The Sunday Mail
ON THE BALL – with Charles Mabika
LAST week, I received an e-mail from Abel “Ngugi” Milanzi, a primary school teacher at Gwenzi School in Zhombe.
He asked me to nominate my finest-ever Warriors 18-man squad since 1980. Boy, oh boy, what a difficult task!
But after tossing and turning in my bed for a couple of nights, I finally came up with a starting XI and seven substitutes’ line-up who, I must stress, is NOT a Zimbabwe Players finest-ever outfit since Independence but simply the best players who, according to me, excelled in a Warriors jersey.
My starting line-up is based on a 4-4-2 formation:
Goalkeeper: Japhet M’parutsa.
Defenders: Mercedes Sibanda (late), Ephert Lungu, Ephraim Chiwanda (captain), Oliver Kateya (late).
Midfielders: Benjamin Nkonjera (late), John Phiri, Stanley Ndunduma (late), Norman Mapeza.
Forwards: Peter Ndlovu, Knowledge Musona.
Subs: Bruce Grobbelaar, James Takavada, Francis Shonhayi, Wonder Phiri, Ronald Sibanda, Agent Sawu, Adam Ndlovu (late).
Head Coach: Sunday Chidzambwa.
Assistant Coach: Charles Mhlauri.
Like I said earlier, it wasn’t easy!
* * *
I was delighted to learn that Warriors striker Knowledge Musona had decided not to renew his loan spell at South African giants Kaizer Chiefs and instead continue his career at Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim.
At last the Silent Assassin has seen the light!
Although Hoffenheim is not as big as Bayern Munich or Borrusia Dortmund, Musona will still be able to parade his repertoire on the big European stage and sooner rather than later, some big guns are bound to come knocking on his door.
The former Aces Youth Academy forward joined Hoffenheim three years ago and was unfortunate to be blighted by injuries, resulting in his side loaning him to another Bundesliga side, Augsburg.
It looked like that move had paid off because Musona started to churn out some sparkling performances, but again, injuries struck and he endured another gloomy spell.
These misfortunes resulted in him trekking back to the Super Diski – on loan this time – to his former Amakhosi side where he once again ruled the roost in front of goal.
The rest, as they say, is now history and he’s back where he belongs!
I understand that Kaizer Chiefs had actually offered him a heftier package than Hoffenheim’s, but Musona wisely decided against the richer pickings to concentrate on a well-tarred thoroughfare to possible stardom on the world stage.
As much as I can understand why our players jump onto the bandwagon to Super Diski because of its rand-laden pitches, it does not develop their game at all in their careers.
Except for Benjani Mwaruwari, whose career flourished in Europe after he used the South African springboard, none of our brilliant performers who plied their trade there for some time made any meaningful forays into Europe.
Some of them actually wrote their own epitaphs after emigrating down south. Remember former Douglas Warriors and Dynamos goal scoring ace Evans Gwekwerere?
Here was a player who could have walked into any second-tier European league’s first team squad without a hitch if he had not chosen South Africa as his transit lounge.
My heart still bleeds for the way the gap-toothed Earthquake floundered after a horrendous spell at Moroka Swallows and never recovered that awesome and predatory finishing in front of goal when he returned home.
So whoever advised Musona to completely forget about Super Diski deserves a huge pat on the back because the Silent Assassin is simply the best thing to have happened to Zimbabwean football after King Peter Ndlovu.
There’s no debate about this.
At the age of 24, Musona still has some time to improve his game so as to attract the bigger guns like Real Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona and Manchester City.
I’m sure a lot of you out there will keep vigil for Musona as he continues with his unwavering battle to break into the big-time of the European game.
Till next week, remember to take care of your loved ones and each other. It’s bye-bye for now.
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