The Sunday Mail
Don Makanyanga
Also known as ‘the silly season’, the Castle Lager Premiership’s off-season is arguably one of the most divisive periods on the football calendar.
After close to 40 weeks of non-stop action, some players use the period to rest, heal and recuperate.
However, other top flight players use the time to make some extra money through lending their talents to social football teams in the ‘Boozers League’.
ln the high stake winner-takes-all football games, prize money ranges from US $1000 to $10 000.
Just a week before the Premier Soccer League players report back to their clubs, they capped their off-season in ‘style’ as they illuminated the usually quite high density suburb of Mabvuku.
Interestingly, the match, which was the last match of the season, pitted Mabvuku Select against a PSL Select.
ln their pursuit for a quick buck, the top flight players completely turned a blind eye on the sub-standard pitches and football boots as well as the absence of medical personnel during the game.
The setting was just wrong for professional footballers.
Every time these professionals took to the field during the off-season break, one was reminded of the talents that never reached their peak due to career ending injuries that were picked during such games.
Think of Watson Muhoni, Samson Choruwa and Zvikomborero Bizeki among others.
Former Caps United and Harare City midfielder Milton Ncube, who is now based in the United Kingdom, said due to the country’s current economic situation, professional footballers are resorting to these matches to supplement their income. “It’s a good thing that you have mentioned it, because it’s a trend that has been going on for a very long time.
“Economic conditions have made these games even more lucrative. To be honest, I used to play them,” revealed Ncube.
A PSL player who on spoke condition of anonymity said playing these games is a way of surviving during the off-season period.
“During the season we are guaranteed of allowances and winning bonuses. When we are off-season we only have to wait for our salaries. Just like other Zimbabweans, we have to find other means to get us going financially.
“We end up playing these games to supplement our salaries.
“We understand the risks of playing social soccer matches, but there is nothing we can do about it. We need to survive during the off-season perios,” said the player.
Ngezi Platinum Stars coach Rodwell Dhlakama said partaking in social soccer or money games is against the ethics of professionalism.
“It’s diabolical, unfortunate and unbecoming behavior on the part of the players. lt is mischievous and dangerous to their careers as they need at most three months of total rest for full recuperation.
“They even play these games in conditions which do not match the stadiums they use every day.
“How do they grow as professionals then when they engage in such activities?
“It’s important to respect your profession. I do not condone such practices,” said Dhlakama.
Former Caps United board member and Warriors team doctor Nicky Munyonga said the recommended minimum time for recuperation is four weeks. After that, teams can commence pre-season training.
“The minimum time to rest before pre-season training is 30 days.
“Rest is part of player development and excellence. Physical and mental rest is part of the whole training and competition cycle,” said Munyonga.
He added that the pitches used for social soccer are sub-standard, therefore professional players risk cutting their careers short by participating in these games.
“Sub-standard, bumpy, hard and slippery pitches pose a great risk of immediate, long term and career threatening injuries.
“When players return for pre-season training, there is an assumption that they would have received the recommended rest,” said the former Warriors doctor.
Around the world, the off-season period presents an opportunity for players to rest.
Clubs have off-season fitness plans for the players, and those plans exclude football.
“Most clubs in this country do not have long term contracts with players. Therefore it is very difficult to have such plans, even though it is necessary. When teams are well resourced, that is possible,” said Munyonga.
“Players don’t rest like non-players. They have what is called active rest. This where players are encouraged to be active, not on the direct line, but on the muscle groups they use for football.
“Other programs like swimming as well as playing tennis and golf are encouraged,” he said.
Recently, Caps United midfielder Kudzai Nyamupfukudza was injured while playing in a social soccer game. He sustained torn ligaments which might see him out of action for the better part of the first half of the season.
The injury will see the Green Machine defensive midfielder missing out of action when league action resumes in March.
Dhlakama feels that such occurrences are burdening clubs.
“On the assumption that players would have been resting, coaches prepare programs that are in tandem with their philosophies. This will not spare the players who would have been active during the break, that is when you see players who were previously in good form slumping. The rest is history.
“Players create their own league during off-season. They get injured and then hide those injured legs in order to burden the clubs,” said Dhlakama.
Former Warriors coach and current Chicken Inn gaffer Joey Antipas said clubs should come up with punitive measures for players that participate in social leagues during the off-season period.
“It’s important to come up with measures that will deter players from competing in these games,” said Antipas.
Last year, the local Premier League partnered Fidelity Life Assurance for three years to offer medical aid and funeral assurance to top flight players.
The medical aid covers players injured during matches and at training. lt excludes players injured playing social soccer.
