Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THERE was a time when the South Africa’s Betway Soccer League — formerly known as Supa Diski — looked like an elevated football playground for talented Zimbabwean players.
The South Africa Premiership has been a destination for Zimbabwean players and agents ever since the early 1970s when Ebson Muguyo made the first move down South.
Among the pioneers of the great trek south are some of the best footballers produced in Zimbabwe — the late George Shaya and the late Shadreck Ngwenya, who turned out for Moroka Swallows in the 1970s.
These football legends paved the way for hundreds of Zimbabwean footballers who excelled, with some like Benjani Mwaruwari, Knowledge Musona, Teenage Hadebe and Marshall Munetsi using the league as a springboard to propel themselves to lucrative European leagues.
Tinashe Nengomasha
But last Tuesday, as the clock struck midnight to mark the close of the 2024-2025 mid-season player transfer window, there was no mention of Zimbabwe.
“I think the South African clubs are justified,” said former Zimbabwe international Stewart Murisa, who had a successful stint in the then-Supa Diski.
“Without taking anything away from the boys who are currently playing, I think it just goes to show how Zimbabwean football standards have dropped.
“It’s unfortunate some of our guys are even failing to last a season in South Africa, and it’s not their fault.”
Some of the players who recently failed to cope with the South African PSL are Zimbabwe’s two-time Soccer Star of the Year Rodwell Chinyengetere and former Golden Boot winner Clive Augusto.
But why is the quality of players dropping in Zimbabwe?
The answer is simple, according to Murisa — the Zimbabwe football leadership have abdicated their fundamental role of grassroots development.
“This country is rich in football talent but that talent is not being developed properly.
“That is why coaches in our topflight league are spending more time teaching basics that could have been dealt with at an early stage,” he said.
Murisa recalls a time when young players (around 16-17) commonly broke into the PSL in Zimbabwe and made an immediate impact.
“During our time, and before that, it was common to see many young players making their PSL breakthroughs at age 16 or 17 years and making an instant impact.
“Most of us at Darryn T were promoted to the senior team by (Wieslaw) Grabowski around that age.
“You talk of myself, Alois Bunjira, Lloyd Chitembwe, Norman Mapeza, Gift Muzadzi, Edelbert Dinha, to name a few.
“These players were already polished at a young age because they did not skip stages of development,” Murisa explained.
Teenage prodigy Nokuthenda Mangezi from the Real Betis Academy was the last player to move from Zimbabwe to South Africa last year when he was signed by SuperSport.
Before that, Zimbabwe had not exported a player to the neighbouring country in three years.
Nowadays, South African clubs are better off recruiting from neighbouring countries Namibia and Zambia.
Some South African clubs are spreading their nets wider to West Africa, Brazil and Europe.
Out of the 544 currently registered players in the Betway Premier Soccer League, 84 are foreign.
From that number, there are only 10 Zimbabwean players.
Veteran goalkeeper Washington Arubi of Marumo Gallants headlines the cast.
The other Zimbabweans still playing in South Africa include Knox Mutizwa (Golden Arrows), Douglas Mapfumo (Polokwane City), Daniel Msendami, Junior Zindoga (both Marumo), Elvis Chipezeze, Edmore Chirambadare (both Magesi) and SuperSport’s Mangezi.
Just under five years ago, the number of Zimbabweans was almost triple, with 12 of the 16 South African topflight clubs having at least a Zimbabwean player in their books.
Player intermediary George Deda told Zimpapers Sports Hub that business with South African clubs has gone down drastically.
“Honestly, I don’t know what is happening to our football.
“There was a time when you would hardly spend a month or two without being called by a South African club, requiring the services of players who would be excelling.
“But now, to be very honest, I have not had a call or any inquiry in the last three years,” he said.
He acknowledged that current Zimbabwean leagues are not producing talented players.
“I was talking to some of the top coaches and officials of football clubs in South Africa; they bemoaned the lack of talent coming out of Zimbabwe,” said Deda.
He notes the return of players like Walter Musona and Khama Billiat from South Africa and then dominating the Soccer Stars of the Year awards was a huge testament of the stagnation.
Musona played for Polokwane City and Sekhukhune United from 2017 before returning home in 2021 to win the Soccer Star of the Year twice in 2022 and 2024.
Billiat — who revived his fortunes at Yadah last season after an acrimonious departure from South Africa — was the second runner-up last year.
“I’m not saying Musona or Gaucho (Billiat) are not good players.
“However, when you have a player who left Zimbabwe 10 years ago, goes and plays in South Africa and comes back and wins the Soccer Star of the Year, it says something.
“I don’t think such a scenario would have happened 15 years ago.
“So, to me, I think we are not producing enough,” added Deda.
His sentiments were echoed by development coach Patridge Muskwe, whose Friendly Academy played a part in setting up Marshall Munetsi’s international career.
Muskwe believes South Africa has been making strides in terms of development while Zimbabwe has regressed.
South African football has taken a new paradigm of equipping the youth development ecosystem with expert leadership, top-class infrastructure and effective developmental pathways.
“We lagged behind a bit. I don’t know why the previous ZIFA leadership didn’t want to consider development.
“We even withdraw junior teams from international tournaments; it’s unheard of. These are critical pillars of development.
“Instead, we should strive to take this age group to the World Cup and then we develop our future national team from there. I hope the new ZIFA board will offer more support to grassroots development,” said Muskwe.
