The Sunday Mail
Cde Minister Langa, our sport is in a mess and you need to show some teeth, even when you are not speaking. I don’t wish you to be swept aside by a Cabinet reshuffle but do wish that you become a new man, a new minister, in 2015. GOD permitting, the next time we meet the year 2015 will be four days old. Andrew Langa will, most probably, still be our Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture. As the name suggests VaShagare is a traditionalist and is never swayed by the Christmas jamboree. Thursday came and went without being noticed in my life.
No hold up.
I was offered a few more free drinks at my favourite watering hole, but surely that’s not what Christmas is all about?
However, being a traditionalist does not stop me from reading the Bible and following the teachings of Prophet Makandiwa on radio, YouTube and DVDs.
That Makandiwa guy, the tall fellow, is something else.
The Holy book tells us that Andrew was one of Jesus’ disciples, a man who answered the call to become a fisher of man.
Similarly, when President Mugabe a very huge fan of sport, called on Andrew Langa, the affable politician accepted.
Amid optimism within the sporting fraternity, Langa was appointed the minister of a fully fledged sports ministry and the man did not waste time.
He promised plenty.
Sadly, more than a year since taking oath of office, Langa has done very little for sport other than talk for it.
Gilbert Munetsi had enough of Langa’s all talk and no action approach, he resigned from his position as the Zimbabwe Boxing Board of Control secretary general.
Other sports administrators have not gone the Munetsi way but they must be just as disappointed in Minister Langa.
However, I doubt if Dr Cuthbert Dube and his band of pretenders at Zifa share the same feeling as Langa has proven to be their all weather friend – a man who defends the indefensible as far as the soccer governing body is concerned.
The Warriors capitulation at the hands of Tanzania in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations preliminary round qualifier triggered calls for decisive action to be taken against Dube and his board.
Langa appeared to read the nation’s mood and talked tough.
As usual.
However, days turned into weeks, weeks into months and now 2014 is about to bid us adieu with Langa no closer to cleaning the mess at Zifa.
Maybe Langa and Dr Dube have become friends who occasionally meet to discuss cattle ranching, the economy, politics and football at the former’s residence.
Just maybe.
Cde Minister Langa, our sport is in a mess and you need to show some teeth, even when you are not speaking. I don’t wish you to be swept aside by a Cabinet reshuffle but do wish that you become a new man, a new minister, in 2015.
Oh Mafu, you are mouthful
Highlanders, seeking to find their footing on high ground, have turned to highly qualified Bongani Mafu for salvation.
The Bosso fans are already salivating as an old picture of their new coach arm in arm with Bayern Munich mentor Pep Guardiola goes viral on the social networks.
And Mafu has been talking tough, giving the scribes in Bulawayo the sound bites they and their readers itch to hear.
“Other teams will find it difficult to beat me,” Mafu declared soon after being unveiled as the Highlanders coach.
Hopefully those other teams include Dynamos because DeMbare have had Bosso’s number for the past eight years.
Victory over Bosso has become so routine at Dynamos, the club’s fans never look worried when the “Bulawayo giants” take the lead.
Can we digress a bit?
What is it with our journalists labelling a team like Highlanders as Bulawayo giants and Dynamos as the Harare giants?
Real Madrid would be Madrid giants I suppose.
And what would that make Atletico Madrid?
Help our souls, eyes and ears please.
The controversial having been said Mafu, a mouthful, is the 18-area.coms Football Personality of the Week.
Never mind the fact that he was handed a one-year contract!
A highly qualified coach, who seems to reach oral orgasm as quickly as a rabbit does when mating, is a welcome addition to our game.
Hopefully Bosso will get going under Mafu because Zimbabwean football, with all due respect to the other teams, needs Dynamos, Highlanders and Caps United outfits that do the business.
It has been a topsy-turvy year but let’s count it all joy.
VaShagare exits the scene.
- VaShagare is the founder of DeMbare DotComs and can be contacted on that Facebook page as well as the email [email protected].
