivayo’s name is also brought into disrepute – especially if it pertains to matters he has publicly undertaken to take care of – through his association with the mother body and he should take no offence at that.
The partners should have a clear working plan to avoid such scenarios in the future.
Looking forward, going ahead
People like Chivayo, who realise the importance of football in national development and chip in to help it improve and progress are welcome and encouraged to continue with their concerted efforts, but it is the constant bickering among stakeholders that holds and draws us back.
Right now we are in a good position and a historical qualification for yet another dance at Afcon is beckoning and we cannot afford to disrupt the good vibe about this campaign, dissipate the spirits of everyone involved and blow away that perfect opportunity due to unnecessary but avoidable squabbles.
Are we not running the risk of eroding the gains we have made thus far since ushering in the new Zifa executive led by Dr Chiyangwa only last December?
With the crucial Afcon fixtures coming up in June and September, this does not augur well for the remainder of the qualifiers.
While the relationship between the involved parties may look fractious following this development, it is imperative that it gets mend for the best “interest of the nation”, as Chivayo rightly puts it.
Our national game is bigger than any individual and it must not needlessly suffer.
Warriors captain Katsande aptly put it and progressive friends of the game agree with him. “It’s worrying to hear about disturbing football developments back home.
I am proud to be a Zimbabwean. We are here as ambassadors and expect good news all the time, but the reports we get about our football here are always negative and depressing and it affects us here.
It is painful and it’s a shame because even our teammates acknowledge that we are talented as a country but fail to understand how we manage our football and they sometimes laugh at us,” he told The Herald early this week.
Meanwhile, to borrow Sir Wicknell’s rich words, it’s: “GO WARRIORS GO . . . ALL THE BEST TO AFCON . . .”
Online Reporter