Show Denver some love, says Sadomba
By Don Makanyanga
Former Dynamos striker Edward “Duduza” Sadomba is backing Denver Mukamba to find his way back to form.
Sadomba, who enjoyed a successful stint with Dynamos before striking it rich in Mozambique, Sudan, Libya and the United Arab Emirates, reckons the nation needs to give Mukamba support.
“There is a danger that Zimbabwe will lose a good player because the country does not know how to handle cases like this one. It appears we have mastered the art of laughing at the man who is down instead of helping (him),” he said.
“Right now Denver is at a point whereby he needs more love and not lashing. Making fun of him or saying ‘I told you so’ will not help.
“The question we have to ask ourselves is ‘how did Denver get to this place?’ Once we have answered that question we will be able to assist the boy.”
Sadomba reckons Mukamba, who saw the door being closed on him by Dynamos and is linked with loan moves to Caps United, Highlanders and Yadah Stars, can fire again.
“Only God knows how much talent he blessed Denver with and it is up to the boy to show us what he can still do,” he said.
On the sidelines of a function to unveil a portrait of himself at Mbare Flats in Harare yesterday, Sadomba said there were “gaps in terms of how players are being trained”.
The game, he said, was evolving at a pace that made concentrating on ball work and player fitness alone without taking care of their psychological needs “dangerous.”
“Unless you have been the pin-up boy at a team like Dynamos, you will never understand the kind of pressure and temptation that come with the fame,” said 34–year-old Sadomba.
“Right now I am here and people are honouring me as a hero from Mbare but the faces of the people who stood by me and offered advice are not on that beautiful piece of art.
“I benefitted from having a strong family structure and friends who were ready to tell me the truth, no matter how much it hurt.
“These people, especially my wife Sherly, told me that I would not be DeMbare’s main man forever. I took that advice and made some sound decisions.
“Right now we have a case whereby Kudzai Dhemere has risen from being a nobody into being the Dynamos player whose picture is on the back page of every newspaper. Is anyone taking note of how KD is handling the sudden change?”
Meanwhile, the artist who drew Sadomba’s portrait, Paul Chovuchovu, hopes his work will inspire budding footballers.
“We honouring Duduza and sending a message to the up and coming players that talent without discipline is not enough. Mbare is full is sad stories, stories of promising players who lost their ways but Sadomba gives us a positive narrative and this is my way of saying thank you to him.” The Sunday Mail
