The Premier League needs these changes and now.

The unbranded Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League season is due to end and the league leaders are said to be negotiating with potential ‘sponsors’. The Chief Executive Officer is said not be disclosing those for now and for obvious reasons. Note that I said ‘sponsors’.

Speculation, though very unnecessary, is that it is cellular phone networks that are engaged in the negotiations. If, indeed, there is more than one sponsor, that is very good news, especially if they are not from the same category of business, like banking sector, motor industry and sports wear.

This means the PSL must fight that whosoever they engage to sponsor the league do not walk away without any deal in football. Everyone they are talking to must have room to sponsor the game one way or the other. Such will take away the conflict of interest. If Econet bankroll the league, for an e.g, they will have their name on the kit of the clubs. CBZ can also have their name on the sleeves. There will be room for say LG, Twalumba Holdings, Africa Lotto, Afro Foods and Delta Beverages to have their names at the back of the shirts.

There must be flexibility that those in current negotiations must at least sponsor the clubs, if they fail to secure the real deals. As long as they have interest in the sport, they should not be allowed to have a have all or nothing approach. They need to be utilised and people must support their endeavours as well. There is no better time to work together and it is everybody that has to do it. All must be aboard now.

What is actually needed is that the League ask the government through ZIFA as in the government-to-government basis that brought Reinhard Fabisch and many others after him, for Germany companies like Adidas and/or Puma to kit the league and supply match balls. This must have to come with training as well as warm-up kits. These arrangements are mandatory for any league today, however small. All this, need very aggressive negotiation by the league and the good understanding of industry to participate and involve their customers in the sports and their products.

It is understandable the corruption, the errors, the waywardness of some individuals and teams rocked the country. The new year must see all turn over a new leaf. The PSL must give the captains of industry confidence and the same captains must assure the league of their trust regardless of the the likely teething problems that will surely come their way. The PSL will have power to run and rule the league if they have a muscle, cash in this case. With that, they will be less bad guys and teams as indiscipline will not be tolerated.

Clubs like Dynamos and Highlanders will have the knowledge they can be shown the door and the league will be even smoother in their absence. The league also must have a way of having a full-time CEO or COO who is independent and unaligned in club football. It will be necessary for teams to adhere to the rules and regulations of the league and national association without exceptions. 

Seeking to manipulate every word of these for selfish benefit can be curbed if the league and ZIFA get a full-time Disciplinary Committee chairperson who is a top notch attorney for the disciplinary cases as well as interpretation of documents and other cases within days of their occurrence. This is an area where other sponsors are needed, to pay for the full-time CEO and the Chairperson of the DC, who has capacity to transparently rule on simple cases alone and instantaneously.

The PSL must design means and ways to attract people to the stadia. It must be fun and people must look forward to going to the stadia. Competitions like raffle draws, music performers and artistes must be asked to promote their acts live while fans get free entertainment. There must be aggressive means to market matches.  Clubs must also try to woe their supporters by playing good football. They must give incentives to build brands all want to be associated with.

Finally, both clubs and the league must employ mercenaries to get sponsorship. South Africa had people negotiate multi million rand deal on condition they will receive predetermined cash for it. This works wonders. If one brings say $5 million sponsorship from the diaspora and they walk away $250 000 cash rich, who can complain, and I believe, it will be soon that the PSL will be turning away deals.

What should the league be doing to attract sponsors to come forth?

What exactly is Ibumba International Festival?

Introduction

Ibumba International Festival is an innovative programme which will see football and the arts come together to engage young people families and the community at large. The usually large annual gathering and engagements of arts, culture, theatre and football is set to finish the festival in a social manner. The event will take place on the morning and afternoon of Wednesday 22 December 2010.

History of Football at Ibumba

This high quality programme is part of Ibumba International Festival which was founded as "Ibumba Winter Festival" by the world travelled Siyaya Arts in 1996 as a way and means of giving back to the community their skills, expertise, successes and experiences. The name "Ibumba", meaning the "clay used to mould" was adopted as it reflects the spirit of which the founders strive, i.e. building a tomorrow for the arts, today. It is their continual belief that the festival will help to mould a future for the arts by impacting the individual, the family, the community, the country, Africa and the world. The festival strongly supports the work of local artists and the community as they continually allocate local artists and productions prime performance spaces even when they have international participation. Since inception, the festival has been primarily funded by Siyaya Arts through performances, sometimes with minimal support from the corporate world and donor world.

The Festival The Players

Invitations have already been sent to 8 different area/sector teams in Bulawayo. The defending champions, Team Makokoba are expected to give the aspiring teams a torrid time. Team Nguboyenja, Team Barbourfields and Team Mzilikazi will be looking to close loopholes that saw them lose out the last time around. Newcomers, Team Njube and surroundings and Team Nkulumane and Nketa are expected to come to add the flavour. They are known to have the talent that will keep fans entertained and even challenge for the honours. Of course, Team Artists and Team Media appear underdogs on paper, but then football is not played on paper. You will also remember how many artists and media personnel could have easily became professional footballers. Ezrom Nyandoro, Zimbabwe Warriors and Mamelodi Sundowns performed arts for Siyaya as a youngster 14 years ago.  

A community team has been tasked with the effort of putting together and registering a pool of 25 players per team to play in the festival tournament. The games will be open to anyone regardless of sex, age and profession as long as the players are willing to play as a team for social purposes and abide by the festival rules which will strongly based on the general FIFA football rules. Teams will also pay a nominal non-refundable registration fee of $20 per team. Organisers are also having finishing touches on a delicious list of prizes that will be announced on the Ibumba Festival website http://www.ibumbafestival.com/ when the programme is released.

The 2010 Festival Theme – "LOL"

 LOL. Laugh out loud? Yes, here it is but "Live Out Loud" Asked about the idea, Simon Mambazo Phiri of Siyaya Arts, the brains behind 2010 Ibumba Festival said, "This is an expression of the way we expect our work, audiences, partners and the community to blossom as we aid the regeneration and branding of Zimbabwe and take a role in confirming that it is Time for Africa. This theme will be used to maximise freedom of expression as anything 'said out loud' has a bigger chance of being heard. We will shout out, and  loudly" Already the publicity of the event is loud and they say the music will even be louder and the festival will be embracing for all and sundry. Unless you will be watching football anywhere else, here it will also play a role in making the noise for sure.

2010 Team Menu

The last two editions of the festival has seen football being played and special 2010 edition honours the historic first ever Africa hosted FIFA World Cup and comes in with promises of an improved programme of the world's beautiful game. Previous plans and executions will be retained and improved and the main focus is to make football part of the festival. As we "Live out Loud" at Ibumba 2010 we look forward to making the games more exciting and friendly.

Football matches were first played in 2008 at Robert Tredgold where four teams of Artists were drawn to play for the ultimate prize of a Floating Shield and some prize money. 2009 saw four teams consisting Siyaya Artists, Team Makokoba, Team Mzilikazi and Team Barbourfields and the games were played at Ross Camp and the Shield and prize went to Team Makokoba

 Your Support

Such a huge and world class event will attract global attention. An exclusive commercial sponsorship package is being offered to all to consider being a partner or sponsor of Ibumba Festival Football Tournament and be associated with the festival’s diverse aspects, which are multi-cultural, inter-disciplinary, inter-racial, inter-sexual, celebratory and above all, community oriented. The generosity of the corperate world, individuals and well wishers will go a long way in making the block blaster of a show into a wild minster entertainment extravaganza.

The hire of Ross Camp Stadium is $100.00 while security will cost $200.00 to make it a truly save family environment. The match official fees will be $200.00 as it is intended to make football matches both entertainment and value with professionalism. At this point, prizes and awards are expected to be around $800.00 while balls and nets will take $100.00 of the budget. With a transport budget of $200.00, the minimum total sponsorship of $1600,00 is sought from all those who can help. More can be done for the benefit of the community. The sponsors and advertisers will be given publicity on this blog as well. 

Sponsorship Opportunities

Asked about what exactly they expect from the sponsors, Mbazo said, "We are very flexible in our approach and welcome any new and interesting suggestions with regards to partnerships provided that they are in keeping with the ethos of the festival and add value to our event." He said they have in place an immediate decision making capacity on anything that people may require in terms of ideas or information, adding, "There are a number of different ways in which we see partnerships working but these are by no means set in stone and we are prepared to negotiate with interested parties at any time. Our door is always open." He expressed how keen they were to engage many stakeholders. Their biggest wish is that the partnerships they set up in 2010 are for the long term rather than simply for the 2010 event as this enables them to keep the momentum going.

What Sponsors Can Expect

Ibumba International Festival are prepared to offer promotional opportunity in return for various levels of spend or in-kind support like branding and naming rights for the whole football tournament, branding, logos and web addresses on all flyers produced and distributed throughout Bulawayo (via venues, tourist racks, shops, restaurants etc), via door drops to targeted households in the townships and suburbs, branding and web links within the official festival programme (as long as the partnership is confirmed before going to print) as well as logos and mentions on the Partners page on the www.ibumbafestival.com website plus addition of a direct link from the festival website and reference on their sister sites at www.sabelamusic.com and the www.siyaya-arts.com site. They will also be mentions in national media coverage through their media partners and through theirr press campaigns and mutual e-mailer to their client databases of over 5000 addresses to announce the partnership.  

Conclusion


Also in the package is the tickets for hospitality and reduced price ticket offers for partners' own clients for other festival events. This list is not exhaustive and other suggestions can be discussed depending on your funding and desires. They offer an excellent opportunity for strong brand promotion and involvement in a niche arts market which targets and involves the young as well as the established artists and audiences. Ibumba Festival Community Football Tournament is an opportunity for artists, the young and families to create a unique home grown community engagement project, and a chance for companies and businesses to engage corporate sponsorship.

As you go to the arts and theatre festival and enjoy the diski, remember to make a difference in the community you so much love, but not for just your self, but for those growing up so they can have the same or even better opportunities that you had in times gone by. Wishing you a "Loud Festival" at Ibumba 2010! See you there.  

Bafana Bafana Live On SABC? Rather Watch SAMTA Awards.

Mzansi 4 sure. The national broadcasting cooperation, SABC-TV looted all our money and bought all our right to watch our team live on TV, Bafana Bafana. They claimed they cleaned the banking accounts to buy the rights as they had to bid for the rights that were first ceded to a French company as the Sierra Leone nationals said that South Africa hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, therefore has money to pay more.

After coughing up so much bucks to seal the deal, all they managed to do at that cost, was not to show us the match. There may not be a single recording of that match. I hope there is. All you and I can receive for buying all the pop corn, potato crisps, soft drinks and liver burning alcoholic beverages and sitting put in front of the screens channel surfing for the match, is a 'Sorry'. SABC wants me to let you to know they are very sorry for the inconvenience. 

The good part, is that they do not have the cash anyway to pay for your loss of business due to the non-screening of the match, nor can they compensate for emotional distress caused by their incompetence. So that they can draw our sympathies, they have the weather to blame. That one is a good one as only God is responsible for the skies. The atmosphere was unfriendly that the crew of 4 and equipment were stranded in Ivory Coast and there was nowhere to get to the match venue in time for the match.

You and I must be sympathetic catastrophe and understand the stress of the workers wanting to do a job in one country while being in another. I think the problem actually lies with the fact that while SABC-TV bring us the best entertainment and reports in the whole world, they do not watch TV. If they did, their own channels spent the week asking Bafana Bafana to buy 6 stud boots because the north Africa weather was bad. It rained everyday. Pitso Mosimane made a plan B as well as C. SABC-TV's plan B and C and D and E was just plan A. Hence we are here. No one thought to go Sierra Leone earlier in case it rains in Ivory Coast. Then it rained and we were doomed.

This is not to say that SABC-TV did not try their best, as you can see. At least we were never going to watch a wonderful show called SAMTA Awards. That was plan A-1. All we can say is that we are sorry they did not screen the match and that there is no refunds for getting the rights of the match they did not screen. They can always increase the TV license fees to boost their bank balance. They also want you to know that after this you can watch all the Supersport channels as much as you want while that crew is trying to find their way back from the Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, go and buy extra TV licenses before those guys arrive and be better prepared.

What is SAMTA awards anyway? Somebody help.

Bafana Bafana Live On SABC? Rather Watch SAMTA Awards.

Mzansi 4 sure. The national broadcasting cooperation, SABC-TV looted all our money and bought all our right to watch our team live on TV, Bafana Bafana. They claimed they cleaned the banking accounts to buy the rights as they had to bid for the rights that were first ceded to a French company as the Sierra Leone nationals said that South Africa hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, therefore has money to pay more.

After coughing up so much bucks to seal the deal, all they managed to do at that cost, was not to show us the match. There may not be a single recording of that match. I hope there is. All you and I can receive for buying all the pop corn, potato crisps, soft drinks and liver burning alcoholic beverages and sitting put in front of the screens channel surfing for the match, is a 'Sorry'. SABC wants me to let you to know they are very sorry for the inconvenience. 

The good part, is that they do not have the cash anyway to pay for your loss of business due to the non-screening of the match, nor can they compensate for emotional distress caused by their incompetence. So that they can draw our sympathies, they have the weather to blame. That one is a good one as only God is responsible for the skies. The atmosphere was unfriendly that the crew of 4 and equipment were stranded in Ivory Coast and there was nowhere to get to the match venue in time for the match.

You and I must be sympathetic catastrophe and understand the stress of the workers wanting to do a job in one country while being in another. I think the problem actually lies with the fact that while SABC-TV bring us the best entertainment and reports in the whole world, they do not watch TV. If they did, their own channels spent the week asking Bafana Bafana to buy 6 stud boots because the north Africa weather was bad. It rained everyday. Pitso Mosimane made a plan B as well as C. SABC-TV's plan B and C and D and E was just plan A. Hence we are here. No one thought to go Sierra Leone earlier in case it rains in Ivory Coast. Then it rained and we were doomed.

This is not to say that SABC-TV did not try their best, as you can see. At least we were never going to watch a wonderful show called SAMTA Awards. That was plan A-1. All we can say is that we are sorry they did not screen the match and that there is no refunds for getting the rights of the match they did not screen. They can always increase the TV license fees to boost their bank balance. They also want you to know that after this you can watch all the Supersport channels as much as you want while that crew is trying to find their way back from the Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, go and buy extra TV licenses before those guys arrive and be better prepared.

What is SAMTA awards anyway? Somebody help.

Bafana Bafana Live On SABC? Rather Watch SAMTA Awards.

Mzansi 4 sure. The national broadcasting cooperation, SABC-TV looted all our money and bought all our right to watch our team live on TV, Bafana Bafana. They claimed they cleaned the banking accounts to buy the rights as they had to bid for the rights that were first ceded to a French company as the Sierra Leone nationals said that South Africa hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, therefore has money to pay more.

After coughing up so much bucks to seal the deal, all they managed to do at that cost, was not to show us the match. There may not be a single recording of that match. I hope there is. All you and I can receive for buying all the pop corn, potato crisps, soft drinks and liver burning alcoholic beverages and sitting put in front of the screens channel surfing for the match, is a 'Sorry'. SABC wants me to let you to know they are very sorry for the inconvenience. 

The good part, is that they do not have the cash anyway to pay for your loss of business due to the non-screening of the match, nor can they compensate for emotional distress caused by their incompetence. So that they can draw our sympathies, they have the weather to blame. That one is a good one as only God is responsible for the skies. The atmosphere was unfriendly that the crew of 4 and equipment were stranded in Ivory Coast and there was nowhere to get to the match venue in time for the match.

You and I must be sympathetic catastrophe and understand the stress of the workers wanting to do a job in one country while being in another. I think the problem actually lies with the fact that while SABC-TV bring us the best entertainment and reports in the whole world, they do not watch TV. If they did, their own channels spent the week asking Bafana Bafana to buy 6 stud boots because the north Africa weather was bad. It rained everyday. Pitso Mosimane made a plan B as well as C. SABC-TV's plan B and C and D and E was just plan A. Hence we are here. No one thought to go Sierra Leone earlier in case it rains in Ivory Coast. Then it rained and we were doomed.

This is not to say that SABC-TV did not try their best, as you can see. At least we were never going to watch a wonderful show called SAMTA Awards. That was plan A-1. All we can say is that we are sorry they did not screen the match and that there is no refunds for getting the rights of the match they did not screen. They can always increase the TV license fees to boost their bank balance. They also want you to know that after this you can watch all the Supersport channels as much as you want while that crew is trying to find their way back from the Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, go and buy extra TV licenses before those guys arrive and be better prepared.

What is SAMTA awards anyway? Somebody help.

Bafana Bafana Live On SABC? Rather Watch SAMTA Awards.

Mzansi 4 sure. The national broadcasting cooperation, SABC-TV looted all our money and bought all our right to watch our team live on TV, Bafana Bafana. They claimed they cleaned the banking accounts to buy the rights as they had to bid for the rights that were first ceded to a French company as the Sierra Leone nationals said that South Africa hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, therefore has money to pay more.

After coughing up so much bucks to seal the deal, all they managed to do at that cost, was not to show us the match. There may not be a single recording of that match. I hope there is. All you and I can receive for buying all the pop corn, potato crisps, soft drinks and liver burning alcoholic beverages and sitting put in front of the screens channel surfing for the match, is a 'Sorry'. SABC wants me to let you to know they are very sorry for the inconvenience. 

The good part, is that they do not have the cash anyway to pay for your loss of business due to the non-screening of the match, nor can they compensate for emotional distress caused by their incompetence. So that they can draw our sympathies, they have the weather to blame. That one is a good one as only God is responsible for the skies. The atmosphere was unfriendly that the crew of 4 and equipment were stranded in Ivory Coast and there was nowhere to get to the match venue in time for the match.

You and I must be sympathetic catastrophe and understand the stress of the workers wanting to do a job in one country while being in another. I think the problem actually lies with the fact that while SABC-TV bring us the best entertainment and reports in the whole world, they do not watch TV. If they did, their own channels spent the week asking Bafana Bafana to buy 6 stud boots because the north Africa weather was bad. It rained everyday. Pitso Mosimane made a plan B as well as C. SABC-TV's plan B and C and D and E was just plan A. Hence we are here. No one thought to go Sierra Leone earlier in case it rains in Ivory Coast. Then it rained and we were doomed.

This is not to say that SABC-TV did not try their best, as you can see. At least we were never going to watch a wonderful show called SAMTA Awards. That was plan A-1. All we can say is that we are sorry they did not screen the match and that there is no refunds for getting the rights of the match they did not screen. They can always increase the TV license fees to boost their bank balance. They also want you to know that after this you can watch all the Supersport channels as much as you want while that crew is trying to find their way back from the Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, go and buy extra TV licenses before those guys arrive and be better prepared.

What is SAMTA awards anyway? Somebody help.

Egypt, Algeria Beat By Minors. Ghana, Zimbabwe, South Africa In Draws.

An undisciplined Ghana team failed to stamp their authority in Kumasi. They were a pale shadow of the team Africa and the world fell in love with during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Sudan, for their part, were arrogantly patient and not giving the Black Stars any respect.

The Sudanese team could not thread the right final ball in their counter attacks. They won all their tackles and combats outsides the penalty box, giving Ghana lots of free kicks that they  fluffed. The missed dead ball situations that could have been converted were not utilised as each one of them was taken by a different player. That is an element of indiscipline of the first degree.

With about 10 minutes to go, Asamoah Gyan was red-carded for an unclear offense. Goalkeeper Kingson was involved several times to deal with long Sudanese balls. It was a well deserved draw for Sudan, who will fancy their chances against the more illustrious opponents.

Algeria lost 0-2 to Central African Republic in one of the shock results of AFCON qualifier. Record 6 times winners and defending champions were well beaten by Niger in Niger. Zimbabwe and Cape Verde, like the Sierra Leone  versus South Africa match, did not produce any goals. Congo beat Swaziland by 3 goals to 1.

Egypt, Algeria Beat By Minors. Ghana, Zimbabwe, South Africa In Draws.

An undisciplined Ghana team failed to stamp their authority in Kumasi. They were a pale shadow of the team Africa and the world fell in love with during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Sudan, for their part, were arrogantly patient and not giving the Black Stars any respect.

The Sudanese team could not thread the right final ball in their counter attacks. They won all their tackles and combats outsides the penalty box, giving Ghana lots of free kicks that they  fluffed. The missed dead ball situations that could have been converted were not utilised as each one of them was taken by a different player. That is an element of indiscipline of the first degree.

With about 10 minutes to go, Asamoah Gyan was red-carded for an unclear offense. Goalkeeper Kingson was involved several times to deal with long Sudanese balls. It was a well deserved draw for Sudan, who will fancy their chances against the more illustrious opponents.

Algeria lost 0-2 to Central African Republic in one of the shock results of AFCON qualifier. Record 6 times winners and defending champions were well beaten by Niger in Niger. Zimbabwe and Cape Verde, like the Sierra Leone  versus South Africa match, did not produce any goals. Congo beat Swaziland by 3 goals to 1.

Egypt, Algeria Beat By Minors. Ghana, Zimbabwe, South Africa In Draws.

An undisciplined Ghana team failed to stamp their authority in Kumasi. They were a pale shadow of the team Africa and the world fell in love with during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Sudan, for their part, were arrogantly patient and not giving the Black Stars any respect.

The Sudanese team could not thread the right final ball in their counter attacks. They won all their tackles and combats outsides the penalty box, giving Ghana lots of free kicks that they  fluffed. The missed dead ball situations that could have been converted were not utilised as each one of them was taken by a different player. That is an element of indiscipline of the first degree.

With about 10 minutes to go, Asamoah Gyan was red-carded for an unclear offense. Goalkeeper Kingson was involved several times to deal with long Sudanese balls. It was a well deserved draw for Sudan, who will fancy their chances against the more illustrious opponents.

Algeria lost 0-2 to Central African Republic in one of the shock results of AFCON qualifier. Record 6 times winners and defending champions were well beaten by Niger in Niger. Zimbabwe and Cape Verde, like the Sierra Leone  versus South Africa match, did not produce any goals. Congo beat Swaziland by 3 goals to 1.

Egypt, Algeria Beat By Minors. Ghana, Zimbabwe, South Africa In Draws.

An undisciplined Ghana team failed to stamp their authority in Kumasi. They were a pale shadow of the team Africa and the world fell in love with during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Sudan, for their part, were arrogantly patient and not giving the Black Stars any respect.

The Sudanese team could not thread the right final ball in their counter attacks. They won all their tackles and combats outsides the penalty box, giving Ghana lots of free kicks that they  fluffed. The missed dead ball situations that could have been converted were not utilised as each one of them was taken by a different player. That is an element of indiscipline of the first degree.

With about 10 minutes to go, Asamoah Gyan was red-carded for an unclear offense. Goalkeeper Kingson was involved several times to deal with long Sudanese balls. It was a well deserved draw for Sudan, who will fancy their chances against the more illustrious opponents.

Algeria lost 0-2 to Central African Republic in one of the shock results of AFCON qualifier. Record 6 times winners and defending champions were well beaten by Niger in Niger. Zimbabwe and Cape Verde, like the Sierra Leone  versus South Africa match, did not produce any goals. Congo beat Swaziland by 3 goals to 1.

Madinda Ndlovu Is Zimbabwe Warriors Coach.

(Origially by Sports Reporters of The Chronicle titled Madinda takes charge of Warriors)

MADINDA “Khathazile” Ndlovu was yesterday announced as acting head coach of the Warriors who face Cape Verde in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Zifa board member responsible for national teams, Benedict Moyo, confirmed that Ndlovu had been given the assignment to run the show with the aid of Norman Mapeza.

Moyo made the announcement following the departure of Tom Saintfiet to South Africa after he had been served with deportation papers on Tuesday ending his two-week stay in the country on a sour note.
The Department of Immigration asked Saintfiet to leave the country while they processed his papers for a work permit.

In an interview last night Moyo claimed that the announcement was met with a thumbs up from the players. He said the Warriors called for Zifa to be supportive in their build-up to Sunday’s match.
“The announcement was made before the first session today. So far so good, the morale and response to the news that Madinda would be in charge with Mapeza assisting him was welcomed by the players. The players called on Zifa to reciprocate their positive attitude towards everything to do with the camp and Sunday’s game,”said Moyo.

Moyo said it was heartening to note that players wanted to get on with their business of playing football.
Cape Verde arrive in the country tomorrow. Ndlovu had a good career at Highlanders, Zimbabwe Under-20, Under-23 and the senior national team. He single-handedly built the Highlanders brand before the emergence of Willard Khumalo, Mpumelelo Dzowa, Alexander Maseko, Tanny Banda, the late Mercedes Sibanda, Tito Paketh, the late David Phiri and Tutani Moyo in Bosso colours in the mid 1980s. He was unlucky not to be allowed by his club to move to the English First Division in 1985, where he would have joined Bruce Grobbelaar and made history for his club and country as the first black player to make the grade at that level.

Meanwhile, German national Lutz Pfannestiel, who served a five-month jail term in Singapore and had a one-year worldwide ban from all football activities imposed by Fifa for match-fixing, was yesterday deported back to his native country.
Pfannestiel was asked by Zifa, following recommendations by Tom Saintfiet, to come and assist the Warriors’ goalkeepers’ coaches. He is a Caf and Fifa goalkeepers’ coaching specialist and was due to conduct a coaching clinic for goalkeepers’ coaches in the country.

Zifa yesterday said he was not on their payroll.
“It is not true that we secretly hired the German national. He was here to assist us as a Caf and Fifa goalkeepers’ training specialist. Yes, he did save time but he has an Interpol clearance letter,” said Benedict Moyo, the Zifa board member responsible for competitions and national teams.

Moyo said following the realisation by the Zifa technical committee, which comprises of chairman Kenny Marange, Moyo, Methembe Ndlovu, Gift Banda, Solomon Mugavazi and Patrick Hokonya, that the country was lacking in the goalkeeping area, it was agreed to accept Saintfiet’s request to bring the German national on board for the Cape Verde game.

However the Department of IL,mmigration served Pfannestiel, who is reported to have been armed with an Interpol clearance letter, with thedeportation letter yesterday morning. He boarded a South African Airways plane at 1230hrs.
"Our laws do not allow convicts to enter our country. If one committed a crime anywhere in the world and whether you have a clearance letter or not, you are considered an illegal immigrant hence our reason to deport Pfannestiel," Evans Siziba, the assistant chief immigration officer said in an interview yesterday.

Asked how the 37-year-old managed to slip into the country Siziba said they had not picked it that the he was a convicted criminal.
This adds another dilemma to the national team saga, which saw Warriors coach and Belgian national Saintfiet also being deported on Tuesday for working in the country without a work permit.
The country's laws require that a work permit be applied for while the applicant is still outside the country and the process can take up to six weeks, unless there is a directive from the Minister of Home Affairs to the Department of Immigration to waiver certain requirements.

Madinda Ndlovu Is Zimbabwe Warriors Coach.

(Origially by Sports Reporters of The Chronicle titled Madinda takes charge of Warriors)

MADINDA “Khathazile” Ndlovu was yesterday announced as acting head coach of the Warriors who face Cape Verde in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Zifa board member responsible for national teams, Benedict Moyo, confirmed that Ndlovu had been given the assignment to run the show with the aid of Norman Mapeza.

Moyo made the announcement following the departure of Tom Saintfiet to South Africa after he had been served with deportation papers on Tuesday ending his two-week stay in the country on a sour note.
The Department of Immigration asked Saintfiet to leave the country while they processed his papers for a work permit.

In an interview last night Moyo claimed that the announcement was met with a thumbs up from the players. He said the Warriors called for Zifa to be supportive in their build-up to Sunday’s match.
“The announcement was made before the first session today. So far so good, the morale and response to the news that Madinda would be in charge with Mapeza assisting him was welcomed by the players. The players called on Zifa to reciprocate their positive attitude towards everything to do with the camp and Sunday’s game,”said Moyo.

Moyo said it was heartening to note that players wanted to get on with their business of playing football.
Cape Verde arrive in the country tomorrow. Ndlovu had a good career at Highlanders, Zimbabwe Under-20, Under-23 and the senior national team. He single-handedly built the Highlanders brand before the emergence of Willard Khumalo, Mpumelelo Dzowa, Alexander Maseko, Tanny Banda, the late Mercedes Sibanda, Tito Paketh, the late David Phiri and Tutani Moyo in Bosso colours in the mid 1980s. He was unlucky not to be allowed by his club to move to the English First Division in 1985, where he would have joined Bruce Grobbelaar and made history for his club and country as the first black player to make the grade at that level.

Meanwhile, German national Lutz Pfannestiel, who served a five-month jail term in Singapore and had a one-year worldwide ban from all football activities imposed by Fifa for match-fixing, was yesterday deported back to his native country.
Pfannestiel was asked by Zifa, following recommendations by Tom Saintfiet, to come and assist the Warriors’ goalkeepers’ coaches. He is a Caf and Fifa goalkeepers’ coaching specialist and was due to conduct a coaching clinic for goalkeepers’ coaches in the country.

Zifa yesterday said he was not on their payroll.
“It is not true that we secretly hired the German national. He was here to assist us as a Caf and Fifa goalkeepers’ training specialist. Yes, he did save time but he has an Interpol clearance letter,” said Benedict Moyo, the Zifa board member responsible for competitions and national teams.

Moyo said following the realisation by the Zifa technical committee, which comprises of chairman Kenny Marange, Moyo, Methembe Ndlovu, Gift Banda, Solomon Mugavazi and Patrick Hokonya, that the country was lacking in the goalkeeping area, it was agreed to accept Saintfiet’s request to bring the German national on board for the Cape Verde game.

However the Department of IL,mmigration served Pfannestiel, who is reported to have been armed with an Interpol clearance letter, with thedeportation letter yesterday morning. He boarded a South African Airways plane at 1230hrs.
"Our laws do not allow convicts to enter our country. If one committed a crime anywhere in the world and whether you have a clearance letter or not, you are considered an illegal immigrant hence our reason to deport Pfannestiel," Evans Siziba, the assistant chief immigration officer said in an interview yesterday.

Asked how the 37-year-old managed to slip into the country Siziba said they had not picked it that the he was a convicted criminal.
This adds another dilemma to the national team saga, which saw Warriors coach and Belgian national Saintfiet also being deported on Tuesday for working in the country without a work permit.
The country's laws require that a work permit be applied for while the applicant is still outside the country and the process can take up to six weeks, unless there is a directive from the Minister of Home Affairs to the Department of Immigration to waiver certain requirements.

Madinda Ndlovu Is Zimbabwe Warriors Coach.

(Origially by Sports Reporters of The Chronicle titled Madinda takes charge of Warriors)

MADINDA “Khathazile” Ndlovu was yesterday announced as acting head coach of the Warriors who face Cape Verde in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Zifa board member responsible for national teams, Benedict Moyo, confirmed that Ndlovu had been given the assignment to run the show with the aid of Norman Mapeza.

Moyo made the announcement following the departure of Tom Saintfiet to South Africa after he had been served with deportation papers on Tuesday ending his two-week stay in the country on a sour note.
The Department of Immigration asked Saintfiet to leave the country while they processed his papers for a work permit.

In an interview last night Moyo claimed that the announcement was met with a thumbs up from the players. He said the Warriors called for Zifa to be supportive in their build-up to Sunday’s match.
“The announcement was made before the first session today. So far so good, the morale and response to the news that Madinda would be in charge with Mapeza assisting him was welcomed by the players. The players called on Zifa to reciprocate their positive attitude towards everything to do with the camp and Sunday’s game,”said Moyo.

Moyo said it was heartening to note that players wanted to get on with their business of playing football.
Cape Verde arrive in the country tomorrow. Ndlovu had a good career at Highlanders, Zimbabwe Under-20, Under-23 and the senior national team. He single-handedly built the Highlanders brand before the emergence of Willard Khumalo, Mpumelelo Dzowa, Alexander Maseko, Tanny Banda, the late Mercedes Sibanda, Tito Paketh, the late David Phiri and Tutani Moyo in Bosso colours in the mid 1980s. He was unlucky not to be allowed by his club to move to the English First Division in 1985, where he would have joined Bruce Grobbelaar and made history for his club and country as the first black player to make the grade at that level.

Meanwhile, German national Lutz Pfannestiel, who served a five-month jail term in Singapore and had a one-year worldwide ban from all football activities imposed by Fifa for match-fixing, was yesterday deported back to his native country.
Pfannestiel was asked by Zifa, following recommendations by Tom Saintfiet, to come and assist the Warriors’ goalkeepers’ coaches. He is a Caf and Fifa goalkeepers’ coaching specialist and was due to conduct a coaching clinic for goalkeepers’ coaches in the country.

Zifa yesterday said he was not on their payroll.
“It is not true that we secretly hired the German national. He was here to assist us as a Caf and Fifa goalkeepers’ training specialist. Yes, he did save time but he has an Interpol clearance letter,” said Benedict Moyo, the Zifa board member responsible for competitions and national teams.

Moyo said following the realisation by the Zifa technical committee, which comprises of chairman Kenny Marange, Moyo, Methembe Ndlovu, Gift Banda, Solomon Mugavazi and Patrick Hokonya, that the country was lacking in the goalkeeping area, it was agreed to accept Saintfiet’s request to bring the German national on board for the Cape Verde game.

However the Department of IL,mmigration served Pfannestiel, who is reported to have been armed with an Interpol clearance letter, with thedeportation letter yesterday morning. He boarded a South African Airways plane at 1230hrs.
"Our laws do not allow convicts to enter our country. If one committed a crime anywhere in the world and whether you have a clearance letter or not, you are considered an illegal immigrant hence our reason to deport Pfannestiel," Evans Siziba, the assistant chief immigration officer said in an interview yesterday.

Asked how the 37-year-old managed to slip into the country Siziba said they had not picked it that the he was a convicted criminal.
This adds another dilemma to the national team saga, which saw Warriors coach and Belgian national Saintfiet also being deported on Tuesday for working in the country without a work permit.
The country's laws require that a work permit be applied for while the applicant is still outside the country and the process can take up to six weeks, unless there is a directive from the Minister of Home Affairs to the Department of Immigration to waiver certain requirements.

Madinda Ndlovu Is Zimbabwe Warriors Coach.

(Origially by Sports Reporters of The Chronicle titled Madinda takes charge of Warriors)

MADINDA “Khathazile” Ndlovu was yesterday announced as acting head coach of the Warriors who face Cape Verde in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Zifa board member responsible for national teams, Benedict Moyo, confirmed that Ndlovu had been given the assignment to run the show with the aid of Norman Mapeza.

Moyo made the announcement following the departure of Tom Saintfiet to South Africa after he had been served with deportation papers on Tuesday ending his two-week stay in the country on a sour note.
The Department of Immigration asked Saintfiet to leave the country while they processed his papers for a work permit.

In an interview last night Moyo claimed that the announcement was met with a thumbs up from the players. He said the Warriors called for Zifa to be supportive in their build-up to Sunday’s match.
“The announcement was made before the first session today. So far so good, the morale and response to the news that Madinda would be in charge with Mapeza assisting him was welcomed by the players. The players called on Zifa to reciprocate their positive attitude towards everything to do with the camp and Sunday’s game,”said Moyo.

Moyo said it was heartening to note that players wanted to get on with their business of playing football.
Cape Verde arrive in the country tomorrow. Ndlovu had a good career at Highlanders, Zimbabwe Under-20, Under-23 and the senior national team. He single-handedly built the Highlanders brand before the emergence of Willard Khumalo, Mpumelelo Dzowa, Alexander Maseko, Tanny Banda, the late Mercedes Sibanda, Tito Paketh, the late David Phiri and Tutani Moyo in Bosso colours in the mid 1980s. He was unlucky not to be allowed by his club to move to the English First Division in 1985, where he would have joined Bruce Grobbelaar and made history for his club and country as the first black player to make the grade at that level.

Meanwhile, German national Lutz Pfannestiel, who served a five-month jail term in Singapore and had a one-year worldwide ban from all football activities imposed by Fifa for match-fixing, was yesterday deported back to his native country.
Pfannestiel was asked by Zifa, following recommendations by Tom Saintfiet, to come and assist the Warriors’ goalkeepers’ coaches. He is a Caf and Fifa goalkeepers’ coaching specialist and was due to conduct a coaching clinic for goalkeepers’ coaches in the country.

Zifa yesterday said he was not on their payroll.
“It is not true that we secretly hired the German national. He was here to assist us as a Caf and Fifa goalkeepers’ training specialist. Yes, he did save time but he has an Interpol clearance letter,” said Benedict Moyo, the Zifa board member responsible for competitions and national teams.

Moyo said following the realisation by the Zifa technical committee, which comprises of chairman Kenny Marange, Moyo, Methembe Ndlovu, Gift Banda, Solomon Mugavazi and Patrick Hokonya, that the country was lacking in the goalkeeping area, it was agreed to accept Saintfiet’s request to bring the German national on board for the Cape Verde game.

However the Department of IL,mmigration served Pfannestiel, who is reported to have been armed with an Interpol clearance letter, with thedeportation letter yesterday morning. He boarded a South African Airways plane at 1230hrs.
"Our laws do not allow convicts to enter our country. If one committed a crime anywhere in the world and whether you have a clearance letter or not, you are considered an illegal immigrant hence our reason to deport Pfannestiel," Evans Siziba, the assistant chief immigration officer said in an interview yesterday.

Asked how the 37-year-old managed to slip into the country Siziba said they had not picked it that the he was a convicted criminal.
This adds another dilemma to the national team saga, which saw Warriors coach and Belgian national Saintfiet also being deported on Tuesday for working in the country without a work permit.
The country's laws require that a work permit be applied for while the applicant is still outside the country and the process can take up to six weeks, unless there is a directive from the Minister of Home Affairs to the Department of Immigration to waiver certain requirements.

Madinda Ndlovu Is Zimbabwe Warriors Coach.

(Origially by Sports Reporters of The Chronicle titled Madinda takes charge of Warriors)

MADINDA “Khathazile” Ndlovu was yesterday announced as acting head coach of the Warriors who face Cape Verde in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Zifa board member responsible for national teams, Benedict Moyo, confirmed that Ndlovu had been given the assignment to run the show with the aid of Norman Mapeza.

Moyo made the announcement following the departure of Tom Saintfiet to South Africa after he had been served with deportation papers on Tuesday ending his two-week stay in the country on a sour note.
The Department of Immigration asked Saintfiet to leave the country while they processed his papers for a work permit.

In an interview last night Moyo claimed that the announcement was met with a thumbs up from the players. He said the Warriors called for Zifa to be supportive in their build-up to Sunday’s match.
“The announcement was made before the first session today. So far so good, the morale and response to the news that Madinda would be in charge with Mapeza assisting him was welcomed by the players. The players called on Zifa to reciprocate their positive attitude towards everything to do with the camp and Sunday’s game,”said Moyo.

Moyo said it was heartening to note that players wanted to get on with their business of playing football.
Cape Verde arrive in the country tomorrow. Ndlovu had a good career at Highlanders, Zimbabwe Under-20, Under-23 and the senior national team. He single-handedly built the Highlanders brand before the emergence of Willard Khumalo, Mpumelelo Dzowa, Alexander Maseko, Tanny Banda, the late Mercedes Sibanda, Tito Paketh, the late David Phiri and Tutani Moyo in Bosso colours in the mid 1980s. He was unlucky not to be allowed by his club to move to the English First Division in 1985, where he would have joined Bruce Grobbelaar and made history for his club and country as the first black player to make the grade at that level.

Meanwhile, German national Lutz Pfannestiel, who served a five-month jail term in Singapore and had a one-year worldwide ban from all football activities imposed by Fifa for match-fixing, was yesterday deported back to his native country.
Pfannestiel was asked by Zifa, following recommendations by Tom Saintfiet, to come and assist the Warriors’ goalkeepers’ coaches. He is a Caf and Fifa goalkeepers’ coaching specialist and was due to conduct a coaching clinic for goalkeepers’ coaches in the country.

Zifa yesterday said he was not on their payroll.
“It is not true that we secretly hired the German national. He was here to assist us as a Caf and Fifa goalkeepers’ training specialist. Yes, he did save time but he has an Interpol clearance letter,” said Benedict Moyo, the Zifa board member responsible for competitions and national teams.

Moyo said following the realisation by the Zifa technical committee, which comprises of chairman Kenny Marange, Moyo, Methembe Ndlovu, Gift Banda, Solomon Mugavazi and Patrick Hokonya, that the country was lacking in the goalkeeping area, it was agreed to accept Saintfiet’s request to bring the German national on board for the Cape Verde game.

However the Department of IL,mmigration served Pfannestiel, who is reported to have been armed with an Interpol clearance letter, with thedeportation letter yesterday morning. He boarded a South African Airways plane at 1230hrs.
"Our laws do not allow convicts to enter our country. If one committed a crime anywhere in the world and whether you have a clearance letter or not, you are considered an illegal immigrant hence our reason to deport Pfannestiel," Evans Siziba, the assistant chief immigration officer said in an interview yesterday.

Asked how the 37-year-old managed to slip into the country Siziba said they had not picked it that the he was a convicted criminal.
This adds another dilemma to the national team saga, which saw Warriors coach and Belgian national Saintfiet also being deported on Tuesday for working in the country without a work permit.
The country's laws require that a work permit be applied for while the applicant is still outside the country and the process can take up to six weeks, unless there is a directive from the Minister of Home Affairs to the Department of Immigration to waiver certain requirements.

Highlanders Lose Again To Dynamos In Yet Another Abandoned Match At BF.

Highlanders's resurgence got a small derailment when they lost 1-2 to Dynamos. The league match played at Barbourfields followed a string of positive displays by Bosso, including the 2-1 victory over Caps United in the $100 000 ZAOGA Jubilee Celebration Shield. Memories of the last Dynamos visit were to haunt the fans once more, denting the little faith they had on the team.

Under-fire coach, Dynamos' Elvis Chuchu Chiweshe had an anger to vent, after Dembare were eliminated from the Africa Champions League. They played fewer league games and are trying to make hay while the sun shines. The match was never going to be a walk in the park for either team, but as if addicted to misbehaviour, crowd trouble caused a now common abandonment of the match.

Deep into injury time, missiles rained into the pitch as fans felt the referee was giving Bosso a raw deal. Police were too eager to test their teargas canisters and those worked wonders. Bosso had a penalty appeal turned down in the first half. Things did not get better with time, fuelled by a controvential Dynamos goal. Bosso were leading 1-0 through a Francis Kanda goal, until there was 6 minutes on the clock, the time of a bad call by the referee.

There was a moment of madness in the Bosso defensive behaviour that was punished by Dynamos with 3 minutes of regulation time remaining. Arial Sibanda was beaten by a well-taken goal. Bosso had control of the first half while Dembare dominated the second.

What should done about this barbaric fans behaviour?

Highlanders Lose Again To Dynamos In Yet Another Abandoned Match At BF.

Highlanders's resurgence got a small derailment when they lost 1-2 to Dynamos. The league match played at Barbourfields followed a string of positive displays by Bosso, including the 2-1 victory over Caps United in the $100 000 ZAOGA Jubilee Celebration Shield. Memories of the last Dynamos visit were to haunt the fans once more, denting the little faith they had on the team.

Under-fire coach, Dynamos' Elvis Chuchu Chiweshe had an anger to vent, after Dembare were eliminated from the Africa Champions League. They played fewer league games and are trying to make hay while the sun shines. The match was never going to be a walk in the park for either team, but as if addicted to misbehaviour, crowd trouble caused a now common abandonment of the match.

Deep into injury time, missiles rained into the pitch as fans felt the referee was giving Bosso a raw deal. Police were too eager to test their teargas canisters and those worked wonders. Bosso had a penalty appeal turned down in the first half. Things did not get better with time, fuelled by a controvential Dynamos goal. Bosso were leading 1-0 through a Francis Kanda goal, until there was 6 minutes on the clock, the time of a bad call by the referee.

There was a moment of madness in the Bosso defensive behaviour that was punished by Dynamos with 3 minutes of regulation time remaining. Arial Sibanda was beaten by a well-taken goal. Bosso had control of the first half while Dembare dominated the second.

What should done about this barbaric fans behaviour?

Highlanders Lose Again To Dynamos In Yet Another Abandoned Match At BF.

Highlanders's resurgence got a small derailment when they lost 1-2 to Dynamos. The league match played at Barbourfields followed a string of positive displays by Bosso, including the 2-1 victory over Caps United in the $100 000 ZAOGA Jubilee Celebration Shield. Memories of the last Dynamos visit were to haunt the fans once more, denting the little faith they had on the team.

Under-fire coach, Dynamos' Elvis Chuchu Chiweshe had an anger to vent, after Dembare were eliminated from the Africa Champions League. They played fewer league games and are trying to make hay while the sun shines. The match was never going to be a walk in the park for either team, but as if addicted to misbehaviour, crowd trouble caused a now common abandonment of the match.

Deep into injury time, missiles rained into the pitch as fans felt the referee was giving Bosso a raw deal. Police were too eager to test their teargas canisters and those worked wonders. Bosso had a penalty appeal turned down in the first half. Things did not get better with time, fuelled by a controvential Dynamos goal. Bosso were leading 1-0 through a Francis Kanda goal, until there was 6 minutes on the clock, the time of a bad call by the referee.

There was a moment of madness in the Bosso defensive behaviour that was punished by Dynamos with 3 minutes of regulation time remaining. Arial Sibanda was beaten by a well-taken goal. Bosso had control of the first half while Dembare dominated the second.

What should done about this barbaric fans behaviour?

Highlanders Lose Again To Dynamos In Yet Another Abandoned Match At BF.

Highlanders's resurgence got a small derailment when they lost 1-2 to Dynamos. The league match played at Barbourfields followed a string of positive displays by Bosso, including the 2-1 victory over Caps United in the $100 000 ZAOGA Jubilee Celebration Shield. Memories of the last Dynamos visit were to haunt the fans once more, denting the little faith they had on the team.

Under-fire coach, Dynamos' Elvis Chuchu Chiweshe had an anger to vent, after Dembare were eliminated from the Africa Champions League. They played fewer league games and are trying to make hay while the sun shines. The match was never going to be a walk in the park for either team, but as if addicted to misbehaviour, crowd trouble caused a now common abandonment of the match.

Deep into injury time, missiles rained into the pitch as fans felt the referee was giving Bosso a raw deal. Police were too eager to test their teargas canisters and those worked wonders. Bosso had a penalty appeal turned down in the first half. Things did not get better with time, fuelled by a controvential Dynamos goal. Bosso were leading 1-0 through a Francis Kanda goal, until there was 6 minutes on the clock, the time of a bad call by the referee.

There was a moment of madness in the Bosso defensive behaviour that was punished by Dynamos with 3 minutes of regulation time remaining. Arial Sibanda was beaten by a well-taken goal. Bosso had control of the first half while Dembare dominated the second.

What should done about this barbaric fans behaviour?

Unsung Hero - Matesu Dube

Matesu Dube performing artist from Njube with the uplifting of a society they grew up in at heart. This artist with a lot of potential to grow, has teamed up with Alexander Mhlanga who is a Swedish resident but currently in Zimbabwe, a former football player and performing artist as well, to set up Ithemba - Hope Project, whose logo on Facebook is the sun. "Our project helps youths in different activities that include sports". 

Mr Dube,who is a former band member of Amigos during the days of the famous heavy beat of D-Gong, owns Umkhathi Theatre and works hard going in and coming out daily for the success of his Arts and Theatre projects, but more so for the youths. To date, they have sourced soccer kits and balls from Sweden and they will be giving them to different teams in Bulawayo during this weekend.

The former Highlanders and Amazulu coach Cosmas Zulu (Tsano), who also applied for the national coaching job with ZIFA, wants to start a soccer academy and he will be the recipient of soccer balls and a kit together with many junior and second division teams that includes Emakhandeni Pirates, New Orleans and Matton Queens football clubs to mention a few and the distribution is on at Salukazi Arts Centre this week.

These men are inspired by the work of other groups that cut a niche for their business like Siyaya and Iyasa. They are further motivated when they travel noticing a lot of things that are not being used or utilised, but can help a lot of people in Africa. "That is what made us start this project", said Matesu.

This industrious pair is friends with Claes Laasonen who is based in Sweden and is filled with love and hope for the development of African communities. "He heard me talk about the project, went about in Sweden and asked for donations". Ithemba-Hope Project managed to get seven full football kits and four boxes of trainers jackets and Laasonen talked to a shipping company, that will bring the clothes to Zimbabwe to be distributed.

Dube and Mhlanga worked with Claes who helped them collect clothes to donate to churches as well. They got tonnes of materials from well-wishers which either have been distributed already or will be given to people soon. The passion with which these guys work, is so motivational and one can only wish them the best.

These guys are not finished yet as they grow, and please if you have sports equipment, musical instruments, books, and clothes that you can donate, get in touch with the Ithemba (Hope) Group on Facebook, and please visit their website at http://www.umkhathitheatre.com.