The Sunday Mail
THE performances of the Dynamos striking duo of Tafadzwa Rusike and Simba Sithole in last week’s TM Pick-n-Pay Challenge Cup final, as they led their side to an emphatic 4-1 victory over Highlanders, was irresistibly awesome.
While Rusike was a menace down the left flank as he delivered some pin-point crosses, Sithole majestically broke a nine-month barren spell when he slammed in two of the four goals that went past Bosso ‘keeper Ariel Sibanda.
Following these exploits, a lot of fans have since been asking why these two Glamour Boys and many more local players fail to make it when they migrate “down South” to Super Diski?
Rusike and Sithole returned after what appeared to be initial brilliant stints at Ajax Cape Town and Supersport United respectively.
Other skilful exponents of the local top-flight game like Evans Gwekwerere, Oscar Machapa, Simba Sithole (Highlanders), Peter “Rio” Moyo and Ramson Zhuwao are back home from the Absa Premiership prematurely. Why?
Is it because all these Zimbabweans are not competent enough to play in Super Diski? Of course, not; they are more than capable!
Is it because they gradually get homesick after a few months there? Not a chance!
So why are they, all of a sudden, discarded to the dustbin by coaches in South Africa and choose to return home in the hope of resurrecting their seemingly doomed careers?
I managed to have a phone chat with former Dynamos, Black Rhinos and Warriors head coach Shepherd Murape, who has been in South Africa for over two decades now.
Murape had stints at South African top-flight sides Bloemfontein Celtic, Manning Rangers, Orlando Pirates, Golden Arrows, Amazulu as well as Division One sides Dynamos and Witbank Spurs and also took charge of the Namibian senior national side.
“First of all, when our guys get here, especially the players from big sides like Dynamos, Highlanders and Caps United, they tend to get de-motivated when they join the so-called small teams like Amazulu, Ajax, Mpumalanga Black Aces and so on because those clubs don’t have a huge fan base here,” said Murape.
“The so-called big teams here are Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns, who attract huge crowds. So, if our players don’t join any of the Big Three, they tend to struggle because all of a sudden when they used to play before a crowd of about 30 000 at Rufaro, Barbourfields or National Sports Stadium, they are playing before paltry crowds of between 400-500.
“That definitely affects their play week in and week out,” he added.
Murape also felt that the South African media were quick to castigate any mediocre performances by foreigners.
“The media here deeply love their own to such an extent that any slight dip in form from foreign players and I must add here, all non-South African players, they will be swift to strike with their sharp blades and their negative comments tend to affect those targeted foreigners,” he emphasised.
“Of course, there are some players who managed to withstand all the pressure and came out tops in the top-flight here.
“So, I would like to urge Zimbabwean players to really get more information about the game here so that they can prepare themselves fully before they come here as the environment and working conditions are totally different to Zimbabwe’s,” added Murape.
Till next week, remember to take care of your loved ones and each other. It’s bye bye for now.
Please, send your feedback to: [email protected] or WhatsApp 0714665478.
