The Sunday News
Zenzo Moyo
MANY players come from the Ghetto “EKASI” and not all of them make it to the top fight. Why? It needs a great character to sacrifice things or people who are not FOOTBALL.
Ghetto life teaches you to be switched on and it has its cores and values. It is up to you which ones you take. It’s in the ghetto where you find a lot of jobless people sitting in corners, abusing drugs, thieves who break into houses and those who con people to make quick bucks.
If you have a dream move away from the destruction boys. People you call your friends will be criticising you in your carrier. I am not saying this to bad mouth people but I am telling it as it is from experience and growing up in the ghetto. There is more to life than pleasing friends.
During our times it was not easy to get into the stadium to watch football matches. Kwakumele usuke early endlini uyobizela ngapha langapha in one of the gates so that you gain a free entry into the stadium. I remember an opportunity that I had in mind came when I arrived there were looking for ball boys and I became one of the ball boys when Bosso was playing “Gomahia” in a Champions League game at B/F.
There was pressure when growing up “EKASI”. I had friends who were making quick bucks through crime. Most of them ended up in jail. It was hard for me because I had to go for training on an empty stomach, but if you have a dream you rather fight for it than doing crime.
You will be inspired by the likes of Mercedes “Rambo” Sibanda, Adam Ndlovu, Willard Khumalo; people who were prepared for opportunities. It is important to have a role model from your society and then align yourself with the right people who will challenge you to achieve your goals and reach greater heights. Due to sacrifices that I made playing with the right people, I achieved my goals. Top goal scorer, Soccer Star of the Year and winning the Championship. In the second season I came back with more hunger and scored 24 goals in the half season before moving overseas.
Now if you are a step up, move out and rub shoulders with people with a vision or who will challenge you to go to the next level. Don’t compare yourself with the people you grew up with, they will want to own you, telling you what you want to hear. Not moving out will make you content with what you have because of comparison. More or less, they will still remain your friends.
In a nutshell, for every success there is a sacrifice to achieve in life. Pursue your dream now while it’s still reachable and not succumb to peer pressure. Till we meet again. Have a blessed Easter.
I will be telling it as it is. Stay blessed!
Zenzo Moyo is a former Highlanders and Warriors striker.
