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I am clean: Muzondiwa Mugadza

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Former Zimbabwe Saints, Amazulu and Zimbabwe national team goalkeeper Muzondiwa Mugadza
Former Zimbabwe Saints, Amazulu and Zimbabwe national team goalkeeper Muzondiwa Mugadza

By Sikhumbuzo Moyo

GOALKEEPING legend Muzondiwa Mugadza has distanced himself from the “evil six” that allegedly agreed to take bribes from a convicted Asian match fixer for Zimbabwe to lose a Dunhill Cup match 4-0 to Bosnia Herzegovina in 1997.

Former Zimbabwe Saints, Amazulu and Zimbabwe national team goalkeeper Muzondiwa Mugadza
Former Zimbabwe Saints, Amazulu and Zimbabwe national team goalkeeper Muzondiwa Mugadza

The six unnamed Zimbabwe B squad players agreed to share $100,000 offered by Wilson Raj Perumal if they delivered the right scoreline but one Zimbabwean player “accidentally kicked the ball into the net”.

Masimba Dinyero put Zimbabwe B ahead with a 24th minute opener with the other goal coming from Ian Gorowa for the match to end at 2-2.

Dinyero denied that his goal was an accident.

Perumal said following the draw the deal naturally fell through but the Asian was to come back to haunt Zimbabwean football a decade later.

Responding to an article carried by Chronicle Sport on Friday, “Lazy Mzoe” said he was even available for questioning by Zifa officials as he had nothing to hide.

“I just read a report you put regarding the match- fixing in Malaysia in 1997, I am disappointed my name is being dragged into these murky waters but I swear under oath I have never fixed any game in my life or received any bribe in my whole playing career,” said the United Kingdom-based former goalie.

He said during his time at Zimbabwe Saints he was at one time offered $50,000 (Zimbabwe dollars) to throw a game when Highlanders and Dynamos were fighting for the championship but he refused and they went  on to beat Dynamos.

“I go to bed with a clear conscience, every time I represented my country I did so with all my heart, Zifa must be having the match recordings which can be reviewed and any suspects fished out,” said Mugadza, one of the finest goalkeepers to emerge from the country.

The squad that went to Malaysia comprised one Blackpool player, three Zimbabwe Saints, five Caps United and eight Dynamos players with Gibson Homela and the late Jimmy Finch leading the technical bench.

Coincidentally, the composition almost resembles the 2007 scenario where Caps United and Dynamos had the highest number of players travelling to the shamed trips.

According to the match report carried by Chronicle on February 25, 1997, former Zimbabwe Saints defender Matambanashe Sibanda contributed to one of the two goals as he stood in between Mugadza and the opposition’s striker resulting in the ball going through Mugadza’s legs.

Their teammate Ronald Sibanda was given his marching orders in the 40th minute for a second bookable offence.

Sibanda said aahe was not aware why the referee dismissed him and denied being approached by Perumal or any knowledge of the match being fixed.

A number of referees have also been caught up in the match-fixing scam.

Many players and officials received bribes to fix matches between 2007 and 2010. Chronicle

Instructor, 2 learners crash, die after test

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Police and onlookers at the scene of the crash along the Plumtree-Bulawayo highway yesterday
Police and onlookers at the scene of the crash along the Plumtree-Bulawayo highway yesterday

By Nqobile Tshili

PLUMTREE – A driving instructor, returning from a road test at the Plumtree Vehicle Inspection Depot, died along with two student drivers when their car was involved in a horrific head-on collision along the Bulawayo- Plumtree Highway yesterday.

Police and onlookers at the scene of the crash along the Plumtree-Bulawayo highway yesterday
Police and onlookers at the scene of the crash along the Plumtree-Bulawayo highway yesterday

The trio died on the spot in an accident in which four other people were injured.

The driving school vehicle collided with a Toyota Condor, about 10 km from Bulawayo at about 4PM at a narrow bridge just after Mazinyane Butchery.

The instructor identified only as Madzibaba, of Anesu Driving School, was driving from Plumtree where his students underwent road tests.

Madzibaba, according to witnesses, was driving a Toyota Vitz with three passengers when he allegedly tried to overtake in the face of oncoming traffic.

The Condor flew off the road and landed on its side on impact, seriously injuring three passengers.

“He was trying to overtake, so he encroached on the other lane resulting in the head on collision. All the men in the Vitz died and only one woman survived but she was hurt badly. She was taken to hospital in an ambulance, together with three passengers in the Condor,” said Nolwazi Sibindi, who witnessed the crash. She said the Vitz was crushed and a fire brigade crew had to cut through the wreckage to retrieve the bodies.

“It was traumatising. The driver was bleeding through the nose and blood was gushing from his mouth.

“The passengers had multiple scars and I think they died on the spot,” she said.

Police and onlookers at the scene of the crash along the Plumtree-Bulawayo highway yesterday
Police and onlookers at the scene of the crash along the Plumtree-Bulawayo highway yesterday

Sibindi said the driver of the other vehicle sustained minor injuries.

When Chronicle visited the scene, there was a traffic jam and curious motorists were trying to get a glimpse of the bodies. Police had covered the bodies with blankets and were loading them onto a pick-up truck.

The Fire Brigade crew was hosing away blood from the road while the wrecks were being towed away.

There was sombre atmosphere as family members of the victims arrived at the scene.

The family members could not hold back their emotions as some of them cried uncontrollably.

Some learner drivers from Bulawayo prefer to go for road tests in Plumtree and other smaller towns because of the perceived ease they can acquire driver’s licence.

Government at one time cancelled licences acquired in the sugar farming town of Chiredzi because of underhand dealings by VID inspectors at the depot. Chronicle

TA pins hope on reviewed power tariffs

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Investments group TA Holdings Limited

By Ndakaziva Majaka

HARARE – Investments group TA Holdings Limited (TA) is expecting a viable Sable Chemicals electricity tariff to be finalised during the second half of the year as it seeks to minimise losses by the fertiliser manufacturing unit.

Investments group TA Holdings Limited
Investments group TA Holdings Limited

In its unaudited statement for the half year to June 2014, the group says while significant progress has been made in the negotiations for a viable tariff, the company was yet to receive sufficient power supply in order to operate at profitable levels.

“In light of this, returns to be realised from Sable are still uncertain and the investment in this company remained impaired as at 30 June 2014.

“The group is optimistic that a viable electricity tariff for Sable will be finalised during the second half 2014. In addition, it is anticipated that normal power supplies will be restored in the third quarter,” TA said.

According to the investment group, a viable tariff will enable the company to complete refurbishment of the plant so as to return the company to its installed capacity.

“As part of its strategy to move away from electricity usage, Sable is currently engaged in investigations to explore the use of Coal Bed Methane as an alternative feedstock in the manufacture of Hydrogen.

“This study will compliment earlier feasibility studies on coal gasification. It is anticipated that the choice of technology will be finalised after completion of this investigation so that migration to a new technology can be done expeditiously,” said the group.

The Kwekwe-based Sable, currently operating at 40 percent capacity utilisation and employs close to 500 workers, has been struggling mainly due to high production costs, particularly electricity charges.

Its 42-year-old plant requires 115 megawatts to power a 14-unit electrolysis plant.

The power is supplied by national utility Zesa through a dedicated sub-station.

For quite some time now, the company has been seeking investors to switch off the electrolysis plant completely and changeover to coal gasification in phases, as it seeks a more cost-effective way of producing hydrogen.

Sable, Zimbabwe’s sole ammonium nitrate (AN) manufacturer, shelved the coal gasification project in December last year due to funding constraints.

It produces between 70 000 and 80 000 tonnes of AN fertiliser monthly. Daily News

Zimplats commences work on refinery

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By John Kachembere

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s largest platinum producer, Zimplats, has commenced work to refurbish a base metal refinery (BMR) in line with government’s policy on beneficiation.

Zimplats commences work on refinery
Zimplats commences work on refinery

Muchadeyi Masunda, the group’s chairman, on Friday said the procurement of long lead items for the BMR as well as mass balancing and capacity confirmation on the preferred flow sheet have commenced.

“The feasibility study on the acid plant, for sulphur dioxide abatement, has commenced. Installation of the acid plant is scheduled over three years starting in 2016,” he said.

This comes as Impala Platinum (Implats) — the world’s second largest platinum producer and major shareholder in Zimplats — recently took a strategic decision to refurbish the BMR at Selous as a crucial first step in a multi-phased plan for local beneficiation.

The initial decision was to set up a new refinery plant at a cost of $3,2 billion, but according to Zimplats the refurbishments will cost the company nearly $192 million.

On completion, expected within two years, the refinery will process 270 000 tonnes of ore per month. Masunda said the refurbishment of the existing refinery, which was set up by BHP but failed to work because of technical difficulties and has been on care-and-maintenance, was consistent with the company’s broad objective of aligning to key national policies and objectives.

Zimbabwe, which has the world’s second largest platinum reserves after South Africa, has given miners two years to localise platinum group metal refinery, which is currently done in the southern neighbouring country.

“Once executed and fully operational, this initiative will have a positive impact on downstream industries,” said Masunda adding that the company would continue to play a positive part in helping resuscitate the Zimbabwean economy.

The platinum refining process goes through two significant stages; in the base metal refinery — which separates base metals such as nickel and copper — and then the precious metal refinery which processes the various platinum group metals and gold to high levels of purity. The major platinum miners in Zimbabwe such as Implats, Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) and Aquarius Platinum broadly support the government proposal to build a new platinum refinery by 2016 but executives say that annual platinum output should reach 500 000 ounces annually to make the refinery viable.

Output from Zimbabwe rose to an all-time production record of 430 000 ounces in 2013, up from 340 000 the previous year.

RioZim, another mining industry player, said it was considering plans to upgrade its Empress nickel refinery to process the base metal elements in platinum group metals.

Mwana Africa’s Bindura Nickel Corporation has also hinted at plans to modify its smelter and refinery into platinum refining facilities.

Concerns have also been raised by various stakeholders in the country on the availability of adequate power supplies to run a power-intensive refinery smoothly. Daily News

DeMbare power through to One Wallet Cup final

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Nehanda Radio
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Washington Pakamisa
Washington Pakamisa

By Paul Mundandi in ZVISHAVANE

Dynamos . . . .. . (1) 2
How Mine . . . . (0) 0

WASHINGTON Pakamisa scored his second goal, in as many games, as Dynamos silenced Luke Masomere and marched into the final of the One Wallet Cup at Mandava yesterday.  

Washington Pakamisa
Washington Pakamisa

Pakamisa, who scored the winner in the victory over Triangle at Gibbo, scored DeMbare’s second goal in the 56th minute after young right back Blessing Moyo had struck a beauty toopen the scores.

DeMbare will now face Triangle in the final.

Moyo reacted to a rebound from Walter Mukanga and produced a beauty of a goal, unleashing a ferocious right footer that whistled past goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura and hit the roof of the nets.

“I feel great in scoring and the goal helped me build my confidence. I promise more goals,” he said.

Moyo saved Dynamos in the 25th minute when he cleared an effort from Kudakwashe Musharu for a corner kick.

Pakamisa drove the final nail in the gold miners’ coffin in the 56th minute.

The striker won possession and went past the How Mine defence, turned his marker and powered a shot that Mazarura could not stop.

Anesu Gondo, who was returning from a long injury lay-off, could have weighed in with a goal in the 75th minute but blasted over the bar from a good position.

It was a match in which man-of-the-match Tafadzwa Rusike illuminated the afternoon with his dribbling skills as he gave Morris Kadzola a torrid time on the left flank.

Rusike could have scored in the fourth minute when he was sent through by Ronald Chitiyo but skied his effort.

Dynamos team manager Richard Chihoro was then ejected from the bench when he remonstrated with the fourth official after a lunge on Pakamisa that went unpunished by Bulawayo based referee Philani Ncube.

DeMbare coach Callisto Pasuwa saluted his men.

“We had the intention of winning and I say thumbs up to my boys. We were just slow in recovering when we lost the ball.

“Rusike missed a number of chances but he was very aggressive upfront and Blessing’s goal was one of the best. He will go far,” he said.

Masomere said his men had chances to get something from this game.

“We played very well but we failed to convert. Although we were very sloppy in defending but the performance was very pleasing.

“I now have direction and I hope I will win our next league game,” he said.

Teams

Dynamos: A Mukandi, B Moyo, T Magorimbo, T Ndlovu , A Mbara, D Chafa (C Muroyiwa 89th min) W Mukanga, R Chitiyo, ,T Rusike (O Machapa 80th min), A Gondo, W Pakamisa (S Linyama 85th min).

How Mine: E Mazarura, J Chitereki, M Kodzola, G Banda, N Mukumbi, W Sithole (M Masuku 91st min) , T Masuku, N Tachi, K Musharu ,T January (E Mandiranga 60th min),G Nguwodzawo(C Masocha 60th min).

Top cop killed after vehicle is hit by fleeing armed robbers

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Nehanda Radio
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Detective Inspector Misheck Gurwe was travelling in a Nissan Atlas Truck
Detective Inspector Misheck Gurwe was travelling in a Nissan Atlas Truck

HARARE – The officer-in-charge of Braeside Police Station CID section died last Friday after a vehicle he was travelling in was hit by a car belonging to armed robbers who were fleeing police officers along the Harare — Chivhu Road. 

Detective Inspector Misheck Gurwe was travelling in a Nissan Atlas Truck
Detective Inspector Misheck Gurwe was travelling in a Nissan Atlas Truck

Detective Inspector Misheck Gurwe was travelling in a Nissan Atlas Truck with a three-year-old boy and heading towards Harare from Chivhu when the accident occurred around the Beatrice area.

National police spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said; “The accident occurred on August 28 at around 8pm near the 54km peg and it involved three cars — a Toyota Venture, Nissan Atlas truck and a Honda Fit,” he said.

He said the Honda Fit was being chased by police from Beatrice after an alleged armed robbery case.

During the process, the suspects’ vehicle hit Detective Insp Gurwe’s truck from behind, resulting in the car being involved in a head-on collision with the Toyota Venture. Detective Insp Gurwe died on the spot while the child he was travelling with sustained minor injuries.

“He sustained serious head injuries and a fractured right leg. He died on the spot,” Chief Supt Nyathi said.

The suspects did not stop.

Police have launched a manhunt for them as investigations on the case continue.

Police sources yesterday said one of the suspects was identified as Onias Kadzunge and they believed that the gang was in the habit of robbing people and using fake United States dollar bills.

Education Minister’s car burnt to a shell

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Primary and Secondary Education minister Lazarus Dokora
Primary and Secondary Education minister Lazarus Dokora

MT DARWIN – Three armed robbers disappeared with a Nissan NP300 truck belonging to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Lazarus Dokora, in Mt Darwin before burning it to a shell to conceal evidence. 

Primary and Secondary Education minister Lazarus Dokora
Primary and Secondary Education minister Lazarus Dokora

The three criminals, two men and a woman, had earlier stolen a Toyota Raum in Harare and drove to Mt Darwin where they committed various offences. 

They were arrested last week in Epworth following a tip-off.

The trio was wanted on 13 robbery cases committed in Harare, Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central provinces. Sources close to investigations confirmed the arrests last week.

It is alleged that early this month, the three robbers, who used knives and axes, robbed a Toyota Raum in the city and drove to Mt Darwin.

The vehicle developed a mechanical fault along the way at around 11pm.

A few minutes later the minister’s driver, who was driving a Nissan NP300, arrived at the scene and was stopped.

He was attacked and robbed of the vehicle. The suspects drove the vehicle to a bushy area in Mt Darwin where they burnt it.

Acting on a tip-off, police raided the suspects at a hideout in Epworth on Monday last week.

Zanu PF ‘national chair’ post open to all: Jonathan Moyo

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Nehanda Radio
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By Mabasa Sasa

The 1987 National Unity Accord does not reserve the Zanu-PF National Chairmanship for a former Zapu member in as much as the President’s post is not solely for ex-Zanu stalwarts, a senior Government and ruling party official has said. 

Information, Media and Broadcasting Services minister Professor Jonathan Moyo
Information, Media and Broadcasting Services minister Professor Jonathan Moyo

Zanu-PF is scheduled to hold its elective National Congress in December, with all posts up for grabs.

This has seen party bosses jostling for positions, with some senior officials saying the Unity Accord reserved one of the two Vice-President’s posts and that of National Chair for officials who belonged to Zapu.
The Unity Accord brought together Zanu and Zapu under Zanu-PF.

In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Government spokesperson and Zanu-PF Politburo member Professor Jonathan Moyo — who is Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister — said the Unity Accord did not cater for transient personal ambitions.

He also said while the President’s post was similarly not reserved, it was “folly” to think President Mugabe would be unseated at Congress as the electorate had just given him an overwhelming mandate to lead Zimbabwe until 2018.

“Anyone who over the years has had audience with key architects of the Unity Accord, including President Mugabe, would be aware of the actual position regarding the current four top posts in the Zanu-PF Central Committee, namely those of President and First Secretary, two Vice-Presidents and Second Secretaries and National Chair.

“The actual position is that the post of President and First Secretary was and is not reserved for either former Zanu or former Zapu but is open to be filled by the best candidate from either side.

“On the two Vice-Presidents and Second Secretaries, the fact of having a provision for two VPs meant that they could not both be from one side.

“Like that of the President and First Secretary, the post of National Chair was — as it still is — open to be filled by the best candidate and not reserved for either side.”

Prof Moyo said late national heroes Joseph Msika and John Landa Nkomo rose to National Chair, and later to VP, on merit — not because they were ex-Zapu.

“The same goes for President Mugabe. He has filled the post of President and First Secretary of Zanu-PF not because the post is reserved for former Zanu but because he is the best to fill the post on the basis of his leadership in the nationalist movement, liberation struggle and Government since our independence on the basis of the electoral mandate he has received in accordance with our Constitution.

“It would be absurd to claim or believe that, as some kind of gentleman’s agreement or understanding, the Unity Accord permanently consigned the nationalist leadership who were formerly in Zapu to second fiddle roles in Zanu-PF by reserving for them only the posts of one VP and National Chair, while permanently preserving for the nationalist leadership who were formerly in Zanu the posts of President and First Secretary and of the other Vice- President.”

Moyo said it was “unfortunate” that some people were interpreting the Unity Accord “in terms of the political identity of the occupant of this or that leadership position in the party or Government in relation to their status in the former Zapu or former Zanu”.

“This is unfortunate because the Unity Accord was less about two or four positions and more about the enduring values and principles that should unite and govern our nation as a gain of the liberation struggle that was led by Zapu and Zanu which are now united as Zanu-PF.

“It must be understood that the Unity Accord was not a personal agreement to benefit individuals nor was it an inter-party deal just to benefit two political parties, nor a tribal pact to benefit this or that tribe or region . . .

“This is why the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo was not Father Zapu or Father Matabeleland but Father Zimbabwe, as the founding nationalist leader of our Second Chimurenga. As such, the Unity Accord was not meant to be a temporary agreement to address issues only limited to the personal interests of some individuals or concerns of the moment without any bearing on the stability and prosperity of our republic in terms of its permanent human, security and economic interests.”

He said some people gunning for leadership at the Congress were making “outlandish” claims relating to the Unity Accord to further their campaigns.

On a possible challenge to President Mugabe’s position at the helm of the ruling party in December, Prof Moyo said:

“It would be extreme folly for anybody in Zanu-PF or anywhere else to imagine they can even contemplate using the forthcoming party’s Congress to one way or another, directly or indirectly, undo the five-year mandate that the electorate — not Zanu-PF but the electorate — gave President Mugabe on 31 July 2013 to lead and govern our country until 2018.

“Until then, President Mugabe has work to do to lead the turnaround of the economy which he pledged to do under the banner of indigenisation and economic empowerment whose implementation is now fully under way to improve the livelihoods of Zimbabweans.”

He said any expectation of dislodging the President outside of an election was a “pie in the sky” and those of such a perspective were better off “eating humble pie”. The Sunday Mail

Biti and Mangoma in ‘renewed’ power struggle

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By Moses Matenga and Paidamoyo Muzulu

A fight for power has reportedly erupted within the newly-formed MDC Renewal Team, a splinter group from the MDC-T led by Tendai Biti and Elton Mangoma.

The fight is said to pit Biti and Mangoma, both of whom reportedly desire to sit at the helm of the organisation.

Tendai Biti vs Elton Mangoma
Tendai Biti vs Elton Mangoma

The outfit is set to go to congress in six months where they are expected to formally announce the name of their party and elect its leaders.

Biti and Mangoma have reportedly started canvassing for support among members.

The team which cut ties with Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC-T early this year over irreconcilable leadership squabbles goes to congress in March 2015, to elect substantive leaders.

Mangoma was the first to come out openly about the need for leadership renewal in the MDC-T, a move that nearly cost his life as angry party members attacked him at the party’s Harvest House headquarters.

“There are fights in the party [Renewal Team] now over who should be the leader. Others are campaigning for Biti while others are backing Mangoma. Those on the Biti camp include Solomon Madzore who is the youth assembly president and acting organising secretary while others are going for Mangoma,” said an insider.

Mangoma, however, yesterday refuted the allegations that there was any canvassing going on in the party at the moment.

“No dates have been set for the congress and there is no campaigning going on. This party is about democracy and not personal ambition and I’m ready to serve the party in any capacity,” Mangoma said.

“One of the things about this party is that we don’t want the big man politics so all persons interested can offer themselves or the members can also nominate people to positions.”

Biti’s phone was unavailable yesterday.

The party is currently chaired by Samuel Sipepa Nkomo on an interim basis until the 2015 congress.

Meanwhile, the team is holding a youth convention in Gweru where the position of youth leader will be discussed.

The battle for that position is between Madzore and Promise Mkwananzi. However, Madzore faces a handicap in that by the time the congress takes place he will be above the age 35 and therefore ineligible.

“We will meet on Sunday [September 7] in Gweru and youths want to take charge of the assembly. We know already that there are moves to campaign for who is to be president of the party ahead of congress and the fight is on Biti and Mangoma,” another MDC Renewal member said.

Both Mkwananzi and Madzore were unreachable for comment.

Renewal spokesperson Jacob Mafume said the party would hold its congress next year and added that he doubted if people had started campaigning for the top posts.

“As for the youths, they must deal with issues in the best interest of the movement. If people have ideas, those ideas should be raised and we will have our congress in March 2015 where all positions are open. I don’t think canvassing has started,” Mafume said. Zimbabwe Standard

Finally Musona has seen the light: Charles Mabika

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Knowledge Musona
Knowledge Musona

By Charles Mabika

LAST week, I received an e-mail from Abel “Ngugi” Milanzi, a primary school teacher at Gwenzi School in Zhombe.

He asked me to nominate my finest-ever Warriors 18-man squad since 1980. Boy, oh boy, what a difficult task!

Knowledge Musona
Knowledge Musona

But after tossing and turning in my bed for a couple of nights, I finally came up with a starting XI and seven substitutes’ line-up who, I must stress, is NOT a Zimbabwe Players finest-ever outfit since Independence but simply the best players who, according to me, excelled in a Warriors jersey.

My starting line-up is based on a 4-4-2 formation:

Goalkeeper: Japhet M’parutsa.

Defenders: Mercedes Sibanda (late), Ephert Lungu, Ephraim Chawanda (captain), Oliver Kateya (late).

Midfielders: Benjamin Nkonjera (late), John Phiri, Stanley Ndunduma (late), Norman Mapeza.

Forwards: Peter Ndlovu, Knowledge Musona.

Subs: Bruce Grobbelaar, James Takavada, Francis Shonhayi, Wonder Phiri, Ronald Sibanda, Agent Sawu, Adam Ndlovu (late).

Head Coach: Sunday Chidzambwa.

Assistant Coach: Charles Mhlauri.

Like I said earlier, it wasn’t easy!

* * *

I was delighted to learn that Warriors striker Knowledge Musona had decided not to renew his loan spell at South African giants Kaizer Chiefs and instead continue his career at Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim.

At last the Silent Assassin has seen the light!

Although Hoffenheim is not as big as Bayern Munich or Borrusia Dortmund, Musona will still be able to parade his repertoire on the big European stage and sooner rather than later, some big guns are bound to come knocking on his door.

The former Aces Youth Academy forward joined Hoffenheim three years ago and was unfortunate to be blighted by injuries, resulting in his side loaning him to another Bundesliga side, Augsburg.

It looked like that move had paid off because Musona started to churn out some sparkling performances, but again, injuries struck and he endured another gloomy spell.

These misfortunes resulted in him trekking back to the Super Diski – on loan this time – to his former Amakhosi side where he once again ruled the roost in front of goal.

The rest, as they say, is now history and he’s back where he belongs!

I understand that Kaizer Chiefs had actually offered him a heftier package than Hoffenheim’s, but Musona wisely decided against the richer pickings to concentrate on a well-tarred thoroughfare to possible stardom on the world stage.

As much as I can understand why our players jump onto the bandwagon to Super Diski because of its rand-laden pitches, it does not develop their game at all in their careers.

Except for Benjani Mwaruwari, whose career flourished in Europe after he used the South African springboard, none of our brilliant performers who plied their trade there for some time made any meaningful forays into Europe.

Some of them actually wrote their own epitaphs after emigrating down south. Remember former Douglas Warriors and Dynamos goal scoring ace Evans Gwekwerere?

Here was a player who could have walked into any second-tier European league’s first team squad without a hitch if he had not chosen South Africa as his transit lounge.

My heart still bleeds for the way the gap-toothed Earthquake floundered after a horrendous spell at Moroka Swallows and never recovered that awesome and predatory finishing in front of goal when he returned home.

So whoever advised Musona to completely forget about Super Diski deserves a huge pat on the back because the Silent Assassin is simply the best thing to have happened to Zimbabwean football after King Peter Ndlovu.

There’s no debate about this.

At the age of 24, Musona still has some time to improve his game so as to attract the bigger guns like Real Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona and Manchester City.

I’m sure a lot of you out there will keep vigil for Musona as he continues with his unwavering battle to break into the big-time of the European game.

Till next week, remember to take care of your loved ones and each other. It’s bye-bye for now.

Please send your feedback to [email protected] or WhatsApp 0714665478

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