At the weekend, Njabulo Ncube scored a brace to inspire Highlanders to their first win of the year when they played host to Tripple B in a friendly match at Barbourfields Stadium but then news that the club claiming a huge fan-base was out muscled together with reigning champions, Dynamos from a season opening Charity Cup sponsored by NetOne.
The Bulawayo giants were defeated 2-1 defeat by Gwanda Ramblers last month and by visiting Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa before then. Bosso also lost twice to Dynamos in the Bob 89 Super charity matches. These may be disappointing times given that the team played well in the last campaign, giving the followers hope that happy days are coming again.
The club management had to deal with problems of their own in trying to contract the technical teams to work with Kelvin Kaindu, who himself has a one year left on his contract. Given the level of the game in the Castle Lager Premier League, one hopes these factors could be insignificant but the scope of operation for the club that wishes to be best, professionalism can never be compromised.
Highlanders' assistant coach Bekithemba Ndlovu described the victory as a booster and the boys need other external boosters to remain at the level they were last time around and bigger forces to raise the bar an inch. An inch will not be enough as much as good is never good enough.
Highlanders need to conquer the town, the province, country and then Africa. Those who do not see that as a possibility do not deserve to associate with the ambitious club. The vision must be set to be the standard of the game in the country and continent. The leadership should be working on bettering the image of TP Mazembe as a brand of African football.
Bosso plan to climb the ladder this season with new signings, Hillary Madzivanyika, Douglas Sibanda and Njabulo Ncube who played last weekend. Sibanda stamped his authority in the defensive midfield role winning a number of balls with Njabulo justifying his presence by scoring two goals. Madzivanyika failed to live to the pre-match billing but coaches know he can deliver, hence the confidence to sign him.
The worrying fact for now besides the Executive hiccups with a few issues and lack of results, is lack of popularity of the club on the ground as underlined by being voted the 6th popular team in Zimbabwe. As a brand, Highlanders falls short in all facets. Few things can be rectified but that lack of consistence by the followers and leadership get swept under the carpet when the coaches and players are not delivering.
The handicap of the followers, a trademark crippling tendency of ages, is the deserting behaviour when the team struggles and the throwing stones at glass windows and spanners into the works. The leverage of the misbehaviour is used by the leadership as an excuse to incur debt. It becomes a spring board not to deliver as the clubs finances which largely hinge on match day attendances dwindle and of course, it is a fact that sponsors follow the crowds.
At this point, Highlanders have missed out on the opportunity to take part in this year's NetOne Charity Shield after they failed to make it among the top four in the sms voting process. The credibility of the mechanism is immaterial but the picture is worth a thousand words and figures do not lie. NetOne also feel aggrieved as they banked on having Bosso and of course Dembare to attract interest, but a newcomer uses current figures to feel the temperature on the ground. The club could have garnered some cash in the charity match.
The competition features the four teams that garnered the most votes during the voting period in the last month. Monomotapa, CAPS United, Chicken Inn and FC Platinum will play in the semi-finals scheduled to begin at the weekend. It could be that their supporters are richer and can afford cellphones or airtime. It does not mean these teams have the potential and muscle to flex when push comes to shove, but if Bosso lead the pack, it means exactly that but that opportunity is lost.
The usual damage control will be to seek plan B, but why not get the basics right and have plan B as a back-up plan? This is given that the club seem to thrive on plan B perennial, often utilising plan C, that is in cases where there is a plan to start with. To many supporters, there is no strategy and the truth is that people will never know. I guess that is exactly the plan; that nobody know the absence of the plan.
Anyway, if you remember the figures, Monomotapa got 20 825 votes, CAPS United 16 013 votes, Chicken Inn 15 558 and FC Platinum had 11 585 votes. Those numbers combined easily make what could be a Highlanders support base despite a fair share of fans being in the diaspora. To be a little fair to Highlanders, their wide support base in the country could have made the Charity Cup worthwhile.
For a record, Dynamos who claim to be boycotting the event suffered the same voting apathy which must make Bosso feel secure and when Dynamos led the votes last Wednesday with Highlanders also in the top three, it seemed proper and orderly until something took a turn and bent things over.
Highlanders aggression is making it a desirable brand to associate with, to make it a winning team and to be a club of choice for both the neutrals and the converted, all stakeholders need to pull their socks. Those without socks will have to buy and then pull them. There is something wrong with the present picture, regardless of the reasons, and there is always something someone can do. If it is you, please honour up and act now.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Forget Nani sending off; Real Madrid beat United clean
An energy supping and emotional taxing Manchester United exit from the UEFA Champions League at Old Trafford by the English football darling of the past was the least palatable venture for the players, manager and players considering the circumstances.
Real Madrid who are coached by former Chelsea boss, Jose Mourinho, fulfilled the fixture amid an atmosphere of expectation and natural levels of fighting appetite that can only be bred and nurtured in the jungle for consumption by predators like lions, panthers, tigers, leopards and other man-eaters.
As pumped up by their back to back victories over Barcelona, there was no way they were going to lose to Manchester United on the day, despite the United sublime 4-0 win over Wigan over the weekend. It was obvious this was going to be very sore as Cristiano Ronaldo, a former employee at Old Trafford is in scintillating form.
As an ex-EPL member alongside Mourinho and the other goalscorer in Luka Modric, Ronaldo was respectful after scoring the killer goal, as did The Only One by leaving the field of play early. So modest was Mourinho he confessed 'the best team lost'. If it is not the craziest thing he has ever said, I do not know him that well.
Many people spend much of their time transmitting the energy radiated by the players, Sir Alex Ferguson and the TV commentators about how ridiculous Nani's sending off was. Let the world stop sugarcoat the case to afford themselves the license to lament. As unintentional as the case was, that was dangerous play. That Nani did not mean it has no bearing to the danger poised by the foot on the player fouled. Arbeloa may have suffered even to death, had his head been that low and coming to contact with Nani's foot.
That qualifies that scenario as dangerous play and the consequences of such are in black and white. Sympathy and being human always see off a few cases and that has made people and TV commentators to believe certain issues need to be qualified in a reasonable way. In most cases they are, but in others, the rule of the book takes over and yesterday, it faced Nani and he had to walk.
My point is that United did not need the sympathy of match official to win that match. Even without that sending, they were not the masters of their destiny. I am actually convinced they actually played better after Nani's sending off and they fought harder. exactly the way they should have from start to finish.
SAF left Wayne Rooney on the bench, maybe due to fitness issues and there are many things United could have done to rescue the match before and after Nani was sent off. It is not necessary to make the referee the man of the match. Many found out the referee follows Real Madrid and Ronaldo ot twitter and not United or a United player. They question his impatrtiality and coincidence of the case.
Just because they did not that, they were never the best team in that match. They hoped Real Madrid would be a notch less competent. It was going to be interesting to see them lose with eleven men on the field and now because they did not, it seems we have a field day talking about how bad the referee's decision was. Actually, the referee's worst decisions were denying United penalty kicks, I think twice.
As for the sending off, give us a break.
Real Madrid who are coached by former Chelsea boss, Jose Mourinho, fulfilled the fixture amid an atmosphere of expectation and natural levels of fighting appetite that can only be bred and nurtured in the jungle for consumption by predators like lions, panthers, tigers, leopards and other man-eaters.
As pumped up by their back to back victories over Barcelona, there was no way they were going to lose to Manchester United on the day, despite the United sublime 4-0 win over Wigan over the weekend. It was obvious this was going to be very sore as Cristiano Ronaldo, a former employee at Old Trafford is in scintillating form.
As an ex-EPL member alongside Mourinho and the other goalscorer in Luka Modric, Ronaldo was respectful after scoring the killer goal, as did The Only One by leaving the field of play early. So modest was Mourinho he confessed 'the best team lost'. If it is not the craziest thing he has ever said, I do not know him that well.
Many people spend much of their time transmitting the energy radiated by the players, Sir Alex Ferguson and the TV commentators about how ridiculous Nani's sending off was. Let the world stop sugarcoat the case to afford themselves the license to lament. As unintentional as the case was, that was dangerous play. That Nani did not mean it has no bearing to the danger poised by the foot on the player fouled. Arbeloa may have suffered even to death, had his head been that low and coming to contact with Nani's foot.
That qualifies that scenario as dangerous play and the consequences of such are in black and white. Sympathy and being human always see off a few cases and that has made people and TV commentators to believe certain issues need to be qualified in a reasonable way. In most cases they are, but in others, the rule of the book takes over and yesterday, it faced Nani and he had to walk.
My point is that United did not need the sympathy of match official to win that match. Even without that sending, they were not the masters of their destiny. I am actually convinced they actually played better after Nani's sending off and they fought harder. exactly the way they should have from start to finish.
SAF left Wayne Rooney on the bench, maybe due to fitness issues and there are many things United could have done to rescue the match before and after Nani was sent off. It is not necessary to make the referee the man of the match. Many found out the referee follows Real Madrid and Ronaldo ot twitter and not United or a United player. They question his impatrtiality and coincidence of the case.
Just because they did not that, they were never the best team in that match. They hoped Real Madrid would be a notch less competent. It was going to be interesting to see them lose with eleven men on the field and now because they did not, it seems we have a field day talking about how bad the referee's decision was. Actually, the referee's worst decisions were denying United penalty kicks, I think twice.
As for the sending off, give us a break.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Highlanders and Dynamos supporters are out of Zimbabwe
GIANTS Highlanders and Dynamos have missed out on the opportunity to take part in this year's NetOne Charity Shield after they failed to make it among the top four in the sms voting process.
This year's competition features the four teams that garnered the most votes during the voting period in the last month and will see Monomotapa, CAPS United, Chicken Inn and FC Platinum playing in the semi-finals scheduled to begin at the weekend.
Winners will progress to the final on a date to be announced.
Monomotapa emerged the fans' favourite with 20 825 votes while CAPS United were second with 16 013 votes.
Chicken Inn took the third slot after receiving 15 558 votes and FC Platinum completed the top four teams with 11 585 votes to their credit.
In a rather shocking outcome, DeMbare finished fifth and Highlanders were sixth despite the two clubs' command of a huge fan base compared to any other team in the country.
For the first time in four years, Dynamos will miss the season-opening tournament and the voting apathy on the part of their fans could be linked to their standoff with the sponsors, who withheld their US$50 000 prize money last season, after clashing on kit branding.
The row also involved BancABC who are, ironically, also the principal sponsors of Highlanders.
DeMbare, who won the Charity Shield in the last three years, had made it clear that had they were not going to take part in the tournament even if they got the votes among the top four.
NetOne Cellular Corporate Brand Manager Rutendo Chabururuka said the results were verified by an independent auditor before they were released yesterday.
Chabururuka said the draw will be conducted at the official launch tomorrow where venues and dates for the final are also set to be revealed.
Organisers have indicated that they would want to spread the games across the country this year.
"It wasn't about the general expectations of the football community or the popularity of the clubs but it was all about how the fans voted.
"A club may have many supporters but if those fans didn't vote for their teams then that's it. The teams that get the most votes will play in the semi-finals,” said Chabururka.
Interestingly, Dynamos led the votes last Wednesday with Highlanders also in the top three but the figures had turned dramatically by Sunday afternoon with Monomotapa, CAPS United and FC Platinum taking the lead.
The voting, which began on March 8, closed at midnight on Sunday.
The sponsors this year moved away from the norm, which pitted the reigning league champions and winners of the major cup tournament, from the previous season, to a new criteria that involves a huge input from the supporters.
The fans were allowed to can cast unlimited votes for their teams
"There was an interesting trend on the last day (Sunday). All the while, votes were coming at a slow pace and we were actually shocked by how people suddenly started voting for their teams and how the overall table turned out,” said Chabururuka.
Newcomers Tripple B had the least votes as only 32 people voted for them while Harare City who appear a formidable outfit this season had 68 votes.
NetOne, who are in their third and final year of the sponsorship deal, have promised a bigger tournament this year.
They pumped in US$200 000 for the inaugural NetOne Charity Shield in 2011 and then increased the package to $250 000 last year.
The company's managing director, Reward Kangai, hinted at the launch of the voting platform that they were eager to extend the marriage with PSL.
NetOne voting results
Monomotapa 20 825
CAPS United 16 013
Chicken Inn 15 558
FC Platinum 11 585
Dynamos 10 275
Highlanders 8 080
Shabanie 1 406
Mambas 463
Hwange 318
Buffaloes 307
Black Rhinos 206
Motor Action 195
Triangle 149
How Mine 105
Harare City 68
Triple B 32
This year's competition features the four teams that garnered the most votes during the voting period in the last month and will see Monomotapa, CAPS United, Chicken Inn and FC Platinum playing in the semi-finals scheduled to begin at the weekend.
Winners will progress to the final on a date to be announced.
Monomotapa emerged the fans' favourite with 20 825 votes while CAPS United were second with 16 013 votes.
Chicken Inn took the third slot after receiving 15 558 votes and FC Platinum completed the top four teams with 11 585 votes to their credit.
In a rather shocking outcome, DeMbare finished fifth and Highlanders were sixth despite the two clubs' command of a huge fan base compared to any other team in the country.
For the first time in four years, Dynamos will miss the season-opening tournament and the voting apathy on the part of their fans could be linked to their standoff with the sponsors, who withheld their US$50 000 prize money last season, after clashing on kit branding.
The row also involved BancABC who are, ironically, also the principal sponsors of Highlanders.
DeMbare, who won the Charity Shield in the last three years, had made it clear that had they were not going to take part in the tournament even if they got the votes among the top four.
NetOne Cellular Corporate Brand Manager Rutendo Chabururuka said the results were verified by an independent auditor before they were released yesterday.
Chabururuka said the draw will be conducted at the official launch tomorrow where venues and dates for the final are also set to be revealed.
Organisers have indicated that they would want to spread the games across the country this year.
"It wasn't about the general expectations of the football community or the popularity of the clubs but it was all about how the fans voted.
"A club may have many supporters but if those fans didn't vote for their teams then that's it. The teams that get the most votes will play in the semi-finals,” said Chabururka.
Interestingly, Dynamos led the votes last Wednesday with Highlanders also in the top three but the figures had turned dramatically by Sunday afternoon with Monomotapa, CAPS United and FC Platinum taking the lead.
The voting, which began on March 8, closed at midnight on Sunday.
The sponsors this year moved away from the norm, which pitted the reigning league champions and winners of the major cup tournament, from the previous season, to a new criteria that involves a huge input from the supporters.
The fans were allowed to can cast unlimited votes for their teams
"There was an interesting trend on the last day (Sunday). All the while, votes were coming at a slow pace and we were actually shocked by how people suddenly started voting for their teams and how the overall table turned out,” said Chabururuka.
Newcomers Tripple B had the least votes as only 32 people voted for them while Harare City who appear a formidable outfit this season had 68 votes.
NetOne, who are in their third and final year of the sponsorship deal, have promised a bigger tournament this year.
They pumped in US$200 000 for the inaugural NetOne Charity Shield in 2011 and then increased the package to $250 000 last year.
The company's managing director, Reward Kangai, hinted at the launch of the voting platform that they were eager to extend the marriage with PSL.
NetOne voting results
Monomotapa 20 825
CAPS United 16 013
Chicken Inn 15 558
FC Platinum 11 585
Dynamos 10 275
Highlanders 8 080
Shabanie 1 406
Mambas 463
Hwange 318
Buffaloes 307
Black Rhinos 206
Motor Action 195
Triangle 149
How Mine 105
Harare City 68
Triple B 32
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Real outclass Barca again as Ba sets bar
Rafa Benitez endured a rough week after his tough talk about the realities at Stanford Bridge given the rant of Chelsea fan. Short of showing them a middle finger, he stressed how ridiculously ungrateful the fans were, and that they should spend energy spurring the team forward rather than pulling them down.
While his hostile stay in London may be a fruitful one, it may be one to forget - a sour-sweet experience. No human being deserves such treatment and the team performance vindicated him with a Demba Ba strike bringing smile to his face on a day protests about his presence as Chelsea manager were supposed to be fever-high.
Harry Redknapp also had to deal with malicious reports questioning his management skills after he took the team to Dubai where they were reportedly too drunk to train the next morning after an all-night out. To prove a point, his Queens Park Rangers ran away with maximum points at Southampton with a 2-1 win, their third of the season. Redknapp was a happy man who hoped the win would work well for the confidence of the team as they fight for their top-flight life.
Shingi Kagawa's hatrick is talk of the town as Manchester United managed a 4-0 ahead of the UEFA Champions League tie with Real Madrid. It was the first Asian to score a hatrick in the Barclays Premier League. As a milestone, Ba had his - the first Africa to score 15 goals or more in successive seasons, somehow something the great Didier Drogba did not achieve.
Talking of Real Madrid, they rubber-stamped their superiority over Barcelona this season by yet another victory, a 2-1 La Liga win after their Copa Dela Rey a few days back. It may be that Madrid's dominance over bitter arch-rivals who proved to be bad losers has been made permanent. One thing for sure, it will be for Jose Mourinho to savour to seasons to come. As less significant as it was for Real since they can not expect to win the league, rubbing it in was all it was, salt, chillies and all. Winning the Copa Del Rey and the Champions League may atone for what had been turning out to be a dismal season for Mourinho.
The two giants, United and Real, will battle it out after their contrasting successful respective league confidence booster encounters, in which key players were rested.
While his hostile stay in London may be a fruitful one, it may be one to forget - a sour-sweet experience. No human being deserves such treatment and the team performance vindicated him with a Demba Ba strike bringing smile to his face on a day protests about his presence as Chelsea manager were supposed to be fever-high.
Harry Redknapp also had to deal with malicious reports questioning his management skills after he took the team to Dubai where they were reportedly too drunk to train the next morning after an all-night out. To prove a point, his Queens Park Rangers ran away with maximum points at Southampton with a 2-1 win, their third of the season. Redknapp was a happy man who hoped the win would work well for the confidence of the team as they fight for their top-flight life.
Shingi Kagawa's hatrick is talk of the town as Manchester United managed a 4-0 ahead of the UEFA Champions League tie with Real Madrid. It was the first Asian to score a hatrick in the Barclays Premier League. As a milestone, Ba had his - the first Africa to score 15 goals or more in successive seasons, somehow something the great Didier Drogba did not achieve.
Talking of Real Madrid, they rubber-stamped their superiority over Barcelona this season by yet another victory, a 2-1 La Liga win after their Copa Dela Rey a few days back. It may be that Madrid's dominance over bitter arch-rivals who proved to be bad losers has been made permanent. One thing for sure, it will be for Jose Mourinho to savour to seasons to come. As less significant as it was for Real since they can not expect to win the league, rubbing it in was all it was, salt, chillies and all. Winning the Copa Del Rey and the Champions League may atone for what had been turning out to be a dismal season for Mourinho.
The two giants, United and Real, will battle it out after their contrasting successful respective league confidence booster encounters, in which key players were rested.
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