The Sunday Mail
WHILE Wicknell Chivayo’s money is welcome, a modus operandi that sees the businessman going out of his way to spoil the scorers only may end up negatively impacting on the Warriors’ team dynamics.
There is already a feeling within the national team circles that Phillip Chiyangwa’s partner has a soft spot for the quartet of skipper Willard Katsande, Costa Nhamoinesu, Knowledge Musona and Khama Billiat.
Chivayo bought a Mercedes Benz for Katsande and went shopping with Nhamoinesu and Musona soon after the 4-0 mauling of Swaziland in March.
Yesterday, the businessman treated Billiat and Cuthbert Malajila to some lunch and shopping in Sandton, South Africa.
lt is such acts that have left some players believing that Chivayo views some lads as more equal than others in pure Animal Farm style.
“Maybe mbada (the rich guy) feels it’s only the foreign based players who make the Warriors tick because he always hangs out with them…even now he is seated with them,” a locally based player told this publication during a dinner hosted by NFAZ president Chiyangwa in Harare last week.
“Even after the match against Malawi, it appeared as if he only wanted to celebrate with his boys and not the rest of us.
“And there is also this trend of rewarding scorers, yet a goal is a result of team work. Don’t be surprised when you see us trying to score from impossible angles because it appears only the goal scorers get the extra benefits.”
Chivayo, in his address at the dinner that was also attended by the Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhosini Hlongwane, appeared to reach out to the disenchanted players.
“My message to the other players is please don’t be jealous, your day will come and when it comes you will know that you indeed met a mbada as life will never be the same after that.
“Ask the captain, I just called him the other day and said ‘my boy go to a Mercedes Benz dealership near you and pick a car of your choice’.
“He thought I was joking but today he is driving the finest Merc,” he said.
Yesterday, The Sunday Mail pressed Chivayo on why he is yet to add a locally based Warrior to the list of his beneficiaries.
“You guys really hate me for real. Why are you always after controversy? Why?” he said.
“However, on a serious note, the thing is yes I have heard concerns that Sir Wicknell has his boys but that is just a perception and not reality.
“Right now, I am with Khama and Malajila in Sandton and yet Malajila is not one of the boys you have included in your so called Sir Wicknell crew.
“If I was that selective, as you want to insinuate, I would not have shared the $250 000 qualification bonus among players the way I did, I would have just chosen a few guys to bless.
“But now since you have dared me to reward other ‘deserving’ players, I hereby make it public that I have my eye on the Cosafa tournament as well as the Under 20 team that is in Cameroon.
“During the dinner hosted by my brother (Chiyangwa), the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Sport Cde Thokozile Chitepo asked me to help the Mighty Warriors as they prepare for Rio. I gave her my word and will fulfill it. Don’t believe me, just watch me.”
