Just imagine the glowing headlines which would have greeted Khama Billiat had he signed for Aberdeen in July 2018?

Warriors star joins four-time Scottish champions, seven Scottish Cups, former winners of the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

The club Sir Alex Ferguson transformed, during a golden spell in the ’80s, into the dominant side in Scotland, winning three league titles, four Scottish Cups, two Scottish League Cups, the European Cup Winners’ Cup and the European Super Cup.

The last Scottish club to win silverware in the UEFA inter-club competitions, the only one from that country to win more than one piece of silverware in the European competitions.

A club, with the proud history of never having been relegated since becoming part of the Scottish top-flight league in 1905, who are regular participants in the Europa League.

The last club, outside the dominant Old Firm duo of Rangers and Celtic, to win the Scottish league title in 1985.

You would have had countless tales about how he was now set to showcase his talent, to a bigger audience, with Aberdeen scheduled to clash against English Premiership side Burnley, in the Europa League qualifier, which the Scottish side lost 2-3 on aggregate after extra-time.

The other major clubs in that tournament, Arsenal, RB Leipzig, AC Milan, Villarreal, Eintracht Frankfurt, Lazio, Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen and Chelsea, would also have been mentioned, along the way, to give the script some weight.

At long last, the analysts would have shouted, Billiat had finally broken into European football and hadn’t just joined a Mickey Mouse club but one with a rich history in Europe.

However, the Zimbabwe international joined Kaizer Chiefs, after his contract with Mamelodi Sundowns expired, in a move which was heavily criticised by some who felt he had blown his last chance to break out of his comfort zone in Super Diski.

In a game that has largely become a business, where the huge earnings provided by Chinese clubs lured some big names from Europe to play in that country, it’s difficult to nail Billiat.

And, accuse him of having missed his biggest chance, to move into European football two years ago.

Especially when, as we have done in digging deep, we get to understand the financial muscle which probably enticed him to stay in South Africa, rather than move to Europe.

Billiat turns 30 this year and, two years ago, at 28, he probably wasn’t at the kind of age to take a gamble and hope to use another year, or two, to impress new suitors in Europe, hoping the big boys, and the big money, could come knocking on his door.

That’s why, in the bigger scheme of things, it probably makes sense Billiat decided to stay in South Africa, and try and secure his future and that of his family.

This week, former Scotland boss, Gordon Strachan, lifted the lid on the reality of life in the country’s football leagues.

“If you want to be a professional club, show it,” Strachan told BBC. “Have full-time employees, have full-time players, have an academy, do the whole lot.

“When you talk about clubs coming into the league, what are they bringing in? Two hundred people per week to a game, is that really professional football?

“Find the level your finances are putting you. Don’t tell me you’re a professional club when you’re paying people part-time 80 quid a week and nobody turns up to your football matches.”

That, stunning statement, made us look at the mathematics to try and help us, in a way, understand Billiat’s decision to stay in South Africa.

The Zimbabwean signed a R10 million-a-year deal at Kaizer Chiefs and, even in today’s world — where the rand has taken a knock — it remains a huge deal worth about US$573 641 a annually and about US$47 850 a month.

There was one Zimbabwean international footballer in the Scottish Premiership last season, David Moyo, at Hamilton Academical.

We checked the average annual salary, for players at Hamilton Academical last season, and noted they pocketed just US$50 544 — ten times less than what Billiat is getting at Chiefs.

In terms of a monthly salary, the average footballer at Hamilton Academical earns about US$4 212, while Billiat’s deal earns him around US$47 850 a month at the Amakhosi.

Even if we bring in the tax issues, Billiat still earns almost 10 times what the average footballer at Hamilton Academical earns.

Of course, had Billiat went to either Celtic or Rangers, he would have earned more but those are the only two clubs who could have bettered his deal.

The average highest-paid players in the English Championship, another league where some clubs were said to be interested in Billiat, earn about US$142 000 a month. This is about three times what the Zimbabwean gets at Chiefs today.

But, that is a misleading statistic as many of the players earn about US$10 400 a week, taking their monthly earnings to about US$41 000, far less than what Billiat is getting at Chiefs.

However, there is a player who earned US$83 236 a week in the English Championship last season.

Should the Championship clubs go ahead and put a salary cap of about £7 000 a week from next season, as clubs renegotiate contracts, they can no longer afford to pay because of the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, it could mean the majority of them will be getting less than Billiat.

What if, for sentimental reasons, Billiat had decided to follow into the footsteps of either Peter Ndlovu, and joined Coventry City, or Benjani Mwaruwari, by moving to Manchester City, who are both in League One of English football?

Well, it gets even gloomy given he would have been earning about US$4 000 a week, roughly US$16 000 a month, at Portsmouth, compared to the US$47 850 he gets at Chiefs. He would also be getting about US$2 448 a week, roughly about US$10 000, at Coventry City.

The post Scottish Revelations Show Billiat Was Right to Stay Where the Money Is appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

This year’s edition of the FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championships, scheduled to be held in Uganda in August, have been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak and will now be staged in 2021.

The two-day annual motorcycling event traditionally takes place during the last weekend of August and it brings together top junior and senior male and female motocross riders from eight African countries — Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Last year the FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championships were successfully hosted by Zimbabwe at Donnybrook Raceway in Harare where it attracted a record turnout of more than 200 riders from seven African countries — Botswana, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Morocco, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The continental event was this year expected to be staged in Uganda with South Africa hosting the next competition in 2021.

But according to a Press release, which was recently sent by FIM Africa president, Marco Comana, to its member countries, the African Championships have now been shifted from this year to next year following the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus which has affected almost every country in the world and has forced most sporting events to be frozen.

The 2020 African Motocross Championships are one of two continental events that have been put on hold.

“After much deliberation and debate, it has been decided that in light of the COVID-19 situation we all find ourselves in, Council has agreed to postpone the two 2020 Continental Championship events, as well as the Commission and General Assembly meetings.

“The travel restrictions, as well as the effect on our economies in Africa, were taken into account when this decision was made, and it was felt that it would take a while to recover from the lockdowns currently being imposed (by several countries), and therefore, securing corporate sponsorships would not be easy.

“The 2020 MXOAN (FIM Africa Motocross of African Nations Championships) event will be held in 2021, and the 2021 event will be moved to 2022, this postponement will affect the host countries i.e. Uganda and South Africa. Council would like to encourage the WG Chairmen to meet with their members electronically during this inactive period,” Comana said in his Press release.

He also said the Commission meeting and General Assembly, will be held early in 2021 (if travel restrictions are lifted) and it might likely mean having two meetings in one year to catch up.

“As I mentioned in my mail (recently), we find ourselves in very strange circumstances and for now we will need to adapt. Should any member have any suggestions or comments you are always welcome to send them to the Secretariat. Park your motorcycle, stay at home, keep healthy and your immune system strong, and see you sooner than expected,” Comona concluded.

This development might have come as a relief to several top African motocross riders, including some from Zimbabwe, who were against the staging of this year’s African Championships as they raised serious concerns over their health, safety and freedom of movement following the outbreak of the coronavirus.

This year’s African Championships were expected to celebrate their 21st anniversary in Uganda.

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By Tadious Manyepo
IT’S a war Dynamos captain Partson Jaure never thought he would win.

His chances to come back were 50-50.

And, he couldn’t bear the feeling.

There is no prize for guessing what his family went through, especially given Dynamos’ poor record of neglecting their own in times of need.

But, the Glamour Boys are no longer the same.

They are a team battling to mend their tattered reputation.

They are now willing to sacrifice even a leg, and an arm, for one of their own to return to football.

Jaure suffered life-threatening injuries when his car was involved in an accident when he was driving home near Prince Edward School in March.

But, Dynamos, who named him captain barely a week before that accident, have stood by him and even managed to lure corporates and individuals to chip in and help.

“Subsequently, Jaure (Patson) had a head operation to mend a depressed scull which was very successful,” said Isaiah Mupfurutsa, the Dynamos executive chairman.

Jaure, is on his way to full recovery and could be fully fit by the time the delayed 2020 Premiership season gets underway.

Another of the experienced players on the Dynamos books, utility man Godknows Murwira, who is on loan from FC Platinum, could also be fully fit in time for the August/September season kickoff.

Murwira, who early this year aggravated a delicate injury he suffered late last season, was set to miss, at least, the first half of the season had the season started in March.

But, the Glamour Boys, again went out of their way and paid for the player’s surgery.

In a statement, Mupfurutsa, one of those working hard to transform Dynamos, paid tribute to eveyone who made it possible for the duo to get assistance.

“The Dynamos Football Club’s board, executive committee, management, technical team, players and legion of fans would like to place on record our deepest appreciation and gratitude for the support rendered towards the hospitalisation, subsequent medical procedures and post hospital care of our players Partson Jaure and Godknows Murwira,” read the statement.

“The two players are now recovering from the comfort of their homes and we look forward to their full recovery before the commencement of the local Premier Soccer League season .

“Special mention goes to all those who made it possible that the two sons of the club got the best medical care at the hour of need.

“The club’s executive committee, our anchor sponsors Gold Leaf Tobacco Company in Zimbabwe, Premier Soccer League, ZIFA, senior national team players based abroad, Fidelity Life Medical Aid Society, the fans who participated in the crowd funding project and the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe, through president Desmond Maringwa, and the media houses, made and continue to make the medical care and rehabilitation of the two players a lot easier.

“Our gratitude is also extended to the medical teams who went out of their way to ensure that Partson (Jaure) and Godknows (Murwira) got the best possible care at Parirenyatwa Hospital, Health Point Hospital and Avenues Clinic.”

The post Dynamos Battling to Change Old sWay appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

By Robson Sharuko
Zimbabwe international midfielder, Marvelous Nakamba, is likely to be among a group of footballers to play an English top-flight league game in June, for the first time since 1947.

The English Premiership is set to make its eagerly-awaited return next month.

Nakamba’s Aston Villa are scheduled to host Sheffield United at home at Villa Park on June 17, on the same day Manchester City take on Arsenal.

They will be the first two matches since the world’s biggest box office top-flight football league was halted in March by the COVID-19 outbreak. The four clubs all have a game in hand to the rest of the Premiership which, in Villa’s case, became a fierce rallying cry against ending the season, as per the current standings, which would have seen them being relegated.

A full round of fixtures would then be played on the weekend of June 19-21.

“It’s coming back, it’s coming back, it’s coming, football’s coming back. June 17,” former England captain, Gary Lineker, who is now one of the biggest football pundits, tweeted yesterday.

Current England skipper, Harry Kane, also took to Twitter and simply said, “Football is back soon,” while former Liverpool and England ace forward, Michael Owen, could only say “June 17, it’s back.”

Another British television personality, Piers Morgan, a passionate Arsenal fan, also joined the Twitter feast.

“GOOD NEWS! Premier League restarting on June 17,” he tweeted. “BAD NEWS! First games back is Arsenal away to Man City. This all feels too early to me.

“Let’s not rush back into things.”

After those two games, all the 20 clubs in the Premiership would have played 29 matches and there will be a further 90 still to be played which will determine the league championship, which will be won by Liverpool, and the Champions League and Europa league places.

The remainder of the season will also determine the relegation puzzle These two matches are the “games in hand” for these four clubs, which will take all 20 Premier League teams up to 29 fixtures for the season.

Norwich City are bottom of the table with 21 points, Villa are second-from-bottom with 25 points while Bournemouth are just a place above Nakamba and his team on 27 points.

Should Villa win their game in hand, they will move to 28 points, a point above Bournemouth, Watford and West ham and just a point behind Brighton and Hove Albion.

The English top-flight league has never had a match in June since 1947 when authorities were asked to choose between abandoning the championship race, playing up to halfway through the summer or behind closed doors.

Back then, the British Government summoned the leaders of football, rugby union and rugby league, horse and greyhound racing, speedway and ice hockey, which were the biggest mass sporting disciplines in terms of spectator appeal, to a meeting on March 12, 1947.

The authorities were concerned the midweek sporting activities, in those disciplines, were providing a distraction to the British people at a time when the Government was determined to boost productivity in British factories. Britain, battered by the destruction caused by World War II, badly needed to come back on its feet and the factories were key towards achieving that goal.

By halting the sporting activities, the authorities believed, it would enable the majority of the people to concentrate on their work in the factories. Football was in a fix given the winter, that year, had been brutal, affecting its programmes and, even just days before the Government called its leaders to that meeting, 17 of the 44 scheduled matches had been called off because of the inclement weather conditions. May stadiums were either flooded, or were still frozen.

Despite protests from fans, the Government refused to budge and the English top-flight league matches spilled into June for the completion of the season.

And, as fate might have it, then — just like now — Sheffield United were one of the clubs who had played fewer games with the Blades having played 26 while Blackpool had played 34 matches.

It even gets interesting when one considers that Liverpool, who are set to be crowned champions with the league matches are again played in June, were the champions the last time matches were played in that month in 1947. It was the fifth league title for the Reds and, when the matches resume next month, it will be the first league title for Liverpool in the era of the English Premiership.

Back in 1947, Liverpool went top with 2-1 away win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on May 31, on a day Wolves could have also captured the title had they won that match.

Liverpool had to wait for the outcome of the match between Stoke City and Sheffield United on June 14, 1947, with a win for Stoke seeing them taking the title on goal average.

However, it was the Blades who won that match 2-1 and Liverpool were champions, ending just a point above runners-up Manchester United, who had the same number of points (56), as third-placed Wolves.

Experts had noted that the 20 clubs would lose a combined total of £1.2 billion if the season was abandoned and matches not completed as originally scheduled.

Meanwhile, Villa manager, Dean Smith, whose father succumbed to COVID-19 this week, says goalkeeper Tom Heaton has been his best summer signing since the club went on a buying spree last July and August to give themselves fighting chance to stay in the Premiership. Heaton was recruited from Burnley in a £10 million deal.

“It’s a tough one, I suppose Tom Heaton because he understands the league,” Smith told Beyond The Ball. “I just felt it would strengthen us by bringing in an experienced goalkeeper.

“He’s been there, seen it and done it. Unfortunately he got injured on New Year’s Day and it put him out for the season. He’s one who adapted straight away but there’s others.

“Douglas Luiz is playing an awful lot of games. He was playing La Liga last year so he’s found it a little bit different.”

The post Nakamba Set for EPL Comeback Game As Box-Office Show Returns appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

Veteran Zimbabwe striker Tendai Ndoro faces an uncertain future after parting ways with South African Premiership club Highlands Park on Wednesday following a disappointing season at the club.

The Johannesburg-based outfit confirmed Ndoro’s departure with one of the club’s directors Brad Kaftel telling South African football website, KickOff that the once feared striker was nolonger performing to the club’s satisfaction.

According to the Lions of the North, the 35-year-old Ndoro had a meeting with the management on Tuesday and that’s when both parties decided to go separate ways.

“Highlands Park FC confirms the amicable parting of ways with Tendai Ndoro following a meeting between both parties late on Tuesday. The club wishes him well and is thankful for his contribution in the team as well as the professionalism displayed during his time with us'” the club tweeted on Wednesday morning.

Indications were that Ndoro would leave at the end of the current season after struggling to cement his place in Owen Da Gama’s starting line-up this season.

He arrived highly rated by the management following his impressive record at both Mpumalanga Black Aces and Orlando Pirates.

However, the technical team felt he didn’t do enough after scoring just twice in 14 matches for the club since his move.

Ndoro featured just once in Highlands Park’s last 12 league games leading to reports of a fallout with the club’s technical team.

Just a month ago, Ndoro saw his salary cut by R20 000 due to the coronavirus pandemic which has forced the suspension of the 2019/20 season.

This was after the former Zimbabwe international went public to say he wouldn’t mind living without a salary provided his monthly salary was used for a good cause during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ndoro’s career has not recovered since his return from Saudi Arabia where he played for Al-Faisaly.

He left South Africa for Al-Faisaly while on the books of Pirates in 2017 but returned six months later to join Ajax Cape Town.

His stint with the Urban Warriors was marred by the controversy around his acquisition and playing for three different clubs in one season.

Ndoro was eventually found guilty of contravening football rules, and he was subsequently banned while Ajax were relegated to the NFD.

The post SA Club Offloads Misfiring Ndoro appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

After spending 10 months on the sidelines due to a serious knee injury, Zimbabwe international defender Tendayi Darikwa looks poised for a return when the English Football League Championship resumes next month after resuming training with his Nottingham Forest on Monday.

The 28-year-old England-born Zimbabwean defender expressed his delight on social media after his first training session at Forest’s Nigel Doughty Academy.

Darikwa has not played any competitive football since undergoing surgery on his right knee after suffering an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) on the eve of the season in August last year and has yet to feature under the club’s new boss Sabri Lamouchi.

He posted a picture on Instagram of himself running, while keeping a safe distance from teammate Matty Cash, and said: “Good to be back.”

Cash, meanwhile, wrote: “So good to be back out there.”

Darikwa was a key player for Forest under both Aitor Karanka and Martin O’Neill last season, making 31 appearances across all competitions.

But the right-back has been unable to make an impact under Lamouchi after sustaining an anterior injury back in pre-season, which has left him sidelined for a number of months.

Darikwa was part of the Zimbabwe squad at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt where he featured in all the Warriors’ group matches against the hosts, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo.

The AFCON participation came on the back of an impressive 2018/19 season for Darikwa in the English Championship.

He was used sparingly in pre-season for the Reds after being away with the Zimbabwe Warriors, before suffering the injury blow in July.

Darikwa has been with Forest since 2016, when he joined from Burnley. Since his arrival at the City Ground, he has played 63 times, scoring one goal and assisting one goal along the way.

Prior to his Forest move, the Zimbabwean defender played 29 times for Burnley over the course of two seasons with the club. He had joined the Clarets from Chesterfield, where he came through the youth academy and played 150 times.

Darikwa and his Nottingham Forest teammates have been enjoying a return to training for the first time in more than two months.

The Championship campaign has been suspended due to the coronavirus crisis since early March, with nine rounds of fixtures still to play.

But following the first round of mass Covid-19 testing among second tier clubs, the Reds have taken to the grass again ahead of the English Football League hoping to restart the action next month.

Lamouchi’s men sit fifth in the table, 10 points off second-placed West Bromwich Albion, as they target a place in the Premier League.

Initially, Forest will take part in non-contact training, following social distancing guidelines.

However, the British government has outlined “stage two” of its guidance which enables competitive and close-contact training.

The guidance, published in conjunction with the British public health officials and sports medical officers, allows for organised, close-contact training, under carefully controlled medical conditions.

The advice is geared towards establishing the conditions for stage three of the process, which is expected to be achieved next month with a resumption of sports, including English Premier League matches, behind closed doors.

The post Fit Again Darikwa Delighted to Be Back in Training appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

By Sikhumbuzo Moyo
Senior Sports Reporter

HIGHLANDERS have given a stern warning to their new forward Michelle Katsvairo for his May 11 breach of lockdown orders imposed by the Government and the club.

The former Chicken Inn, Kaizer Chiefs and Ngezi Platinum forward was seen in the company of Rodreck Mutuma, who is now plying his trade in the Democratic Republic of Congo, attending a social football match in Harare’s Budiriro suburb.

Bosso described the breach as “unfortunate” and said they will carry investigations as they had instructed their players to religiously adhere to the lockdown orders.

“The manager engaged Katsvairo who said he was not heavily involved as suggested but was watching from a distance.

“Nevertheless, he was given a strong warning and told to observe lockdown procedures,” said Bosso media relations officer Ronald Moyo.

However, even if the player never played, sporting and recreational activities were still banned which meant all those who took part in the event (players and or spectators) were in breach of a Government order.

This week in Old Luveve, another Highlanders striker, was spotted around the suburb without the mandatory face mask.

The warning given to Katsvairo by his employers comes at a time SuperSport United striker Thamsanqa Gabuza faces a salary deduction for not obeying lockdown rules in South Africa.

He was arrested for alleged speeding.

According to KickOff.com, the former Orlando Pirates forward was arrested over the weekend for clocking 213km/h on the N1 highway near Sandton.

SuperSport United chief executive, Stan Mathews, told the KickOff.com the club were dealing with the matter internally.

“I can’t comment on this for now other than to say we are dealing with the matter internally and the player faces a disciplinary process post June 1 at Level Three lockdown.

“We regard this alleged violation in a very serious light.

“All our players were guaranteed their salaries on two priority conditions; that they obey the lockdown restrictions and that they post their daily fitness, football or social media uploads as requested.

“The player will be given an opportunity to present his case and the merits of the case will guide the process,” Mathews is quoted by the online publication.

The post Bosso’s Stern Warning to Katsvairo appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

By Grace Chingoma
Former Mighty Warriors coach, Vernon Bowers, who died this week, has been described as a hero and a pioneer of women’s football.

ZIFA led the way and paid tribute to the former gaffer who had several stints with the national team from the ’90s.

His last coaching stint with the Mighty Warriors was in 2005.

“Our sincere condolences to the Bowers family, following the passing of Vernon Bowers,” ZIFA said in a statement.

“He was one of the pioneer women’s football coaches and was in charge of the senior team in the 90s.

“Women’s football today is testimony of his everlasting legacy.”

Former Zimbabwe Women’s Soccer League chairperson, Susan Chibizhe, said Bowers played a big role during the early years.

“He was our hero. He sacrificed a lot for women football. At one time he had a shop downtown and would avail that space, and resources, for our women’s football meetings.

“When I joined women’s soccer in 1997, he was already involved with the national team and would encourage us, as administrators, to take up some courses that were on offer as the game developed.

“He would use his teaching experience assisting us, when we were doing project proposals to FIFA to get women’s football funds.

“He was not selfish and was so patient with enthusiasm to help more people who were coming on board women’s football leadership.

“Our football has one weakness, they want to recognise a person when he is no longer around.

“It is a sad loss. You fought a good fight Bowers. May your soul rest in peace. It is unfortunate due to lockdown we cannot give him a befitting send-off he deserved,” said Chibizhe.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwean businessman Thulani Mazengwe, who was based in South Africa and used to sponsor inter-school sports tournaments in Mashonaland West province for schools in Kadoma and Zvimba, has died.

He passed away at Unitas Netcare hospital in Centurion yesterday.

He was 50. Mazengwe bankrolled athletics, netball and football tournaments each term for inter schools at Primary and Secondary Schools levels.

Yesterday, National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe first vice president Aeneas Nhoro, who was also the first chairperson of the Mazengwe Schools tournament, described the late businessman as a visionary leader.

“We are very sorry for the loss of Thulani Mazengwe. He had done a lot for the development of athletics and football in Kadoma from 2006 to 2010.

“He then moved to Zvimba district with the same programme.

“What becomes very unique about him is that he was a visionary sponsor who knew development of sport was in the grassroots.

“We have lost a visionary man who chose to work in the disadvantaged communities empowering athletes.”

Mazengwe will be buried in South Africa.

The post Zifa Mourn Former Mighty Warriors Coach appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

By Tadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter

CAPS United president, Farai Jere, says his club attach equal value to all their fans but believes one of them, a barber, deserves special mention.

The supporter has never missed any of the team’s league matches for the past seven years.

The barber, Tafadzwa “Willow” Phiri, has kept all match day tickets and date-stamped photographs of himself that show he paid his way to watch all Makepekepe’s league matches since 2013.

And Jere, who is also the PSL chairman, was charmed by his story after reading the 26-year-old’s love affair with CAPS United in The Herald on Wednesday.

“This is incredible but we always tell the fans that we are not the owners of this club, instead, it is these supporters who own the team,” said Jere.

“I would like to reiterate that our fans are all the same. We love them all, without them, CAPS United wouldn’t be as big a brand as it is today.

“But, look, this lad is only a 26-year old barber and has a young family but, has never missed a match the team plays — whether home or away.

“This means he has sacrificed a lot for the love of the team for the past seven years.”

Jere said they will look into his issue.

“I know he has been rewarded with the league title, which the team won back in 2016 and our subsequent fairytale run in the CAF Champions League a year later.

“But, given his never-say-die spirit, and the all the sacrifices given he is only a barber who earns modest income, it’s something which needs to be appreciated.

“We will sit down as management and look into it. It’s an incredible issue. We will have to deliberate and see what we can do for him.

“Seriously, considering that he is only a barber and makes it a point to follow the team in Hwange or Kariba, is amazing.”

Jere said there were many fans like Phiri.

“We expect to always reward our fans for their loyalty by doing well,” said Jere.

“Of course, there are three results in a football match — a win, draw or lose. I would like to comment the fans for knowing all this.

“But, I want to promise that the team will do well this coming season and make them happy.”

The post Jere Charmed By Die-Hard Super Fan appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

A non-profit charity organisation, Grassroots, have set their sights on recruiting close to 5000 young cricketers across the country.

The pilot project set to be rolled out in Hatcliffe and Domboshawa as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic eases.

The charity seeks to help impart cricket skills to athletes at a tender age and help bridge the usually yawning gap between development and professional cricket.

The people behind the project have engaged Cricket Australia, as well as former Australian captain Greg Chappel and ex-Zimbabwe skipper Heath Streak, to help them out.

Founder of the charity, Tawanda Karasa, said grassroots projects were the way to go if the country was to register significant success in sport.

“The Grassroots programme aims to reach out to 5000 youngsters (both male and female) aged between five and 19 years by the year 2023,” Karasa said.

“Ours is a not-for-profit organisation harnessing the power of cricket to help transform young lives in Zimbabwe by providing life coaches, life skills and essential support.”

He said the project will have a three-stump guide.

“We are targeting to develop community coaches who will impart both sporting and social values to the youngsters.

“We will also introduce life skills training as well as development of out-of-school teenage mothers in terms of sport.”

The post Charity Organisation to Recruit Cricketers appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

By Sports Reporter
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ZIMBABWE-BORN South Africa rugby legend Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira has embarked on plans to further his education as he seeks to pursue a career in business after recently retiring from international rugby.

Mtawarira is now pursuing a post-graduate diploma with the aim of acquiring an MBA, alongside his other business ventures.

The 34-year-old Rugby World Cup winner went back to school this week – from the comfort of his home in Durban – as the inaugural recipient of a special scholarship from Henley Business School Africa on a programme designed to help sports icons successfully transition from the change room to the boardroom.

“It went well,” said Mtawarira in an interview with the Henley Business School website after his first virtual lesson.

“There were a lot of hours of paying attention. I’ll have to work on my brain’s fitness now, for sure as we get into it.

“I was initially enrolled to study a B.Com degree in marketing before I was spotted and signed to play for the Sharks,” he remembers, “I always intended to get an academic grounding to give me a solid start to my business career.”

He was alerted to Henley by an old school friend fellow Zimbabwean, Shingi Jena, who lives in the UK, who told him about the MBA programme.

Mtawarira was busy focusing on preparing for the World Cup but made time to visit Henley Africa’s campus.

“I got introduced to Jon (Foster-Pedley, Henley Africa’s dean and director), who was very accommodating and answered all my questions. Then and there the decision was made to enrol.

“I’m planning to use the one-year postgraduate diploma in management, which I am enrolled for as my stepping stone to the global triple-accredited MBA ultimately,” Mtawarira says.

The transition from rugby to life outside the international; game has not been as difficult for Mtawarira as it is for other sports stars.

Mtawarira revealed how former South African rugby player Wahl Bartman took him under his wing in preparation for life after rugby.

“To be honest, I think the key is to plan beforehand. I was very fortunate to have met Wahl Bartmann at the Sharks who became a mentor on the field and later on when I joined his company Fidelity Security nine years ago,” he said.

“Today, I’m on the board of directors and I’m a shareholder too, so when the day came to hang up my boots for the last time, I already knew what I was walking into.”

Foster-Pedley, Henley Africa’s dean and director said the decision to award the Zimbabwean born South African rugby icon the inaugural scholarship had been an easy one to make.

“Most sports stars struggle with the transition from ‘retirement’ from what they love at an age when most of their peers are only starting to see their corporate careers take off.

“Tendai is far more astute, the opportunity to study at Henley just allows us to help him take this career in a jacket and tie to the same heights he enjoyed wearing the green and gold.”

Henley Africa’s successful pivot to seamless virtual learning before the imposition of the South African Lockdown means Mtawarira can attend lectures from his home – or even in the US next year.

He signed a one-year playing and coaching contract to play in the US Major League and left in January for Washington DC, only for the season to be cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I might possibly go back to Old Glory DC next year to play and to coach, we are still talking about it. This year was supposed to be my final season,” says Mtawarira, but for now though he’s focusing on his business studies

The post Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira Enrols for Mba appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

By Tedious Manyepo
Sports Reporter

THE body of staunch Dynamos fan, Freddy “Pasuwa” Mugadza is expected to leave the United States this afternoon for burial in the country later this week.

Mugadza succumbed to pneumonia in Atlanta, United States, on April 10.

And, it had been expected he would be buried or cremated in that country because of the logistical challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

But, the Mugadza family have made every effort to ensure the football fanatic’s body is repatriated back home.

The body is expected in the country on Thursday ahead of burial at Glen Forest Cemetery.

Family spokesperson, Godfrey Mugadza, said a church service was held on Saturday in the United States and the body is scheduled to leave Atlanta today.

“As a family we decided that we should take his body home,” he said.

“There were so many logistical challenges which we were always going to meet given these aren’t normal times.

“The novel coronavirus pandemic posed huge challenges but, as a family, we managed to pull through.

“We would like to thank everyone who helped us in processing everything that needed to be done.

“So, the body will leave Atlanta, United States on Monday (today).

“It is expected to arrive in the country on Thursday ahead of burial at Glen Forest Cemetery.”

Mugadza was nicknamed Pasuwa after the former Warriors and Dynamos player, Callisto Pasuwa, whom he liked so much. He used to dress like the four-time Premiership title-winning coach at every Dynamos match he attended.

Pasuwa, who in April gave a moving tribute to Mugadza from his base in Malawi where he now coaches Nyasa Big Bullets, is likely to miss the burial ceremony.

The coach is in Malawi and would need a 21-day quarantine before he can be allowed to mingle with the locals, according to health guidelines in place to minimise the spread of COVID-19.

Mugadza fell in love with Pasuwa’s playing style in the mid 1990s when he arrived at Dynamos.

And their friendship developed into a strong relationship that, at the time of his death, Mugadza was trying to convince the former Dynamos coach to join him in the States.

The post Freddy Mugadza’s Body Repatriated appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

By Robson Sharuko
Senior Sports Editor

THEY flattered their fans in Nigeria, giving them a reason to believe, before deceiving them in Egypt as they produced their worst AFCON finals campaign.

Today, June 1 2020, marks exactly a year to the month when the sequence of those events unfolded.

And, the Warriors went from potential Nations Cup giant-killers into hopeless punching bags, in a sensational collapse that was as graphic as it was embarrassing.

The wounds inflicted by that adventure from hell are yet to heal.

Both George Chigova and Edmore Sibanda are yet to keep goals for the Warriors and while ZIFA insist the duo wasn’t banned from national duty, conspiracy theories suggest otherwise.

A year later, the Warriors are yet to play an AFCON qualifier under the guidance of a substantive coach.

In the two Nations Cup matches they have played, since their doomed Egyptian adventure, they were under the guidance of a caretaker coach, Joey Antipas. Of course, they have a substantive coach now, Croatian gaffer Zdravko Logarusic, but he is yet to take charge of a single match after international football was halted by the coronavirus outbreak.

Sunday Chidzambwa retreated from the front-line of football coaching saying, after more than a quarter-of-a-century in the trenches, in which he transformed himself into the country’s most successful coach, the time had come to take a step back.

Instead, he announced, he remains available to offer consultancy, helping the coaches, either as a technical director or a technical expert.

His legacy remains intact — the first coach to lead the Warriors to the AFCON finals, the only coach to lead the team at two Nations Cup finals, the only coach to lead a local side to the final of the CAF Champions League.

Peter Ndlovu, the greatest Warrior, even wants authorities to honour Chidzambwa with a statue outside Rufaro.

But, Chidzambwa agrees it wasn’t the way he would have wanted to complete the cycle of his lengthy association with the Warriors, a team he captained at Independence in 1980.

Two losses, and a draw, was a poor return for a team which arrived at the AFCON finals as potential giant killers after winning their qualifying group, in which they defeated the DRC Leopards in their Kinshasa backyard.

A goalless draw against Nigeria at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, on June 8, last year, in a friendly match just days before the AFCON finals, appeared to suggest this was a team that could shake the establishment in Egypt.

“The Warriors were clear underdogs heading into this tie but made the best of the situation by coming out strong and determined at the Stephen Keshi Stadium,” noted the authoritative Goal.com football website.

“They gave the Super Eagles a lot of trouble with some of their forward runs and chances which put the Nigerian back line on their knees.

“Even when Nigeria has their chances, the Zimbabwe defence was very much Albert with Edmore Sibanda making some very fine saves.

“With the kind of spirit showed in Asaba, there is a lot to be hopeful for Sunday Chidzambwa’s men when AFCON proper kicks off.” But, after a battling performance, in a losing cause against the Pharaohs in the opening game of the tournament, with Sibanda outstanding in goal, the Warriors campaign went downhill.

They should have won against the Cranes of Uganda but skipper Knowledge Musona, battling confidence issues and still not 100 percent fit, produced the miss of the tournament.

However, all that paled into insignificance when compared to the meltdown they suffered in their final game against the DRC where they crashed to a 0-4 thrashing, their heaviest defeat at the AFCON finals.

With their camp in turmoil, amid frequent boardroom battles between the players and ZIFA over payments, the Warriors struggled to get the focus needed for such an important adventure.

And, in the end, the negativity in their camp was just too much for them to produce the kind of football their fans had expected and their opponents had feared. Musona had said they wanted to be the Ajax Amsterdam of that AFCON finals.

“We have the hosts and they are always going to be favourites,” he said.

“DR Congo have a strong team and they will know what to expect from us.

“Uganda are a very good team also.

“Zim are the only underdogs in the group but that, in itself, should give us the motivation to say we are the Ajax Amsterdam of the Nations Cup.

“We are going there to fight and give disappointment to other teams.”

But, like the real Ajax Amsterdam, the Warriors found out that fairy-tales don’t usually come true.

The Dutch side had charmed the world by thrashing both Real Madrid and Juventus in the Champions League and, in the final minute of their semi-final showdown against Tottenham Hotspur, they were on their way to the final.

But, they conceded a last-minute goal at home and, instead, it was Spurs who marched into the final.

And, probably still feeling the effects of that painful exit, Ajax Amsterdam crashed out of the group stages of this season’s Champions League after another home loss to Valencia.

With an estimated 2,4 million people in the Netherlands watching that game live on television, it was a huge blow for the club and their army of supporters.

For the Warriors fans, things didn’t get any better, after that Nations Cup nightmare, as their team became the first side to lose to whipping boys Somalia in a World Cup qualifier in history in September last year. With confusion rocking their camp, amid reports a number of regular players had been barred from selection because of the turmoil which rocked the team’s camp in Egypt, the Warriors slumped to an embarrassing 0-1 defeat to Somalia.

With Somalia ranked 202 in the world, having lost 19 consecutive matches Over a period of eight years and unable to play at home because of the instability at home, this was one of the lowest points for the Warriors.

However, they found a way to stop the bleeding in Harare when Khama Billiat scored a last-minute goal to eliminate the plucky Somalis.

A victory in Zambia in an AFCON qualifier, where Billiat once again scored the winner, appeared to suggest the Warriors had recovered from their nightmare in Egypt. So much has happened, in the past year — Marvelous Nakamba secured a big move to Aston Villa and Tino Kadewere won the Golden Boot in France Ligue 2 and moved to giants Lyon.

Nyasha Mushekwi retired from international football and Elvis Chipezeze bounced back from that nightmare against the DRC, in which he turned into a symbol of hate, to become the first-choice goalkeeper of the team.

But, a year to the month the Warriors produced their worst AFCON finals campaign, some of the wounds inflicted by that disastrous campaign, are still to heal. That’s why, in one way or the other, Chigova and ZiKeeper remain isolated from international football.

The post One Year Later, It’s Still Painful appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

By Collin Matiza
From the humble beginnings in Harare’s high-density suburb of Mufakose, Zimbabwe’s Julius Mashonganyika has now firmly established himself as one of the most respected tennis coaches in the United States.

Mashonganyika, a product of Albert Nhamoyebonde’s Mufakose Tennis Coaching Agency in Zimbabwe, received another feather in his already colourful tennis coaching cap when the United States Professional Tennis Association awarded him a Level 2 Certificate of Achievement for earning 20 credits in the association’s Career Development Programme over a one-year period.

In 2014, the USPTA also awarded Mashonganyika with a Level 1 Certificate of Achievement for earning 14 credits in their Career Development Programme of that year and the Zimbabwean coach has been rewarded again with the same honour for 2019.

This came after Mashonganyika, a certified member of the USPTA, successfully participated in the association’s continuing education programme during the whole year.

Mashonganyika has helped the association to elevate the industry’s standards for tennis-teaching professionals and earn the credibility and respect of the entire tennis industry in the United States, said USPTA chief executive, John Embree.

“As an association, we know that career development is vital to our tennis-teaching professionals and coaches.

“Through our Career Development Programme, we are ensuring all USPTA-certified members are equipped with the knowledge and skills to enhance their careers.

“To see our members taking advantage of those educational opportunities and striving to earn more than the six-credit requirement personifies a commitment to personal and professional excellence.”

USPTA members work as tennis directors, club managers, teaching professionals and instructors at public and private tennis facilities in the United States.

They serve as the sport’s primary delivery system of grassroots programmes to grow the game and are a leading influence among recreational and club players for tennis equipment and services.

The USPTA is the world’s leading association of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches. Its members continuously strive for improvement and professional development through continuing education courses offered by experts in the field.

The USPTA also provide their members with education opportunities in areas including tennis-teaching, sport science and business management.

Embree said the continuing education opportunities USPTA members receive ultimately serve to create a more positive tennis experience for the club, coach, player and community at large.

“The USPTA is proud to recognise Julius (Mashonganyika) for exemplary pursuit of professional development.”

Founded in 1927, the USPTA is the global leader in tennis-teacher certification and professional development. With more than 14 000 members worldwide, the association raises the standards of tennis-teaching professionals and coaches and promotes a greater awareness of the sport.

Mashonganyika is the first tennis coach from Africa to be a USPTA Elite Professional and High Performance coach.

And, speaking to The Herald from his base in Virginia, United States, yesterday, Mashonganyika said his main aim is to promote and develop tennis in Zimbabwe by building some tennis academies and forming clubs in the rural primary and secondary schools and also conducting tennis coaching clinics for school teachers, PE teachers and sports masters.

“We need maximum support from the Ministry of Sport and the corporate world to kick-start our tennis development programme. Without funding we can’t grow. We have several senior tennis professional coaches in all provinces in Zimbabwe who can help with the growth of our country’s tennis.”

Mashonganyika grew up playing tennis at Mufakose Tennis Coaching Agency in Harare under the guidance of Nhamoyebonde, who is the founder and the director of MTCA.

The post Mashonganyika’s Stock Rises in the United States appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

By Grace Chingoma
Senior Sports Reporter

A SOUTH African administrator says Zimbabwe international midfielder, Marshall Munetsi, is a model of resilience which every ambitious footballer needs to write a success story.

The former Orlando Pirates midfielder is now playing in the French top-flight league against world-class players like Neymar and Angelo Di Maria.

Royal Eagles chief executive, Morgan Mamilla, worked with Munetsi during their time at South African Premiership side Baroka FC. Mamilla is now in charge of lower Division side Royal Eagles who are struggling to find enough resources to pay their players’ salaries.

And Mamilla believes there is a lot which the players at his struggling club, in particular, and around the world, in general, can learn from Munetsi.

He says the Zimbabwean is a model perseverance and kept working hard even when he was being paid peanuts.

Munetsi recently extended his contract with the French club Stade Reims after impressing in his first season in Europe.

Mamilla’s Glad Africa Championship side are struggling financially but the official wants his players to see the bigger picture and not only concentrate on what they earn today. Some players, even in the local Premiership, have been branded “mercenaries”as they are often squabbling with club officials over pay without looking at the bigger picture.

Denver Mukamba once spurned a lucrative offer to move to FC Platinum at the start of 2012, and chose to remain at the Glamour Boys, where he went on to be crowned the best player in the Premiership.

The following year he was rewarded with a move to ABSA Premiership side Bidvest Wits.

And, Mamilla, who was involved in Talent Chawapiwa’s move to Baroka FC, says many footballers do not look at the bigger picture.

“People think running a team is easy is simple,” he told KickOff.com.

“Not everyone has got money. And these problems they haven’t started now. It has been there for quite some time.

“And, we must not run away from this problem (and say) that because people don’t have money they mustn’t be in football.

“For a player to be successful, you start from zero and you go up. If you are good enough you can earn R3 000 this season, and next season you will earn R70 000.

“Remember, if you are good, PSL teams will see you and they will sign you.

“Remember, you are not doing anyone a favour. Remember, this is a platform (GladAfrica Championship). “There are so many teams where players are not getting paid, so many.

“It’s more about encouraging them to work hard so that they can break through and be seen by other PSL teams.”

He said many players just wanted immediate rewards without seeing the benefits that could come in the future if they concentrated on becoming better footballers.

“So, whether salary or no salary, because I respect football, I respect PSL, I must make sure that the team plays all the matches and honours all the fixtures,” he said.

“Just imagine all of us at Royal Eagles seeing the team out of relegation, I’m telling you, most of you guys (players) will attract PSL contracts.

“That’s the only part I’m playing to make sure that the players are happy.

“Money-wise, we all know that we all don’t have money.”

And, Mamilla says Munetsi should always provide inspiration to many that tomorrow could be a better day if they work hard.

“I have always given the example of Marshall Munetsi,” he said.

“That boy was a workaholic, disciplined, he was working hard all the time.

“He was earning little that time; he was not earning enough.

“He was one of the people who were earning less money at the time he was with FC Cape Town and Baroka.

“Remember when we signed him for Baroka, we loaned him from Pirates. When he was offered to us, I said this is a good player, I know. “But he proved himself that you can start small, and where is he now?

“Those guys who were earning double his salary, where are they now?

“Same applies to Percy Tau, he played in NFD. And to be honest, most NFD teams are not run professionally.

“They don’t have the basics of running a football club.”

The post SA Football Boss Praises Munetsi appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

By Tadious Manyepo
Premier Soccer League and Division One players in Harare’s high-density suburbs are defying lockdown regulations by playing “money games.”

The 2020 Premiership season, which was originally scheduled to begin in March, is on hold as the country battles to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Football activities might begin around July with the 2020 season tentatively planned to get underway in August/September. Currently, footballers and supporting staff are supposed to be confined at home while taking part in individual training programmes.

But, that is not the case as the players are engaging in “money games” in the suburbs.

On Saturday, The Herald witnessed several high-profile players playing what appeared to be a well-organised match where winners pocketed US$120 at Budiriro 3 Community Grounds.

The match, which also had curtain-raisers consisting mainly Division One players, pitted Budiriro Select versus Glen Norah Select.

Only two weeks ago, the game pitting the same sides was cut short at Budiriro 1 Community Grounds by police and soldiers. Former Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United striker Rodreck Mutuma, who is on crutches, had the money the teams were playing for.

CAPS United midfielder, Blessing Sarupinda, Devon Chafa of Ngezi Platinum Stars, Dynamos’ Barnabas Mushunje, Harare City utility Learnmore Muyambo and ex-Yadah midfielder Wimbikai Kaseke were some of the notable figures during both matches.

One of the players, who granted this publication an interview on condition he won’t be named, said his team had cut salaries and that travel, camping and match allowances were no longer coming and this had complicated their plight. “Besides being always used to play football, there are a lot of considerations which you have to take note of,” he said.

“I might be playing for one of the most respected teams in the country but, look, our salaries have been cut.

“It’s a justifiable decision by any measure because we are not rendering the services which we signed contracts for. “But, look, we had been used to having full salaries, as well as other allowances, that come with playing professional football week in, week out.

“We are just doing this not only to keep fit but to supplement what our clubs are giving us.”

Another one said being confined at home was a painful experience.

“We are used to be playing football before many fans.

“In as much as we want to supplement what we are getting from our teams, we also want to be playing football. That’s why you see us here.”

So organised are these money games that there is a fixture which the suburbs select sides follow. The programme is so intensive that a team plays after every two days.

The post PSL Players Resort to ‘Money Games’ appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

Robson Sharuko in HARARE and Sikhumbuzo Moyo in BULAWAYO

CAF president, Ahmad Ahmad, says they might impose tougher requirements for stadia to host international football matches, in the wake of challenges posed by the Covid-19 outbreak.

Zimbabwean authorities have been scrambling to renovate the country’s major stadia after all of them were barred from staging matches, involving the Warriors, earlier this year.

Major renovations have been carried out at the National Sports Stadium, raising expectations among the authorities, that the country’s biggest sports facility could be given the clearance to host AFCON and World Cup qualifiers.

So, far, only the youth national team games, and international matches involving the Mighty Warriors, and the country’s national youth football sides, can be staged at either the National Sports Stadium or Barbourfields.

Addressing more than 200 journalists, including a Zimbabwe Newspapers representative, drawn from various media houses across the continent online on Tuesday, Ahmad said there would be no going back to try and ensure all stadia, for the big international matches, complied to their regulations.

In fact, said the CAF president, they could even impose tougher requirements, going forward, because of the challenges posed by the Covid-19 outbreak, with stadia expected to provide arenas where the health of the players, and everyone involved in football, would not be compromised.

“In fact, we might have to put in place stricter rules than before because, just as you can see, we have health barriers as we move towards imposing more health and safety protocols,” Ahmad said.

“There is need for the public (fans), players and other officials to be safe.

“I believe that it’s in the interest of everyone now if we want to preserve the health and safety of everybody.”

A standard dressing room, according to FIFA, must be 240 square metres, yet those at Barboufields are a mere 10 percent of that, only measuring 35 square metres.

For the stadium to meet the standards, and host matches involving the Warriors, some structural work would have to be done which might require the demolition of the whole VVIP End.

The Government insisted this week that Warriors’ next home assignment will be played at the National Sports Stadium and the procurement of bucket seats for the country’s biggest stadium was at an advanced stage.

Bucket seats were also being procured for Barbourfields and Sakubva.

With the AFCON finals having been moved from next year to 2022, in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government said the long break in international football activities would afford them enough time to renovate the giant stadium.

The National Sports Stadium was banned from hosting international matches by CAF in March because of a number of concerns raised by the continental football governing body’s experts.

The media centre, medical room, disability section and the playing turf have all been upgraded at the giant stadium but the Government have had difficulties in procuring bucket seats due to restrictions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ahmad’s hardline stance also came on the day a team of Harare City officials, and their private partners, toured Rufaro to assess work being done there.

The city leadership have come under fierce criticism after it emerged very little work has been done, since February this year, to renovate Rufaro.

They invited former councillor for Avondale, Beadle Musa Gwasira, to come in as a representative of their private partners, in the renovation of Rufaro.

The Harare City officials on tour included the acting Town Clerk, Obert Mutonhori, architect Leonard Chirombo, engineer Calvin Chigariro and spokesperson, Michael Chideme.

“Remember, the lockdown affected us two fold, one, our own workers, themselves, were on lockdown, we had only remained with a limited number of people who were focused on essential services, that is health services,” said Mutonhori.

“On the ground, the whole activity was put on hold because of the lockdown.

“Also, our suppliers, themselves, they could not supply because they were on lockdown. By the time the lockdown was partially lifted, that was when we expected our suppliers to start supplying the materials for use but, then, the prices had gone up.

“As a result, we ended up having to revisit the whole chain process of having to supply the material for the project. Some of the suppliers demanded cash upfront. We are having to restart the whole procurement process from scratch.”

Gwasira, the former Premier Soccer League fixtures secretary, was invited after he, and his partners, donated 100 bags of cement to the Bulawayo City Council, for the renovation of Barbourfields, and two fridges for use at the stadium.

“When we heard football was no longer going to be played in Zimbabwe, that it was now going to be played in South Africa, we asked why and we were given a number of reasons, including our poor changing rooms, the absence of fridges in the dressing and doping rooms and other issues,” said Gwasira.

“So, together with others, we came on board to try and help.

“There are many people willing to help but they don’t know how to because there is a procedure related to donations. Chideme asked me, why not help us since you were a councillor before and I proposed that let’s start with the major things, as indicated by ZIFA, and we can help in the renovations of the changing rooms.

“We will also approach other companies who can come and help like providing the paint, and other things, because we know the City Council has some serious challenges right now.”

Gwasira and his partners said they could guarantee they would have donated bags of cement, for the renovations of the changing rooms, by the end of this week while also providing some bricks for their construction.

“Our changing rooms at Rufaro are in very bad shape and the plan for the council is to build new ones and we will provide some help towards that and, hopefully, other companies and individuals will come on board and help because this is an important stadium for our football.”

The post Zimbabwe: CAF Moot Tougher Requirements appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

CHEVRONS’ Indian coach, Lalchand Rajput, is likely to be holed up in his home country until next month as the Asian country battles to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Rajput has been trapped in India since the Governments across the world introduced travel bans in March as part of containment measures.

Although Zimbabwe Cricket are keen to have the coach back in Zimbabwe, to start work in preparation for the proposed tour by Afghanistan, developments in India point to extended lockdown measures following a surge in the Covid-19 cases.

Some Indian states have announced extension of lockdown measures until July 31. International flights were due to resume between July 3 and July 15, according to an official government document.

However, these are mainly repatriation flights with the Government aiming to help stranded nationals return home.

ZC acting managing director, Givemore Makoni, indicated to The Herald that Rajput may not return any time soon.

The team, which is currently in camp, will continue training in small groups under various national coaches.

“The arrival of the coach (Rajput) depends on the Government of India’s measures in containing the coronavirus.

“There has been a ban on international flights and I understand cases have been on the increase in India.

“But, once it improves, and international flights are allowed, then we can talk about the coach coming back to Zimbabwe.

“In terms of personnel, working with the team, we are not worried.

“We have coaches who have been working with the players since they began training and everything is moving smoothly,” said Makoni.

The Hindu newspaper reported that, as Unlock-2 began from July 1, India’s Covid-19 tally climbed to 585 493 with nearly 66 percent cases reported last month alone.

ZC announced they have mutually agreed to postponed the Chevrons tour to Australia, which was scheduled for next month.

“The Afghanistan series is still alive,” said Makoni. “There has been constant communication between the two cricket boards and we have actually been discussing the tour itinerary, taking into consideration the mandatory quarantine requirements.

“Our team has been training in small groups. We have players in Bulawayo, in Harare at Harare Sports Club and Takashinga and also in Mutare.

The post Zimbabwe: Rajput Still Holed Up in India appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

ZIMBABWE will have to wait until next year for their Davis Cup World Group II tie against China.

This follows the announcement by the International Tennis Federation to push forward their events to 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Posting on their website, the international federation reached the decision to move the Davis Cup Finals, World Group I and World Group II ties, and the regional Group III and IV events.

This followed a three-month review of the considerable logistical, and regulatory challenges, which have arisen as a result of the pandemic.

The ITF board announced that the 24 home-and-away World Group I and World Group II ties, involving 48 national teams, which were due to be played in September this year, will be postponed until 2021.

The ties will be played either in March or September.

The 2020 regional Group III and IV events, in which 76 national teams entered, were also moved to 2021.

The ITF will work with the hosts of these ties, and events, in order to ensure a safe environment in which they can be played.

Zimbabwe were expected to host China in September in their second World Group II tie following their victory over Syria in March at Harare Sports Club.

Tennis Zimbabwe president, Biggie Magarira, welcomed the move by the world tennis controlling body.

“In terms of preparedness, in a way, we were ready. Our sponsors were ready. We also got a grant from ITF, so yes, we were ready,” he said.

“But, everything has been affected by this thing, so postponement, in a way, is a welcome move.

“I think this thing has affected a lot of people worldwide but the difference in climate is playing a big role.

“In Africa, Southern Africa region, it’s winter and we are still in lockdown, so the level of fitness is very low, so it really affected the players.

“It will be very unfair to play China, they came out of lockdown a long time ago. Our players are down here and have just started practicing now.”

The national association are expected to meet tomorrow to check on the progress made after resumption of some of their activities.

“We are going to meet on Friday, as the executive, to actually check on the progress and recommend to SRC if we can start to play national tournaments,” said Magarira.

The post Zimbabwe: Tz Welcome Davis Cup Postponement appeared first on Zimbabwe Today.

Similarities of the two icons stick out like a sore thumb. Both were fresh-faced young talents when they left their African homeland for the United Kingdom, to sign their first professional contracts.

Both had gone against the trend at that time, as young black Africans, arriving in the UK to play in the English Premiership of their respective sporting disciplines, a rare feat back then.

Both had been brought over to England as finds of shrewd scouting, amid excitement over their prodigious talents, to play for Premiership teams that bear the names of the cities of their location.

Both were prolific scorers as well as diminutive, quick-footed and explosive players who in their prime were nearly unplayable.Both captained their national team, and are living legends in the country in their separate sports.

Both turned out for iconic Pretoria-based teams towards the end of their playing days — after lengthy and successful careers elsewhere — with both South African sides wisely seeing the value still left in these ageing stars, when others probably saw spent forces, or yesterday’s men.

Both have older brothers who also represented their country in the same sport, with both siblings tragically dying in car accidents in their post-playing days.

Both are currently on the support staff at two separate sporting institutes in Pretoria, a city that has given them a home, and greatly adores the two former flying stars.

Both are Hall of Fame inductees in their chosen disciplines.Both bear a similar moniker because at the peak of their powers, they dominated in a manner resembling some kind of monarch’s reign, in the eyes of many charmed onlookers, so their fans nicknamed them King something.

Zimbabwean sporting icons Peter Ndlovu and Kennedy Tsimba have probably never met, despite living and working in the same city these days, and are possibly not aware of the uncanny parallels in their lives.

Ndlovu — the first black African player to feature in football’s English Premiership–skippered Zimbabwe in several games and is the country’s most capped player and record goal-scorer.

Tsimba, seven months younger, was the first black person to captain Zimbabwe in rugby. 1997, when Ndlovu left Coventry City with so many endearing memories after six seasons, was the same year a 22-year-old Tsimba was arriving in England to sign for Bath Rugby Club in the English Premiership.

Unlike Ndlovu — who would stay on in the UK to become a record long-serving African footballer on the English professional football circuit–an experienced Tsimba made just five appearances for Bath in a single season, unable to exhibit his well-known natural flair in difficult northern hemisphere weather conditions, before returning to the continent to enjoy an illustrious career with Free State Cheetahs in South Africa.

Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town and Sheffield United were the next destinations for Ndlovu during his UK sojourn and, when opportunities appeared to dwindle in England, Mamelodi Sundowns could not resist importing the wizardry of the Zimbabwe captain to South Africa in 2004 for a record signing-on fee and salary.

Although joining on a free transfer from Sheffield United, Ndlovu’s arrival was then seen as a big coup for South African football, a high-profile signing for a history-making player who was 31 years of age at that time.

In four years, the Zimbabwean striker made 80 appearances and scored 20 goals for the stylish Pretoria outfit, owned by wealthy tycoon Patrice Motsepe.

And then following low-key stints with minor clubs in both South Africa and Zimbabwe in-between retirement, the legendary ex-Warriors skipper has been part of the coaching staff at Mamelodi Sundowns since 2013.

While the Zimbabwean’s job title is team manager, the highly successful Downs head coach Pitso Mosimane has previously spoken of his great admiration for Ndlovu, stating how he regards him more as a trusted assistant and adviser.

Together, the combination has yielded a total of nine trophies and an African Champions League title.The man fondly called King Peter by mainstream media in his home country already has a special place secured in the psyche of Pretoria folk, and they can easily recognise the Zimbabwe Sports Hall of Famer if he walks down the streets of Mamelodi.

Perhaps identified much easier in the more affluent parts of Pretoria is the other great Zimbabwean, Tsimba.

The dazzling flyhalf is best remembered by rugby fans in the Pretoria area as a member of the Blue Bulls squad that won the franchise’s first Super Rugby title, back in 2007, although the ex-Zimbabwe captain was battling injury and featured infrequently in the number 10 shirt behind Springboks Derick Hougaard and Morné Steyn.

But, of course, the name Tsimba had already been etched into South Africa rugby folklore before arriving in Pretoria for an undisclosed fee.

Credited by many in the rugby world for revolutionising the way flyhalves play and control the game, and to some the best number 10 on the planet at one time, Tsimba had secured legendary status at the Cheetahs franchise in Free State.

An attacking flyhalf who wowed the crowds with his graceful running and playmaking skills around the turn of the millennium — also admired for a clever rugby brain — the Zimbabwean became the fastest player in South African rugby history to reach 1 000 points in all domestic competitions.

The King of Bloemfontein, they christened him, on account of how he won the hearts of the rugby-mad inhabitants of Free State’s provincial capital.

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