The Sunday Mail
Sir
18area.coms
FOR the umpteenth time Walter Magaya last weekend threatened to leave Yadah Stars Football Club high and dry.
And for the umpteenth time the prophet sounded all froth but no beer, all emotional but with little substance.
Apparently Yadah wanted to add a miracle third player to the Warriors squad that concluded their Cosafa Cup campaign against Zambia yesterday.
In the Cosafa database, the Zimbabwe national team had two players from Yadah – Jimmy Dzingai and the yet to prove himself Leeroy Mavunga.
But to Magaya, in his bid to have his team’s last weekend game against Bulawayo City postponed, argued that his team had lost three players to the national team.
The man of God argued Byron Madzokere’s injury at Warriors training meant his team had lost three players to the national team hence there were grounds to have the game against Bulawayo City postponed.
However, the PSL would have none of it and rightly turned down Magaya’s request as Yadah had two and not three players with the national team.
That triggered Magaya into making another I quit threat.
“I quit . . . be blessed,” he was quoted as fuming by The Saturday Herald.
“Ndaneta, this PSL inorwadza, I am telling you. They make money out of us every season and when you ask them to be considerate to your plight they make some funny decisions which impact negatively on the development of clubs and football.
“We wrote a letter to them saying Jimmy had suddenly been taken away from us, Lee was already there with the national team and Byron was injured on this national duty and that means we have three key players whom we have lost because of national duty and we wanted the PSL to postpone our game but they refused.
“Surely, why should we be punished for helping the country? Why should they fix me for supporting the national team not only through the camping facilities, meals and training ground that we provided for the team but also for the players who are now making the grade to play for the country?
“I don’t get any money from sponsoring the team, instead I spend a lot of money but it feels like there are some people in leadership positions who don’t want to see people like us in the game.
“If the team travels to Bulawayo then it’s the supporters taking them there and not me and I pray that ZIFA and (Philip) Chiyangwa use their power to stop this madness because we are destroying the game.”
It was a mouthful of nothing from Magaya and the fact that Yadah went on to feature in a James Bond comeback 3-all draw a few hours later proved his threats were hollow.
There are some who must have read Magaya’s threats and whispered “give him time, he will cool down. This is not the first time he has threatened to quit.”
Earlier this year the prophet also hinted at quitting and donating his PSL franchise until he made another not so sensational U-turn.
But in all what Magaya said last weekend, one word struck me.
Ndaneta!
I am tired, it means.
Sponsoring a PSL team is a thankless but financially draining task and Magaya is entitled to feel tired.
Feel tired by having his efforts not appreciated. Tired by a PSL that seemingly bagging a league title sponsor is a sign that reads Welcome to Canaan!
Why the top-flight league does not pursue sponsorship deals with hospitality groups and transport service providers is a mystery probably best explained by prophets.
Travel and accommodation are the biggest cost drivers for local PSL teams and some sponsorship in those areas will certainly be most welcome.
I have never met Magaya but I can see his passion in the way he sponsors Yadah and the Warriors.
And to me anyone who is a friend of football is by association a friend of Yours Truly.
At some point we have to appreciate the huge sacrifices that guys like Magaya, guys like Farai Jere, guys like Nichrut owner Nicholas Gara are making.
With the election season underway Sir reminds the football community of the importance of having a strong character as PSL president.
We need a woman, or a man, who can push the top-flight’s league agenda and not one who feels indebted to the Zifa leadership.
My tall friend Keni Mubaiwa, by virtue of having resigned from Dynamos not a day sooner, is out of reckoning for the PSL job.
So who takes the mettle?
Jere, Evans Mtombeni or Bosso chair Kenneth Mhlope?
As you ponder on that one Yours Truly is heading to the World Cup in Russia saying iwe neni tine basa.
Asante Sana!
Sir exits the scene!
