The Sunday News
Fungai Muderere, Sunday Life Correspondent
CAMEROONIAN Albert Roger Milla remains one of the greatest footballers Africa has ever produced. He almost, single-handedly, earned Africa the extra slots in the World Cup with his exploits and jigs at the 1990 tournament in Italy.
Then 38-year-old Roger Milla illuminated the 1990 World Cup tournament — scoring four times and celebrating each time with a dance around the corner flag post — which has become a popular goal celebration ever since.
Roger Milla, who played all Cameroon’s games at the tournament as a “super-sub”, helped the Indomitable Lions — as the national football team is known, to make history by becoming the first African nation to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Cameroon’s successful run, along with Egypt’s respectable showing at the Italia 1990 adventure, made the world soccer governing body, Fifa increase Africa’s quota from two to three for USA 1994. Roger Milla, who was tempted out of retirement, did not end his career after Italia 1990. He returned to the tournament four years later and scored a goal against Russia, at age 42, to extend his records as the oldest goal scorer at World Cup finals. He beat his own record set four years earlier. Russia humbled Cameroon 6-1, but Milla maintained fame with his lone goal and his age.
The Zimbabwe Castle Lager Premier Soccer League boast of two players — Clemence Matawu and Moses Jackson who all seem to possess a Milla touch. At the age of 35 and 36 respectively, Matawu and Jackson who all turn out for Chicken Inn have defied age, taking turns to inspire the Gamecocks to post positive results.
The two captains at the Rahman Gumbo-mentored side, like wine they have matured with age. Matawu, a nimble-footed midfielder who has graced the local Soccer Stars calendar for a record five times (2003, 2004, 2006, 2015 and 2016), has proved to be in a class of his own.
“With me it’s a combination of different things. I love playing and I work hard. I also do some training workouts alone. I want to break history and I believe it will be possible for me to play until the age of 40,” said the pint-sized Matawu, a player who is endowed with good ball control, visionary play and ability to score crucial goals for his club.
Matawu, a father of two Matina Vanessa (5) and Jayden Tafadzwa (2) who is married to Angeline Gadula, also keeps fit at his advanced age by not drinking alcohol or smoking. He is studying towards a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Sports Science at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust).
“I should be starting my attachment on the first week of September. I decided to enrol for the programme in preparation for my days after football,” said the former Motor Action star player who had playing stints in Poland.
Jackson, who is four years shy from turning 40, is a rock solid defender and he has remained physically athletic. He partnered well with Kaizer Chiefs’ new signing Teenage Hadebe (20) in the heart of Chicken Inn defence and he has of late taken it upon himself to click well with Guide Goddard in the club’s rearguard.
“Experience is the best teacher. I think I can now play anywhere in defence and I can play alongside any player in our team. I admit I have been in the game for some time now but I believe my legs can still carry me for a couple of seasons. For a fact I’m not thinking of retiring yet,” said the soft-spoken defender who was part of the all conquering Chicken Inn squad in 2015 when they clinched the PSL championship.
“I can still run and dribble. I still have the age to play football, that is why I have never turned to lighter sporting disciplines like walking and bicycle riding,” he said with a chuckle.
Of the near innumerable matches he has featured in for Chicken Inn, Jackson vividly remembers Gamecocks versus Mamelodi Sundowns, his first international match that saw them beat the Absa Premiership giants 1-0 at Barbourfields Stadium, courtesy of a Mitchell Katsvairo ferocious strike.
He said the match remains particularly memorable because it gave many fans a chance to witness the jigs that he had not performed before; “dribbling, giving passes and matching our opponents pound for pound before that wonder goal”.
However, Chicken Inn lost the reverse leg 2-0 to bow out of the 2016 Caf Champions League campaign.
@FungaiMuderere
