Looking at the challenges

Clayton Shereni /
Clever Taperamoyo

While some may attribute the fact of inadequate funding as the main cause of the lack of premiership action in Masvingo, the fact of professionalism cannot be ruled out as the major factor.
In as much as local teams are filled with talented young, seasoned players and coaches, the local football fraternity still lags behind in terms of player and club conduct.
Use of unregistered players by clubs has caused docking of points by the football mother body Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) derailing local club’s race to premiership glory.
Last season, Una Una as Masvingo United FC is affectionately known, were docked three points after they fielded five unregistered players in their derby match against Masvingo Pirates.
Thedious Machawira, the Eastern Region’s football administrator, confirmed the issue saying the club had only six registered players so the points were awarded to Pirates.
“We only allowed the match to be played because people had got in to watch the game but it was a friendly match and Pirates had already bagged the three points because Masvingo United only had six registered players in their squad,” said Machawira.
Suspected match fixing, playing under the influence of drugs and alcohol and failure to attend training sessions by players has all left hopes for topflight action a shattered dream for local fans.
In 2015, three Masvingo City players were suspended from training with the club after they allegedly received cash bribes from Hartley Academy through its goalkeeper’s coach and former Una Una goalie Claudius Gunduza at Mucheke stadium.
City went on to lose the match 2-1 after one of the suspects missed a penalty to deny his team the privilege of restoring parity to the game, thus denying his team a chance in the topflight league.
During the Una Una and FC Victoria era, Masvingo United fans would rally behind the visiting teams and vice versa, a move which would derail the momentum of the home team considering the effect of the 12th man.
Professionalism also comes from the side of the technical team led by the head coach who chooses the squad of the day.
Professionalism can be defined in simple language as the mastering of skills in the chosen field by offering a higher degree of excellence that brings in that targeted or expected results.
In local football clubs, particularly in Division One, lack of professionalism is visible, and the teams with the most potential often employ shoddy tactics.
Basically, the performance of a club must necessarily be impressive, and players must show talent if games are to be won.
Local teams, however, are far from playing quality football in terms of the display of technique, skills and tactics. Even in the fundamentals, such as speed, strength and stamina with the ball, they have a long way to go since they seem to depend on ageing players instead of grooming young talent.
Zifa and the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation should introduce sensible technical development programmes through the schools spread in the country. Groom the young talents with basic skills, especially those between the ages of 10 to 14 years. It is in these age groups that future professional stars are born and incorporated into local clubs.
The mere arrangement of school tournaments is certainly not the answer to improve the quality football professional, but training in technique, skills and basic tactics that will enhance the professionalism of young talent in school seems to be vital and beneficial to local clubs.
The entire effort should be laid on the development of young and talented footballers, equipping them with professional knowledge before they can join local clubs. Professional techniques would then come into their path at the peak of their football careers.
Few young talented players have been taken by local teams and the recycling of old players has failed to achieve the desired results.
Last season, Masvingo United coach, Wilson Chinosengwa included former Zimbabwe senior soccer team right back Godfrey Dondo as well as Tichaona Zvandasara, both in their 30s, in some of the team’s games including the Masvingo derby.
They however failed to impress because of the obvious age factor which makes those in their mid-30s and above fail to cope with game pace.
Player welfare and poor contracts also play a major role in the absence of the much-desired premier football action since teams cannot afford to lure quality players due to poor contracts.
It is, however, not too late for the local clubs to emphasise professionalism if they are ever to make a difference and lift the spirits of their fans.

Adv Phillip Shumba                                                Hubert Fidze


… as quest to bring back topflight football continues


Clayton Shereni

Two Masvingo based Eastern Region Division One teams Masvingo United Football Club (fc) and Masvingo Pirates have amicably resolved to put an end to the Masvingo derby and merge into one team as they target to bring back the long lost glory of premiership action to Mucheke Stadium.
The country’s oldest city has been without topflight league action for over seven years with its last representative being Masvingo United in 2011.
On Tuesday, February 26, 2019, the club held a press conference at Charles Austin where Advocate Phillip Shumba was named the team’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Masvingo City  Mayor Collen Maboke is the club’s Patron while former Mayor Hubert Fidze was named Chairman.
Addressing journalists at the press conference, Fidze said the team will use the name Masvingo United and called upon football fans to embrace the bold move with excitement.
“The new club will use the name Masvingo United Football Club (FC). This is breaking news indeed and which should be received with all the acceptance and excitement it deserves,” said Fidze.
The two teams resolved to name the club Masvingo United after considering the club as the most successful football club to emerge from Masvingo.
Lawyer Owen Mafa is the club’s secretary, Godfrey Mtimba was also unveiled as club spokesperson and City of Masvingo deputy housing director, Simbarashe Mandishona was named vice secretary.
The team’s technical team is expected to be unveiled by March 4 while player registration is still in progress and will end a week later on March 13, 2019.
Renowned football commentator and pundit Charles Mabika applauded both teams for merging into one team a move which he said will definitely bring back premiership football to Masvingo.
“The merging of the teams is good for the province and definitely it can bring back premiership action to Masvingo'” said Mabika.
Una Una is likely to receive what could be a major financial boost ahead of the 2019 season with Masvingo City Council already on record saying they are making consultations to whether fully or partially bankroll a local football club.
Inclusion of N. Richards Group Director, Andrew Chekani as the club’s committee member is another major boost to the club as there are growing calls for the corporate world to fund a local football team.
Blending of the two teams is expected to produce good results in the upcoming season since both Dzinochekwa Baba as Pirates is affectionately known and United have vast young and experienced players in their books.