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Robson Sharuko : Senior Sports Editor

LEGENDARY Cameroonian goalkeeper, Joseph Antoine Bell, has heaped praise on Zimbabwe football’s resurgence which has seen the Warriors and Mighty Warriors qualifying for major international tournaments, including a maiden appearance at the Olympic Games. The 61-year-old, who captained French football powerhouse Marseille in a glittering 20-year career in which he imposed himself as one of the greatest African goalkeepers of all-time, said Zimbabwe football’s revival was not a fluke.He was speaking to African football writers yesterday on the interactive forum, Football Africa Arena, where the game’s leading journalists and administrators meet to exchange notes and discuss events related to the sport.

The Mighty Warriors eliminated Cameroon on their way to booking a place at the Olympic Games in Brazil where their campaign ended in the group stages after they lost all their three matches, conceding 15 goals and scoring just three during their adventure.

“It’s not like a wake-up call. The resurgence of Zim football means years back, from now, someone was fed up with the situation, came with some ideas and has been given the opportunity to implement,” said Bell who also played for St Etienne, Bordeaux and Toulon in France.

“He (the person leading the game) calls in some people he knows well for their ability to combine their skill and now the tree is grown enough for people to see.

“Congratulations to them and I wish them all the best.”

The Warriors ended their 10-year wait for a place at the Nations Cup finals, qualifying for Gabon with a game to spare in the qualifiers, and — as of now — they are likely to be the only Southern African nation at the showcase.

Bell, a Nation’s Cup winner with the Indomitable Lions, also spoke highly about former Zimbabwe goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar whom he listed as one of the finest crop of goal minders to emerge from this continent.

“(Not in order) Nkono, Zaki, Ekramy, Grobbelaar were great goalkeepers,” noted Bell.

And when he was asked why he had left out the likes of Nigeria’s Peter Rufai, Bell said he had been asked to name “great keepers” not “good keepers”.

“One of the goalkeepers who has good performances over the years is Vincent Enyeama,” said Bell.

“Goalkeepers didn’t really train before but we in Cameroon had the luck to have Vladimir Beara as head coach.

“Nkono and I happened to be selected and I personally, have learned the most important with him.

“Goalkeeper is a completely different position. You can be midfield and play right back, center back or forward. You can be a goalkeeper or . . . a great goalkeeper.

“When a striker misses scoring opportunities, if he does put one they will talk about his goal.

“A keeper can perform 7-8-9 saves if he misses one cross and they score he will be seen as the only reason his team lost the game.”

He revealed that at the beginning of his career there was a lack of confidence in African goalkeepers to perform at the very top.

“By then white folks did not imagine a black (African man) being a goalkeeper,” said Bell.

“Goalkeeping needs to be trustworthy, technical skills, leadership and they thought a black man lacks all of what it takes to be a real goalkeeper

And I convinced them.

“Nowadays you have black goalkeepers substitutes in European clubs.”

Bell said the Zimbabweans should not mourn forever about their failed 1994 World Cup campaign, ended in controversial fashion by Cameroon in Yaounde, and believe their Dream Team would have done better in the United States.

The Indomitable Lions suffered a six-goal thrashing at the hands of Russia as they crashed out of the group stage of that World Cup.

“Sport is fantastic. Zimbabwe were given the same opportunities to go to the WC (World Cup),” said Bell.

“They can’t dream to take someone else’s spot once they have failed. And in this case they failed to qualify vs Cameroon

“The whole country (Cameroon) didn’t understand what happened in 1990 (at the World Cup in Italy) so they can’t do it again and so far they are unable to stop and think over it

“We suffer from the same weakness in all almost all the countries in Africa. We get the same (bad) results — mismanagement.

“This same mismanagement leads to a different consideration when it comes to hiring a local coach whom I blame for accepting what shouldn’t.

“Keshi (Steve) didn’t get paid, Sunday (Oliseh) was forced to quit and Camerooonians are bold enough to say l lack the proof that l’m from the country just not to have me in the contest of the FA top seat. How do you want me to give back?”

He said he found it interesting that European players, who would have earned huge amounts during their playing days, are never questioned about what they are giving back to their local communities.

“To Africans this question is often raised but nobody ever asked the same to our counterpart in Europe or South America. Platini, Zidane Fernandez, Gullit, Rijkard, Blanc, Deschamps and others gave it back by earning big money,” said Bell.

“Still I’m not idiot to forget that even by just taking position openly against what is wrong or by accepting to spend a day answering your questions I’m giving back what I have learned from football.”

He also addressed the issue of captaincy in a football team.

“Captaincy is not about position on the field but character, leadership,” he said.

“In Marseille they weren’t looking for a black man nor a goalkeeper but for a strong leadership with charisma.”