The Sunday News
Sports Reporter
MASVINGO United’s secretary-general believes that local football is in shambles and in need of more effective development structures.
Omen Mafa described the prevailing situation in the local game as sad and called for the implementation of a national development policy.
Masvingo are now participating in the Zifa Central Region Division One.
“It is saddening to note that our local football is in shambles as far as development is concerned and in my opinion, the problem is two legged. First, as a country we do not have a national junior policy. This is why we are often surprised when a Marvelous Nakamba or a Tino Kadewere joins a top club like Aston Villa or Lyon.
“Half the time we can’t even trace their journey through development of junior structures. We need to put in place proper junior leagues so that we are able to monitor their progress. I think it would also make sense if we also put junior football administrators to man those leagues so that we don’t only groom footballers but administrators as well.”
However, Mafa also pointed a need for financial resources to be availed.
“But for us to be able to do this, we need the corporate world and Government to play their part by availing resources. All efforts to put such structures in place have been crippled by lack of resources. This problem is evident when we look at our lower divisions. For example, at the moment most Division One teams have not lasted much due to lack of resources. Companies can no longer promote football locally. Only mines are doing better financially which is why we have FC Platinum, Ngezi Platinum Stars and Manica Diamond doing well. They have the resources to have proper development structures within their football organisations but we need this to be done at a national level,” he continued.
Mafa went on to discuss the game in Masvingo noting that as a province and a town, the community was concerned with the stagnation of football.
“As the Masvingo community, we are all concerned that we do not have any PSL club in the city or the province. Our beloved Masvingo United has not been able to find its way back into the PSL for the past 10 years. Masvingo is full of talent and our performance last season is clear testimony to that. In spite of severe financial challenges, we were able to finish third in the Eastern Region Division One league and managed to clinch the Diamond Cup after beating the Eastern Region Champions Tenax FC.
“What is just lacking in Masvingo is adequate sponsorship. During the period of Tanda Tavaruva’s association with the club, the team was the talk of not just the town but Zimbabwe as a whole. It is therefore clear that as Masvingo community we need nothing much but sponsorship and we are back to the PSL. I therefore, implore the business community, Una Una’s sons like Costa Nhamoinesu, Ovidy Karuru who are based overseas and any other well-wishers to come and revive the Una Una brand,” he said.
Asked if he was happy with the technical ability of Masvingo United to fight for a place in the Premiership, the young lawyer was coy.
“Technically I might not be able to say whether or not I am happy with the players that we have as Una Una for the 2020 season as we gun for promotion into the PSL. But what I can say is that as a team, we have lost many of our influential players from last season to fellow Division One teams and PSL teams. We are in the process of assembling what we hope to be a formidable side that would challenge for honours. However, we still have a few experienced players like Caleb Masocha, Goerge Magariro, Clifton Maocha whom we hope will provide leadership this season.”
