and that a number of its clubs have collapsed, reeling under the weight of financial stress, puts that into context.
Today members of the Premier Soccer League meet in Harare for their annual meeting on the grand occasion of the 20th anniversary of the landmark season when the country’s top-flight clubs staged a championship that was run independently from the daily control of Zifa.

A few months earlier the clubs had decided, en-masse, to divorce themselves, from the direct control of the mother association, as the winds of change that were sweeping across the football world blew into our borders.

Chris Sibanda, who in my little book takes pride of place one of the three greatest football administrators we have ever produced in this country, the late Morrison Sifelani, Wieslaw Grabowski and Victor Zvobgo were the main players in the movement that brought the domestic Premiership to life.

The firebrand Sibanda remains an incredible football administrative mind that we lost in its prime, and just as well for a better cause, as he answered a bigger calling to serve the church in England, and only God knows how our football would have been better off with the Major pulling the strings.

Sifelani, an iconic figure who helped shape Dynamos into the greatest football institution this country has ever known, today lies buried at his rural home in Ntabazinduna, but his dream to turn his Glamour Boys into a formidable force, and the Premiership into a vibrant entity, remains alive.

Grabowski, who ran the most successful post-independence football academy based on players primarily plucked from Chitungwiza that produced a generation that would be remembered for eternity, including Alois Bunjira, Stewart Murisa, Lloyd Chitembwe and Norman Mapeza, is still around.

He is still training his youngsters and sending them abroad for attachments but, where he preferred to be in the limelight back then, he now wants to be behind the scenes and, if you get a chance to chat with him, he will tell you he was frustrated out of the system.

He will certainly talk about the ‘Three Ss’, an axis of evil as far as he is concerned, made up of Sifuelani, the way he pronounced Sifelani’s name, Sibanda Kuvha, and, you probably guessed right, Sharaouko, that’s the way he pronounced my name.

He will probably tell you about his favourite story, as wild and as imaginary as they come, about a player who was under his wings, who also came from Chakari and happened to have gone to play for some time in Europe and brought the only beautiful girl in that mining town a gorgeous present.

“And you know Kuvha,” he will tell you, “this dark man from The Herald, Sharaouko, is also competing for the same girl, at the same mine Kuvha, and he also goes back home and what does he bring girl as present, a newspaper, and starts showing girl, Kuvha, this is my name, this is me.”
Incredible character!

I don’t know where Zvobgo is right now but when I look back at the men who came directly from our defence forces to take up leading positions in our mainstream football administration, he is right up there among the top three — intelligent, visionary, dedicated and everything a professional can ever be.

But Chris Sibanda was the real deal, the one who made things tick, the professional who arrived in our football trenches and changed it around, the man who worked around the clock for his game, who feared noone and would take, head-on, anyone whom he believed was working against the interests of his Premiership.

He would be there at the PSL offices by 7am in the morning, every day, and would still be there by 11pm at night, a hands-on man who put everything into the game that he loved and left a legacy, for latter day PSL administrators, which has turned into a hard act to follow.

I don’t know whether Twine Phiri and his crew of administrators at the PSL today will pause for a minute of silence to remember the icon they lost, Sifelani, who did so much in laying the foundation for the top-flight league that we have today, and also spare a moment to remember the contribution put in by the likes of Chris Sibanda, Wieslaw Grabowski and Victor Zvobgo.

The domestic Premiership hasn’t certainly grown into the money-spinning project that its founding fathers wanted and, when compared to the South African Premiership which came into existence later, it’s a failed venture and that a number of its clubs have collapsed, reeling under the weight of financial stress, puts that into context.

When you realise that the financial stress is not only limited to the so-called lightweights but even extends to the big boys like Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United, you can understand the point that the domestic Premiership hasn’t exploded into that commercial revolution that its founding fathers had in mind when they decided it was time to break away from the direct control of Zifa.

Coincidentally, the English Premiership also marks 20 years of existence this year, with the first league championship of the modern era having been won during the ‘92/’93 season, and when you consider that they signed a £3 billion television deal with BSkyB and BT Group last year, you can get a good idea of what we are talking about here.

Our SuperSport deal will give our clubs something, in terms of cash, and will provide the stage for our players to showcase their talents to a wider audience but when you consider that we are in an age where Dynamos can play two games and get US$110 000, as was the case in the Bob 89 Super Cup, you can understand the little voices that question if we are getting our true value from the Channel of Champions.

But there will be a number of success stories to reflect upon, when the Premiership family meets in the capital today, they produced a team that, against all the odds, went all the way to the final of the African Champions League in ’98 and, had it not been for some atrocious gamesmanship in the second leg, could have been crowned the kings of club football on the continent.

They have produced a galaxy of players who have gone on to dominate Super Diski and every year, the rich boys from across the Limpopo, come here looking for the next Wilfred Mugeyi, the next Francis Shonhayi, the next Rabson Muchichwa, the next Tinashe Nengomasha, the next Knowledge Musona, you name them.

The Journey We Have Travelled So Far
The original 16 members of the domestic Premiership were Highlanders, CAPS United, Dynamos, Ziscosteel, ShuShine, Tanganda, Black Aces, Chapungu, Eiffel Flats, Zimbabwe Saints, Darryn T, Mhangura, Fire Batteries, Black Rhinos, Hwange and Black Mambas.

Only six, from that original cast of 16, remain in the top-flight league today – Highlanders, Dynamos, CAPS United, Black Rhinos, Hwange and Black Mambas. Only three, from that original cast of 16, have not been relegated from the Premiership — Highlanders, Dynamos and CAPS United.
Tanganda, the wise men from the east who turned our heads playing a brand of football that appealed to the eye with Lloyd Mutasa being the creative hub, have collapsed and Fire Batteries, Mhangura, Darryn T, ShuShine, Eiffel Flats and Black Aces have also met the same fate.

Zimbabwe Saints are increasingly spinning out of geography, and into the history books, and where a giant called Black Aces used to stand proudly, the Shaisa Mufaro of Rodrick “Doctor” Muganhiri, Fresh Chamarenga, Bernard “Machipisa” Dzingai, now stands a nursery called Aces Youth Academy, battling to produce the next Knowledge Musona instead of worrying about being champions of this country. Only four other teams — AmaZulu, Gunners, Motor Action and Monomotapa — have managed to win the league championship outside the Big Three, in the era of the modern Premiership, with Dynamos and Bosso winning six times and CAPS United winning three times.
DeMbare, though, are in a class of their own, with 18 titles, in their rich history.

On average, in the 19 seasons of the modern Premiership, Dynamos have averaged third place finishing fifth, first, first, second, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, third, sixth, ninth, sixth, first, second, second, second, first and first.

The Glamour Boys’ worst position was ninth, in 2005, when they went into the final day of the season battling against relegation but secured their place, with a 2-1 victory over Masvingo that denied Yuna Yuna a maiden title, at a rainswept Mucheke.

Even if they had lost that game, as it turned out, they would have survived because Njube Sundowns, hammered 2-5 by Motor Action in their last match, would still have gone.

Bosso have averaged 3.2, in terms of positions on the table, after finishing first, second, eighth, sixth, sixth, first, first, first, first, second, second, third, first, second, eighth, fourth, third, seventh and second.

The Bulawayo giants’ lowest position was eighth, a position they occupied twice in ’95 and 2008, and they are the only one, among the Big Three, who have never finished in the bottom half in the past 19 seasons.

But they flirted with danger then because even though they finished eighth, they were just three points better off than Lancashire Steel, who occupied the last relegation play-off slot.

The Green Machine have averaged 4.89, in terms of positions on the table, after finishing second, fifth, fourth, first, second, fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth, fourth, first, first, fourth, seventh, 12th, third, sixth, sixth and 10th in the past 19 seasons.

They have finished in the bottom half twice  in 2008 and 2012 and, five years ago, they finished level on points with Lancashire Steel (36 points), who occupied the final relegation play-off place, and CAPS United only survived because they had a better goal difference. Lancashire Steel plunged into the relegation play-off and never returned.

Dynamos and Highlanders might both have six league titles, in the era of the modern Premiership, but the Glamour Boys have been the top team, in terms of points accrued, during that period.

Bosso dominated at the turn of the millennium, responding to DeMbare’s historic march in the Champions League with a powerful home show, and they won four straight titles, something that their biggest rivals had done at Independence.

A DeMbare team, reeling from Zifa’s interference in their home affairs, turmoil within its boardroom and volatility within its technical and player personnel, never competed, and finished fourth in 2001, fifth the following year and ninth in 2005.

The difference in points between DeMbare and Bosso, who were champions in 2002, was 28 points, which means that the Glamour Boys could have been given maximum points, in the boardroom, for nine games they lost, but still fall short of catching the Bulawayo giants.

But having found their way back into the light, DeMbare have been impressive and won the championship in 2007, to end a barren 10-year search, have never finished worse than second since then, an impressive record that competes favourably with any of the top teams in the world.

In the last three seasons, in which they have won the title twice on goal difference, no other team has finished with more points than the Glamour Boys because, even when the Mighty Bulls won their title, it was by virtue of a superior goal difference.

  • The ’93 Premiership season gave two points to the winning team instead of the three points that teams enjoy today.
  • The 2000 season was a 38-game season, instead of the 30-game seasons that are the norm, owing to more teams in the Premiership.
  • The 2003 season was a 26-game season, instead of the 30-game seasons that are the norm, as the Premiership returned to normalcy.
  • Dynamos have won more games than any other team, in a stretch of 19 seasons in the era of the modern Premiership, and have 10 more victories than Highlanders.
  • DeMbare have also lost the least number of games, in that stretch of games, and have scored more goals than any other team.
  • Highlanders have done better, in terms of defence, by conceding the least number of goals within that period.

The Facebook Post That Torched A Storm
Last Sunday Dynamos thrashed Highlanders 4-0 in the Bob 89 Super Cup final second leg tie to complete a comprehensive 6-1 aggregate victory, the biggest blowout between the two giants in recent meetings, and it inevitably generated a lot of debate.

While, admittedly, it’s too early in the season to conclude anything, the way Bosso collapsed, especially in that first half, was cause for concern. This is supposed to be the season that Bosso, who found their spirit last season and played so well they only lost one league game, before they surrendered the championship battle on goal difference, will finally come good and win their first title in seven years. After all, they retained virtually the team that played so well for them last season while DeMbare lost their talisman, Denver Mukamba, lost Simba Sithole and also lost Rodreck Mutuma. But you feel there is this psychological bloc that Bosso have to overcome, whenever they face DeMbare, and Kevin Kaindu said it well, in the aftermath of the thrashing at Rufaro, that they have to exorcise the demons that cripple their play every time they meet the old enemy.

More than anything, it’s about this mental issue, that they can’t do it because it hasn’t been done by any of the players wearing their royal black-and-white colours in a league match for five years, which appears to be destroying their spirit whenever they meet the old enemy.

So, there I was on Sunday, thinking about all this when I decided to chat with my online friends about a subject that was, against a background of the way CAPS United are also capitulating whenever they face Dynamos, worrying my mind.

“Dynamos’ ruthless domination has taken the glitter off the Harare Derby and, with the ways things are going in their head to head matches against Bosso, the Battle of Zimbabwe is also losing its magical touch. CAPS and Bosso really need to stand up and be counted against the Glamour Boys,” read my little Facebook post.

And, the replies, came pouring in:
Nyamutora Botha — That’s true
Glamourbouy Chitsike — Tell them Rob, nyangwe vakupa mazita kuti ndimi Shagare dotcoms, or whoever that’s suit them, hazvimbokutadzisai kutaura bhora backed by FACTS, that’s one thing I adore about you, keep on telling them that a spade is a spade not just a garden tool.
Anyway Max Simbanegavi Gumindoga — Harare Derby ne Harare City kwete neCorps (CAPS). Bosso ne CAPS dzakapera kudhara.

Godfrey T Madziwa — Dynamos clearly miles ahead of rivals explains why these teams usually sign players who cannot fit into DeMbare.
Joseph Sintirau — Juju coach, Juju executive, that’s what you mean?
Biggie Cle — Bosso ne CAPS dzakapera kunge hondo yemuseve.

Tongai Bangira Dehwa — Maybe some seasons to come but not this current one.
Charles Tigs Gororo — Kaindu talks too much, he moves from one radio station to the other achingohumana whilst Pasuwa ari busy ku training.
Steads Risinehama — DeMbare makes other teams to evaporate.

Lazarus Hacha — I have observed over time that there is something that Dynamos does right which we, the other teams, fail to do each season, kumutsa the so-called average or spent players. Kumutsa marombe kubva muguruva. Ana Alimenda kutovashaya kuti ndovaive kuHardbody, the pressure from their fans put players in positions in which they got to deliver. I hope my CAPS United improves and be counted among the big teams.

Munamato Maisiri — DeMbare i smash and grab, take any cup.
Talent Hwandih — The battle of Zimbabwe is no longer existing because it was won long ago by the blues. I personally think it’s an insult to DeMbare for the media to continuously refer to the Highlanders vs Dembare match as the Battle of Zimbabwe. Takaihwina hondo yacho kare saka Dembare ndiyo Zimbabwe.

William Mpasu — Though your statement is factual I still think it’s as untrue as ManU getting the PSL title on a silver plate or Barca and Madrid going out of the UCL. Congrats to DeMbare, yes, we have been massacred today and CAPS are in shambles but the rivalry and competitive spirit, whenever these teams meet, knows no form book or history . . . personally I feel the Bosso players (and CAPS too) have to rise to the occasion. By succumbing to such a defeat, donning the zebra stripes, Mapuranga and his lieutenants know they have let us down! Anyway, such is sport, we have to take it in our stride, we have to lift ourselves and defend the ‘sanctity and sovereignty’ of. BOSSO.

Kuda Sharara — You can say that a million times Rob. As for CAPS, Twine Phiri needs to own up and sort out his mess for the team to rise up again.

Shelton Nyadundu — Don’t write CAPS off already, you will be surprised. Zvidhakwa zvakaenda remember?
Innocent Munyanyiwa — Dynamos need opposition from down South Africa. There is no challenge here at home.
Kutadza Tawedzerwa — But with your post Sharuko, one would think DeMbare won the league with five games to spare yet the league was decided on goals which makes your post non-factual.
Sifelani Mananga — You win some and lose some guys! IBosso ngeyethu!

Malvern Mutemasango — Dynamos have character and don’t crumble even when the chips are down. They have grown from strength to strength over the years with a youthful and sound technical team complemented by die-hard warriors and passionate supporters through thick and thin unlike our rivals CAPS who fire coaches and players willy-nilly and Bosso who seem to choke on the big stage.  Dynamos have big-match temperament and play passionately for their 10 million-strong supporter constituency.

Learnmore Gusvure — Robbo, it’s a public secret that you are DeMbare but the ruthless domination you talking of is just overstretched (about the last two pre-season games!) DeMbare and Bosso drew all their matches last year.

George King G Damson — You all midgets who go on about Sharuko being DeMbare are missing the point, yes league race was tight last year and yes matches were drawn, Robson is talking about head-to-head stats of seasons gone by, when was the last time Bosso beat DeMbare? Calling Sharuko a DeMbare fan does not, and will not, erase the facts, call me a Sharuko apologist if you want, still facts will stubbornly stare you in the face. Get over it!

Tapiwa Paul — Robbo, you are the best columnist I’ve ever known but idzi nyaya dzako dze DeMbare yako dzakadhakwa idzi.
Liberty Mushunje — Everyone is entitled to freedom of association and journalists are no exception. Robson Sharuko is entitled to support any team of his choice. It is a well known fact locally he is a DeMbare fan and then internationally he is a Manchester United fan. There is no doubt about that, however that’s not the point here. Robson is simply saying DeMbare needs competition. CAPS and Bosso should match the competition and give DeMbare a run for their money.
Solari Ex-Lover Styllz — DeMbare won every tournament on offer in the last two years. That’s total domination!
Wow!

Happy 20th birthday Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League! Wish you many more successful years ahead. To some you are nothing but to me you are a beautiful story, my beautiful Onyinye and, boy oh boy, I can hear Big Rick Ross chanting for me:
“We fell in love on the first day, the first day
A beautiful league gonna make the Earth shake
I look into the mirror all I do is stare
In the back of my mind all I see is her (boss)
Turn up the music we bumping PSL
Number one in the game and we gonna be here.”

To God Be The Glory!
Come on United!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chicharitoooooooooooooooooooooo!

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