The Sunday Mail
Sir
18area.coms
ONE of the greatest afflictions bedeviling Zimbabwean football is the tendency to call everyone who once put on soccer boots a legend.
Due to such poor nomenclature, we have hundreds of former footballers who believe they are legends and should thus be treated like royalty at matches or any other football gathering.
These “legends” believe it’s their right to watch matches for free and they are always quick to give unfortunate cashiers, who deny them free entry into stadia, a quick history lesson.
“You don’t know me? I played for such and such a team in the 1980s. Maybe you were not born yet but I am a legend,” is the usual line.
Apart from seeking freebies these wannabe legends are also in the annoying habit of mourning about how the local game has been captured by “non-football people” without proffering the way forward.
“It’s about time legends get involved in the running of the game,” they lament.
And when one chooses to open his ear in anticipation of an elaboration on how the former players plan to take over running of the game, the result is massive disappointment.
Each time I meet someone of interest – like these so-called legends – I always make it a point to take a closer look at their shoes.
Ask any women, shoes always tell a story!
Some of these former players put on shoes that are crying for a deserved rest.
Yours Truly often wonders what these guys will be able to offer the game in the event that they somehow manage to land the Zifa presidency.
Heaven forgive me, but a majority of these “legends” come across as people who are looking for life rather than individuals who can give our game the kiss of life.
Sadly these guys appear to believe that positions in football administration should be bestowed upon them in the same manner some of their countrymen hail them as legends.
Right now they are pretending not to be aware that Zifa elections are due next year. They are busy waiting for the chance to coach their former clubs.
There is massive jostling for the Highlanders job as we speak. There are some former Caps United players who believe Lloyd Chitembwe has overstayed and it’s about time they are given a chance to manage Makepekepe.
It will be a waste of valuable space to zoom in on Dynamos because at that club almost every former player is waiting for his chance to either administer, coach or pinch from the gate takings.
You see, dear reader, there will always be a problem as long as these former players remain obsessed with acquiring the celebrated but yet nothing spectacular Caf A coaching licence.
Is there a rule that bars former players from taking up sports administration courses?
The late Edzai Kasinauyo smelt the coffee and successfully fought his way into Zifa but was short of support when the hawks hounded him out of the boardroom.
The former players watched from the sidelines as Kasinauyo fought a lone and costly battle to clear his name.
They laughed at poor – no pun intended – James Takavada when the 1984 Soccer Star of the Year chose to run for the Zifa top job but struggled to raise enough funds to hire a venue at which to launch his campaign, let alone print a manifesto.
Women are often accused of not supporting each other and the same can be said about these wannabe legends.
They suffer from PHD, the Pull Him Down Syndrome, and the prayers of Prophet Walter Magaya, as well as other men and women of God, are urgently needed if these guys are to become much more than overworked and underpaid coaches.
Sir exits the scene!
Sir is social media football commentator and can be contacted at [email protected]
