The Sunday News
Cosmas Zulu
Bulawayo City versus Shabanie
(BF, 12/05/2018)
The unacceptable practice of coaches who concentrate their coaching efforts on working extensively on players’ weaknesses while neglecting their inborn values is the main reason of many players not reaching their full potential. This predicament has to be eliminated from current coaching orientation.
A discrepancy, which is harmful to performance is the case of game concepts dominated by high or long balls and passing and crossing being extensively practised despite the fact that the average height of players is genetically limited to lower figures, for example under 170cm. While large volume of training is consummated in attempt to optimise results, the performance will remain handicapped by the players’ natural limitations. To eliminate any confusion and damage to players’ common understanding of the game, geographical region must be reflected in the respective coaching concept and methodology.
After saying this with Amin Soma achieving this in one week of taking over, the Bulawayo City technical staff can take the relegation headache away. I say so because his boys’ performance displayed freedom of expression, short crisp passes, confidence in dribbling skills, mobility runs, stringing at one time 27 complete passes before the opponents got the ball. This is the longest time I have witnessed this season. A team having the biggest chunk of possession in a game.
Bulawayo City, besides winning by two goals to nil, could have easily won by more than four goals. Wadi, could have gotten himself a hat-trick but in 16th minute he missed a penalty which he took casually, in the 19th minute a lob over the keeper was cleared on the line by a defender for a corner, in the 25th minute he failed to beat Shabanie goalkeeper on one versus one. I will rate the Bulawayo City first goal as one of the best goals this season — a bullet in 25th minute, giving no chance to the Shabanie goalie. The second goal came from a good counter attack crafted by Man of the Match Wadi after running at Shabanie defenders and pushing a beautiful pass for fellow striker to score. As for Shabanie, besides getting three yellow cards and a red card, all I can say to Shabanie management is that if you fail to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
I have to mention the referee of the day Philani Ncube, who showed fitness by moving with the play all the time, and stamping his authority as well, dishing out five yellow cards and a red.
Bulawayo Chiefs vs Dynamos
(BF, 13/5/2018 )
Through experience of travelling and spending some nights away from the bedroom at home, on the first night in the hotel room I struggle to have a good sleep as compared to at home. I need an explanation from Bulawayo Chiefs why their game was shifted to Barbourfields when spectators I witnessed could have easily fitted at Luveve Stadium.
In addition, Dynamos over the years always get good results at BF, so the belief of posting that win was there before the game, secondly Bulawayo Chiefs also used speedy balls on the surface they were not used to. All these factors were not in their favour. On my count, 25 times they failed to execute the right technique because the ball was bumping awkwardly most of the time. In England Manchester United Football Club would travel and play in Oldham’s small pitch. It’s not about making money from gate takings, it’s all about the three valuable points at this time of the season because you will find yourselves in need of those points as the season progresses.
When a yellow ball was on the pitch Dynamos did struggle also in the first 20 minutes but quickly mastered the bounce. In the second half for some reason a white ball came into the picture and Bulawayo Chiefs started to show their true colours with some crisp passing and winning most of the tussles. They bombarded the Dynamos goal area, forcing six corners. They were unlucky not to get a goal because Dynamos were so poor in clearing the corners.
The Dynamos winning goal was a masterpiece with three movements of the ball accurately executed from a defender to a striker on the left flank, crossing the ball across the Bulawayo City box for a third man passing into the net with precision.
Dynamos started intimidating Chiefs players coming from the breather with long high balls pumped upfront, by-passing the midfield where Bulawayo Chiefs were now dominating. I can understand Biggie Zuze’s tactics, when you have gone for weeks without a win you defend with all you have and it paid off.
Lastly it’s a requirement for referees to have a pressure gauge instrument to test the pressure weight of all the balls to be used on the day. I think some balls did not have enough pressure required hence the yellow ball was moved out for the white ball and this must be done by the fourth official. Team managers of teams concerned must see to it that all their balls have the required pressure weight.
History: 1962 Chile World CUP: 30 May – 17 June
Qualifiers — Argentine, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Czechoslovakia, England, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Uruguay, Yugoslavia,
Brazil won after beating Czechoslovakia 3- 1
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